CUET 2026 (UG) - Exam Dates, Syllabus, Pattern, Eligibility & Free Resources

CUET 2026 (UG) is the national-level undergraduate entrance exam conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for admission to 230+ participating universities across India, including Delhi University, JNU, BHU, Jamia Millia Islamia, etc. (48 Central Universities).

The exam will be held in May 2026 (tentatively May 11-31) in online CBT mode. This comprehensive guide covers every aspect of CUET UG 2026 - official exam dates, syllabus, eligibility, exam pattern, cutoff, result, counselling, and free preparation resources (sample paper, previous year papers, & mocks).

Follow this article to gain a brief awareness about CUET 2026 UG and boost your CUET preparation.

Important Update: NTA has announced the tentative CUET 2026 exam dates (May 11 - 31). However, the brief datesheet is awaited. Students preparing for CUET UG 2026 must stay updated and learn about the exact subject-wise exam dates once NTA releases them.

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CUET 2026 - Exam Overview

The following table provides a quick-reference summary of all the key CUET UG 2026 exam details.

CUET 2026 Exam Highlights

Particulars

Details

Exam Name

Common University Entrance Test - Undergraduate (CUET UG)

Conducting Body

National Testing Agency (NTA)

Official Website

https://exams.nta.ac.in/CUET-UG/ (cuet.nta.nic.in)

Exam Level

National Level

Mode of Exam

Online - Computer-Based Test (CBT) only

Exam Medium

13 languages

Question Type

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

Total Sections

3 (Section I: Languages, Section II: Domain Subjects, Section III: GAT)

Total Subject Options

37 (reduced from 63 in previous years)

Number of Universities

230+ (including 48 Centraluniversities)

Exam Duration

60 minutes per paper (uniform for all sections)

Max Subjects Allowed

5 (must include at least 1 language)

Total Questions per Paper

50 (compulsory)

Marking Scheme

+5 for correct | -1 for incorrect

Exam Frequency

Once a year

CUET 2026 Exam Dates

May 11-31, 2026 (tentative)

Registration Last Date

February 26, 2026

Fee Payment Last Date

February 27, 2026


What's New in CUET 2026?

CUET 2026 brings several officially announced changes compared to previous editions. Every aspirant must be aware of these updates.

Key Changes in CUET 2026 You Must Know

Change

Previous (2024)

CUET 2026

Total subject options

63 subjects

37 subjects (26 discontinued)

Discontinued subjects

Entrepreneurship, Teaching Aptitude, Legal Studies

Discontinued - not offered in 2026

Mode of exam

CBT online

CBT online only (confirmed)

Exam duration per paper

45–60 min (varied)

60 minutes (uniform for all)

Questions per paper

40-50 (varied)

50 compulsory (uniform)

Number of shifts

Multiple

Multiple (exact schedule TBA by NTA)

Registration deadline

Varied

Feb 26, 2026 (extended by NTA)

Note: Always verify the latest changes on the official NTA CUET portal: cuet.nta.nic.in. Discontinued subjects will not be offered in CUET 2026 under any circumstances.

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CUET 2026 Exam Dates

NTA has released the CUET 2026 exam tentative dates. The complete timeline, including registration, admit card, exam, result, and counselling dates, is given below:

CUET 2026 important dates

Event

CUET 2026 Date

CUET 2026 Notification Release

January 3, 2026

CUET 2026 Registration Opens

January 3, 2026

CUET Registration Last Date (Extended)

February 26, 2026 (11:50 PM)

Application Fee Last Date

February 27, 2026 (11:50 PM)

City Intimation Slip Release

1st week of May 2026 (expected)

CUET 2026 Admit Card Release

3-4 days before exam (expected)

CUET 2026 Exam Dates

May 11-31, 2026 (tentative)

CUET 2026 Answer Key Release

1st week of June 2026 (expected)

CUET 2026 Result Declaration

Mid of June 2026 (expected)

University Counselling Begins

The last week of June 2026 (expected)

Official source: All dates are based on official NTA notification and historical CUET schedules. Exact dates for admit card, answer key, and result will be updated once announced at cuet.nta.nic.in.

The CUET UG exam is conducted by the NTA once a year. The CUET 2026 will be conducted in May (11-31) 2026.

CUET UG is conducted nationwide for admission to all the 210+ participating universities.

CUET UG is not a very difficult exam to crack. However, to secure admission to the top colleges or universities, students must aspire to score the maximum marks.

CUET UG 2026 will be conducted in a solely online CBT mode, as confirmed in the official notification.


CUET 2026 Eligibility Criteria

General Eligibility

Course-wise Eligibility

Each participating university sets its own course-specific eligibility requirements in addition to the general CUET eligibility criteria. Students must visit the official website of each university they wish to apply to for detailed, course-level eligibility requirements.

CUET eligibility criteria

Criterion

Requirement

Minimum qualification

Passed Class 12 or equivalent (45% general; 40% SC/ST/PwBD in select universities)

Appearing candidates

Eligible (admission subject to passing Class 12)

Age limit

No upper age limit

Nationality

Indian, NRI, OCI

Subject eligibility

Course-specific - check individual university websites


CUET 2026 Syllabus - Section-wise Breakdown

The CUET 2026 syllabus is based entirely on the NCERT Class 12 curriculum for domain subjects. Below is the complete section-wise syllabus overview:

Section-wise CUET syllabus 2026

Section

Subjects / Topics Covered

No. of Questions

Section I - Languages (13)

Reading Comprehension (Factual, Literary, Narrative passages), Literary Aptitude, Vocabulary. Tested in the chosen language.

50 (compulsory)

Section II - Domain Subjects (23)

Based on the complete NCERT Class 12 syllabus for the chosen subject. See the subject-wise breakdown below.

50 (compulsory)

Section III - General Aptitude Test (GAT)

General Knowledge, Current Affairs, General Mental Ability, Numerical Ability, Quantitative Reasoning (Class 8 maths), Logical & Analytical Reasoning.

50 (compulsory)

Section III - GAT Syllabus (Detailed)

The General Aptitude Test (Section III) evaluates the following topic areas:

Section II - Domain Subject Syllabus (Arts / Humanities)

Subject

Key Topics Covered

History

Early societies, empires, social and religious movements, colonialism, nationalism, world history

Geography

Fundamentals of Human Geography, India: People and Economy

Political Science

Contemporary World Politics, Politics in India since Independence

Sociology

Indian Society, Change and Development in India

Psychology

Mind and behaviour, states of consciousness, learning, memory, human development

Physical Education

Planning, sports and nutrition, yoga, psychology, training methodology

Environmental Studies

Ecosystems, biodiversity, pollution, and social issues

Knowledge Tradition & Practices (India)

Indian Knowledge Systems as per Class 12 NCERT

Section II - Domain Subject Syllabus (Commerce)

Subject

Key Topics Covered

Accountancy

Accounting for partnership firms, companies, cash flow statements, and financial statements analysis

Business Studies

Nature of business, business finance, marketing, consumer protection, entrepreneurship

Economics

Introductory Macroeconomics (national income, money, banking, govt budget, balance of payments)

Section II - Domain Subject Syllabus (Science)

Subject

Key Topics Covered

Physics

Electrostatics, current electricity, magnetic effects, electromagnetic induction, optics, modern physics

Chemistry

Solutions, electrochemistry, chemical kinetics, surface chemistry, p/d/f-block elements, polymers, biomolecules

Mathematics

Relations & functions, algebra, calculus, vectors, 3D geometry, linear programming, probability

Biology

Reproduction, genetics, evolution, human health, biotechnology, ecology

Computer Science

Python programming, data structures, databases, networking, cybersecurity

Home Science

Work, livelihood & career; nutrition; money management; apparel; human development

Syllabus source: The complete CUET 2026 syllabus for all domain subjects is available on the official NTA portal: cuet.nta.nic.in. NCERT Class 12 textbooks are the primary and most reliable preparation resource.

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CUET 2026 Exam Pattern

The CUET 2026 exam pattern remains the same as the previous year, with one key update: all papers are now a uniform 60 minutes with 50 compulsory questions.

CUET 2026 Exam Pattern

Parameter

Details

Exam Mode

Online - Computer-Based Test (CBT)

Sections

Section I: Languages (13) | Section II: Domain Subjects (23) | Section III: GAT (1)

Total Subject Options

37

Duration per Paper

60 minutes (uniform for all sections)

Questions per Paper

50 (all compulsory - no internal choice)

Question Type

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

Marking - Correct answer

+5 marks

Marking - Incorrect answer

-1 mark (negative marking)

Marking - Unattempted

0 (no penalty)

Maximum subjects a student can appear for

5 (including at least 1 language)

Exam medium

13 languages: English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu

Exam centres

400+ centres in India | 26 cities outside India

CUET 2026 Marking Scheme

Response Type

Marks

Correct answer

+5

Incorrect answer

-1

Unattempted

0

Maximum marks per paper

250 (50 questions × 5 marks)

The CUET 2026 syllabus for all the domain subjects will comprise the entire Class 12 NCERT syllabus for respective subjects.

NCERT books will be the go-to and most reliable source for the CUET 2026 syllabus and preparation.

There are no changes in the CUET 2026 exam pattern. It will remain the same as it was in 2025.

According to the official CUET marking scheme, each correct answer will carry 5 marks, and there will be a deduction of 1 mark for each wrong answer.


CUET 2026 Registration - How to Apply

The CUET 2026 registration window closed on February 26, 2026. Students’ can no longer register now. However, the detailed registration process for CUET 2026 is explained below.

Step-by-step Registration Process

Documents Required for CUET 2026 Registration

CUET 2026 Application Fee

Category

Up to 3 Subjects

Each Additional Subject (4th, 5th)

General (UR)

1,000

400 per subject

OBC-NCL / EWS

900

375 per subject

SC / ST / PwBD / Third Gender

800

350 per subject

Centres Outside India

4,500

1,800 per subject

Important: Applications without successful fee payment will be automatically cancelled. Fee is non-refundable under any circumstances.

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CUET 2026 Admit Card

The CUET 2026 admit card (hall ticket) will be released by NTA approximately 3-4 days before the exam commencement date. NTA will first release a City Intimation Slip in the first week of May 2026, indicating the candidate's examination city. The admit card with the exact exam centre and timing will released after.

How to Download CUET 2026 Admit Card

Note: The CUET 2026 admit card is a mandatory document. No candidate will be allowed to enter the exam hall without a valid admit card and original photo ID.

The best and most reliable resources are the NCERT textbooks. Apart from that, students must refer to the CUET sample paper, PYQPs, and attempt the CUET mock test.

No, apart from CUET registration, students must also register for the respective universities counselling process to participate in the admission process.


CUET 2026 Expected Cutoff

The CUET 2026 cutoff is not a centralised score. Each participating university releases its own cutoff for every course and category independently. Cutoffs are based on the total number of applicants, seat availability, and the highest score achieved in that subject.

Expected CUET 2026 Cutoff - DU Top Colleges

Course (DU)

General (UR)

OBC-NCL

SC

ST

B.Com (Honours)

920+

900+

890+

875+

BA (Programme)

900+

880+

850+

835+

B.Sc. (Hons) Mathematics

910+

885+

860+

845+

BA (Honours) English

905+

880+

860+

850+

B.Com (Programme)

900+

890+

865+

845+

Disclaimer: These DU CUET cutoff ranges are indicative based on CUET 2025 trends. Actual CUET 2026 cutoffs will be released by individual universities after the result declaration. Check each university's official website for confirmed cutoffs.

CUET 2026 Result

The CUET 2026 result will be declared by NTA on the official portal cuet.nta.nic.in. Based on past NTA schedules, the result is expected in the mid of June 2026.

CUET 2026 Result (expected dates)

Result Event

Expected Date

CUET 2026 Exam

May 11-31, 2026

Provisional Answer Key Release

1st week of July 2026

Answer Key Challenge Window

3-5 days after the provisional key

Final Answer Key

2nd week of July 2026

CUET 2026 Result Declaration

Mid of July 2026

How to Check CUET 2026 Result

Important: CUET scores are valid only for 2026-27 admissions. Scores cannot be carried forward to next year.

CUET 2026 Counselling & Admission Process

There is no centralised CUET counselling. Each participating university conducts its own independent admission and counselling process using CUET 2026 scores. Students must separately register for the counselling at every university they wish to seek admission to.

CUET 2026 Counselling — Key Steps

Check the CUET 2026 result and download your scorecard from cuet.nta.nic.in by following the steps mentioned below.

UG Admission Counselling details for some major universities

University

Counselling Mode

Expected Start

University of Delhi (DU)

Online via DU CSAS portal (du.ac.in)

June 2026

Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU)

Online via the JNU admission portal

June 2026

Banaras Hindu University (BHU)

Online via the BHU admission portal

June 2026

Jamia Millia Islamia

Online via the Jamia admission portal

June 2026

Other Central Universities

Individual university portals

June-July 2026

Note: CUET score is the sole criterion for admission to all central universities' UG programs. Other participating universities may combine CUET scores with their own criteria. Always check individual university admission policies.

CUET Previous Year Question Papers (PYQPs)

Solving the CUET previous year question papers is the most effective preparation strategy. PYQPs help you understand question patterns, identify important topics, and sharpen time management.

Benefits of Solving CUET PYQPs

CUET Previous Year Question Paper PDF Download

Year

Available Papers

Download

CUET 2025

Major domain subjects + English + GAT

Available on NTA portal & CL website

CUET 2024

Major domain subjects + English + GAT

Available on NTA portal & CL website

CUET 2023

Major domain subjects + English + GAT

Available on NTA portal & CL website

CUET 2022

Major domain subjects + English + GAT

Available on NTA portal & CL website

Download - CUET Previous Year Question Paper    |    CUET Sample Paper


CUET 2026 Mock Test & Free Resources

Career Launcher's CUET free mock tests are curated by expert faculties from IIT, IIM, and DU. Each mock test is designed to replicate the actual CUET exam environment and difficulty level.

CL's Free CUET 2026 Mock Test Features

Free Resource: Start your CUET 2026 preparation with CL's free mini CUET mock test - available for all sections.

CUET 2026 Preparation Strategy

Step 1 - Know the Syllabus & Exam Pattern

Before you write a single note, download the complete CUET 2026 syllabus from cuet.nta.nic.in. Map each subject's syllabus against your Class 12 NCERT chapters. Understand the 60-minute, 50-question format and negative marking.

Step 2 - Create a Study Plan

Allocate study time across Class 12 Board preparation and CUET preparation. Since the CUET syllabus overlaps with Class 12 NCERT, focused Board preparation directly strengthens CUET readiness. Dedicate 1-2 hours daily specifically to CUET practice.

Step 3 - NCERT First, Then Practice

NCERT Class 12 textbooks are the primary and most reliable CUET preparation resource. Complete each chapter thoroughly, make concise notes, and highlight key facts, dates, and definitions. Then move to CUET-specific practice questions.

Step 4 - Solve PYQPs and Mock Tests

After completing the syllabus, solve at least 3-5 years of CUET PYQPs for each subject. Identify the types of questions asked, common topics, and your weak areas. Take full-length mock tests under timed conditions.

Step 5 - Revision & Current Affairs

Reserve the final 4-6 weeks before the exam for revision. For the GAT paper, follow a reliable current affairs source daily. Use short notes and flashcards for quick revision of high-frequency topics.

Best Books for CUET 2026 Preparation

Subject / Section

Recommended Resource

All Domain Subjects

NCERT Class 12 Textbooks (primary resource)

English / Languages

Wren & Martin (Grammar), Reading comprehension practice books

General Aptitude Test (Quant)

RS Aggarwal - Quantitative Aptitude

Logical Reasoning (GAT)

RS Aggarwal - Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning

General Knowledge / Current Affairs

Arihant GK Today, monthly current affairs compilations

CUET-specific practice

Career Launcher CUET Study Material & PYQPs

Mock tests

CL's free online CUET mock tests (careerlauncher.com/cuet)


CUET 2026 Participating Universities

CUET 2026 scores will be accepted by 230+ universities, including 48 Central Universities. All Central University UG admissions use CUET scores as the sole admission criterion.

CUET University List (Top Universities)

University

Type

Location

University of Delhi (DU)

Central University

New Delhi

Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU)

Central University

New Delhi

Banaras Hindu University (BHU)

Central University

Varanasi, UP

Aligarh Muslim University (AMU)

Central University

Aligarh, UP

Jamia Millia Islamia

Central University

New Delhi

University of Allahabad

Central University

Prayagraj, UP

University of Hyderabad

Central University

Hyderabad, Telangana

Pondicherry University

Central University

Puducherry

Tezpur University

Central University

Assam

Visva Bharati University

Central University

West Bengal

Manipur University

Central University

Imphal, Manipur

Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University

Central University

Lucknow, UP

Central University of Rajasthan

Central University

Ajmer, Rajasthan

Central University of Karnataka

Central University

Kalaburagi, Karnataka

The English and Foreign Languages University

Central University

Hyderabad

Central University of Andhra Pradesh

Central University

Anantapur, AP

Central University of Haryana

Central University

Mahendergarh, Haryana

Central University of Himachal Pradesh

Central University

Dharamshala, HP

Central University of Jammu

Central University

Jammu, J&K

Central University of Jharkhand

Central University

Ranchi, Jharkhand

View the complete list of all 230+ CUET 2026 participating universities at cuet.nta.nic.in or on the Career Launcher CUET University list page.


CUET 2026 and Delhi University (DU) Admission

Delhi University is the most sought-after CUET destination. DU uses CUET 2026 scores as the sole admission criterion for all its UG programs across 91 colleges. The DU Common Seat Allocation System (CSAS) portal manages the entire admission process.


CUET UG preparation courses offered by CL

All our programs are designed and taught by top IITs, IIMs, and DU mentors. The programs are tailor-made to suit the requirements of all the students. Choose a program that suits you the best and prepare for CUET now.


CUET 2026 FAQs

CUET 2026 will be conducted tentatively from May 11 to May 31, 2026. The exact exam schedule and shift timings will be announced by NTA in March 2026 on cuet.nta.nic.in.

NTA has extended the CUET 2026 registration deadline to February 26, 2026 (11:50 PM). The application fee must be paid by February 27, 2026.

Key changes include: total subject options reduced from 63 to 37; subjects like Entrepreneurship, Legal Studies, and Teaching Aptitude have been discontinued; uniform 60-minute duration and 50 compulsory questions for all papers confirmed.

Yes. NCERT Class 12 textbooks are the primary and most reliable resource for all CUET domain subjects. For the GAT section, supplement the NCERT with a current affairs source and basic reasoning/quant practice books.

A student can appear for a maximum of 5 subjects. The selection must include at least one language. Choosing 3, 4, or 5 subjects is permissible based on university and course requirements.

Each correct answer carries +5 marks. Each incorrect answer results in a deduction of 1 mark (-1). Unattempted questions carry 0 marks. Maximum marks per paper: 250 (50 questions x 5 marks).

NTA will release a City Intimation Slip in the first week of May 2026, followed by the CUET 2026 admit card approximately 3-4 days before the exam start date. Both will be available on cuet.nta.nic.in.

Based on NTA's past schedule, the CUET 2026 result is expected in the last week of July 2026. It will be available on cuet.nta.nic.in as a downloadable scorecard.

There is no centralised CUET counselling. Each university conducts its own independent admission process. After the result, students must separately register on each university's admission portal (e.g., DU CSAS portal, JNU admission portal) to participate in their counselling rounds.

No. CUET scores are valid only for the academic year of the exam. CUET 2026 scores are valid only for 2026-27 admissions and cannot be used for 2027-28.

Since CUET 2026 is conducted in multiple shifts over multiple days, NTA applies a percentile-based normalisation formula to standardise scores across shifts and ensure fairness to all candidates.

Yes. Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) cardholders are eligible to apply. They must register and pay the applicable fee for centres outside India.

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