CUET 2026 Entrance Exam: Complete information on Application Form, Exam Date, Fees, Exam Pattern, Eligibility Criteria, and Syllabus etc.

Introduction: The CUET 2026 entrance exam is scheduled in the month of May 2026 for admission into many Undergraduate and Post Graduate courses. CUET stands for (Common University Entrance Test) and it is conducted by the famous National Testing Agency (NTA).

The CUET 2026 is an obligatory entrance exam to test students for the purpose of admission into many central level universities for both UG and PG programs to name a few universities; these are BHU, Delhi University, AMU, JNU etc.

The CUET exam is conducted across India in almost 154 authorized centers, the students who passes the exam becomes eligible for admission into India’s most prestigious central universities and institutions.

This article will provide detailed information on CUET 2026 entrance exam and shed light on the Application Form, Exam Date, Fees, Exam Pattern, Eligibility Criteria, and Syllabus etc.

Table of Contents

CUET 2026 Entrance Exam Outline

Name of the Entrance Exam	CUET 2026
Full Name	Common University Entrance Test
Conducting Body	National Testing Agency (NTA)
Courses Offered	UG & PG programs
Application mode	Online mode
Mode of Exam	Online CBT
Admission offered	Central, State and Deemed Universities

CUET 2026 Important Dates

For Under Graduate Courses:

Events	Dates (Tentative)
Notification	1st week of February 2026
Application Form releases	4th week of February 2026
Last date to submit	4th week of March 2026
Correction	4th week of March 2026
Exam City Slip	4th week of April 2026
Admit card availability	1st week of May 2026
CUET UG 2026 Exam	2nd week of May 2026
Answer Key	4th week of May 2026
Result	4th week of June 2026
Counselling	2nd week of July 2026

For Post-Graduate Courses:

Events	Dates (Tentative)
Notification	4th week of December 2025
Application Form releases	1st week of February 2026
Last date to submit form	2nd week of February 2026
Application Correction	2nd week of February 2026
Admit Card	1st week of March 2026
CUET PG 2026 Exam	3rd week of March 2026
Answer Key	1st week of April 2026
Result	2nd week of April 2026
Counselling	3rd week of April 2026

Note: Dates mentioned are tentative please refer to NTA website

CUET 2026 Application Form Submission Process

Here are the key details regarding the CUET 2026 Application Form:

The CUET 2026 Application Form will be available only through online mode; no offline submissions will be accepted.
Separate registration processes will be conducted for CUET UG and CUET PG.
Candidates should carefully review the official brochure, including eligibility criteria, before applying.
It is mandatory to upload a passport-size photograph and signature in the prescribed format and size.
Applicants must ensure that all details provided are accurate, as only a few fields will be editable during the correction window.
Essential details such as candidate’s name, contact information, address, category, gender, PwBD status, educational qualifications, date of birth, and exam city preferences will be considered final.
A valid and active email ID and phone number must be provided, as all communications will be sent to these contacts.
During registration, candidates must select four preferred exam cities.
Only one application form should be submitted per candidate, as multiple submissions may lead to rejection.
The entire application process, including image/document uploads and fee payment, will be conducted online. No submissions via post, courier, or offline mode will be accepted.

CUET 2026 Step by Step Method to complete the form

Step 1: Visit the website of CUET 2026 exam.
Step 2: Click on the “Register” button for the registration for the CUET
Step 3: Candidates have to fill the details such as Personal details, father name, mother name, permanent address, etc.
Step 4: After that you have to choose password and enter the security pin.
Step 5: Candidates can preview and verify the personal details and click on “Submit and send OTP to mobile” button to proceed further.
Step 6: After successful OTP verification, candidates can login by using the application form number and password.
Step 7: Candidates have to select the university name, slot, exam center.
Step 8: Candidates have to upload the documents like photograph and signature.
Step 9: Candidates can now proceed to the payment of application form among the different payment options.
Step 10: Take the printout of the application form for future reference.

CUET 2026 Application Fee

The application form fee shall be submitted through online mode.

Candidates have to pay application fee through available options of payment like UPI transfer, credit card, debit card and net banking.

Category	CUET (UG) – 2026
Category	Upto (03) Subject	For Each Additional Subject
General (UR)	Rs. 1000/-	Rs. 400/- (Each)
OBC)-(NCL)-EWS	Rs. 900/-	Rs. 375/- (Each)
SC/ ST/ PwBD/ Third Gender	Rs. 800/-	Rs. 350/- (Each)
Centre Outside India	Rs. 4500/-	Rs. 1800/- (Each)

CUET 2026 Eligibility Criteria

Given below are the general CUET eligibility criteria for the 2026 session:

Age Limit:There is no age limit for the candidates. However, candidates must check the age norms at the Universities for which they are taking admission.
For UG Programme:A candidate must have passed class 12^th (10+2) from a recognized board. Those failed in 1 or 2 subjects will be considered ineligible.

For PG Programme:A candidate must have a bachelor’s degree in relevant discipline from a recognized university with at least 50% marks in graduation and (45% marks for reserved category) candidates.

Note: Even if candidates pass the entrance test, they are not guaranteed admission to courses unless they fulfill the eligibility criteria of the university in which they are taking admission.

CUET 2026 Exam Pattern

Candidates must check the CUET exam pattern for 2026 given below for UG/ PG courses:

For Under Graduate Courses:

Mode of exam:The exam will be conducted in Computer Based Test (CBT) mode.
Medium of examination: The exam will be conducted in English medium language other than that there are 13 languages.
Type of question:The paper will contain Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) in the exam.
Duration:The duration of the paper is 3 hours and 15 minutes for slot I and for slot II it is 3 hours and 45 minutes to solve the paper.
Number of Questions:100 questions will be there in the paper.
Marking scheme:5 marks will be given for every correct answer and -1 mark will be deducted for every wrong answer.

For Post Graduate Courses:

Mode of exam:CUET 2026 will be conducted in Computer Based test mode only.
Medium of paper:The medium of the paper will be English and Hindi.
Duration:The duration of the paper will be 2 hours to solve the paper.
Number of questions:The question paper will contain 100 questions.
Marking scheme:4 marks will be awarded for each correct answer and 1 mark will be deducted for every wrong answer.

For Under Graduate Courses Exam Pattern

Section	Subjects	Questions to be attempted	Total questions	Questions Type	Duration
Section IA	13 different languages (can choose any one)	40	50	Reading comprehension (based on different languages – Factual literary & Narrative, Literary Aptitude & Vocabulary)	45 minutes for each language
Section IB	20 different languages (can choose any language apart from Section IA)	40	50		45 minutes for each language
Section II- Domain	27 Domains specific subjects (must choose 6 domain as desire by applicable university/ ies)	40	50	Input Text for MCQ based questions (it will be on the bases of 12th NCERT syllabus)	45 minutes for each domain specific subjects
Section III- General Tests	For any such UG programme/ programmes being offered by universities	60	75	· Input text can be used for MCQ Based Questions · General Knowledge, Current Affairs, General Mental Ability, Numerical Ability, Quantitative Reasoning (Simple application of basic mathematical concepts arithmetic/algebra geometry/mensuration/s tat taught till Grade 8), Logical and Analytical Reasoning	60 minutes
Total		180 questions	225 questions		195 minutes

For Post Graduate Courses Exam Pattern

Pattern	Question Paper	Paper Code
1	There will be 100 questions divided into two parts Part A: There will be 25 Questions consisting of Language Comprehension/ Verbal Ability Part B: 75 Domain Knowledge Questions Comprising of Teaching Aptitude, Mathematics, Social Science & Science	PGQP01
1	The no. of Questions will be 100 & divided into two parts Part A: 25 MCQ’s consisting of Language Comprehension, Verbal Ability, General Awareness, Mathematical/ Quantitative Ability & Analytical Skills	PGQP02 to PGQP07 PGQP09 to PGQP37 PGQP39 PGQP41 to PGQP59 PGQP61 to PGQ73 PGQP75 to PGQ77
2	100 questions will be divided into two parts Part A : 25 Questions (Language Comprehension/Verbal Ability, General Knowledge, and Mathematical/Quantitative ability ) Part B: 75 Questions Domain knowledge e.g. Civil Engineering or Mechanical Engineering etc.	PGQP08 PGQP74 PGQP78
2	The no. of questions will be 100 and divided into two parts Part A: 25 Questions (General Knowledge/Awareness, Mathematical Ability and Logical Reasoning) Part B: 75 Questions of specific language.	PGQP60
3	100 Questions (Language Comprehension/ Verbal Ability, Mathematical/ Quantitative ability, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning)	PGQP38
3	100 Questions (Language Comprehension/ Verbal Ability, General Knowledge/ Awareness, Computer Basics and Logical Reasoning)	PGQP40

CUET 2026 Exam Syllabus

For UG Programs: Candidates should prepare for the CUET 2026 exam as per the subject’s syllabus prescribed for class 11^th and 12^th, e.g., PCM/ PCB with English.

For PG Programs: The CUET PG syllabus will be based on the subjects studied at the time of graduation.

Underneath is the syllabus for preparing CUET 2026 exam:

Section IA & IB:Language to be tested via Reading Comprehension (based on different types of passages–Factual, Literary, and Narrative [Literary Aptitude & Vocabulary].

Candidate must prepare from NCERT 12th syllabus for section attempting II.

Section III-Prepare from General Knowledge, Current Affairs, General Mental Ability, Numerical Ability, Quantitative Reasoning (Simple application of basic mathematical concepts arithmetic/algebra geometry/mensuration/stat taught till Grade 8), Logical and Analytical Reasoning.

CUET 2026 Exam Preparation tips

A strategically planning is very important for any entrance exam preparation, preparing well in advance gives an edge to the candidate and they feel more confident. Some of the preparation tips are given below.

All students must prepare a study plan according to the syllabus and exam pattern. More priority should be given to feeble subjects and lesser to ones you know better.
Students must learn to plan time for revision for prepared subjects well in advance so that last minute panic could be avoided.
Invest in good books and right study material recommended by the appropriate experts for better preparation of the entrance exam.
Writing helps to memorize better and recollection of information when needed is faster so make it a practice to make notes for better memory.
Last but not the least, this one is very important tip. Always review your progress on a weekly basis and see where you stand at the level of preparation. If need be change your study plan accordingly.

Management courses that students are interested in

CUET 2026 Admit Card

The CUET 2026 Admit Card will be made available exclusively through online mode. Candidates must log in using their credentials to download their hall ticket. The NTA will provisionally issue the e-admit card, which will contain essential details, including the candidate’s name, roll number, exam date, time, venue, and important exam instructions.

CUET 2026 Answer Key

The CUET 2026 Answer Key will be released by NTA through online mode, with the provisional answer key expected in the first week of May 2026.

Candidates will have the opportunity to challenge the provisional answer key by submitting a fee of Rs. 200/- per question, which will be non-refundable.

After the objection window closes, the final answer key will be published online. The CUET 2026 result will be prepared based on this final answer key.

CUET 2026 Result

The CUET 2026 Result will be announced online in the last week of June 2026. The result will be based on the final answer key and will be utilized by various organizations as per their eligibility criteria.

It is important to note that NTA does not directly publish the CUET 2026 Result. The scorecard will include details such as candidate’s name, roll number, individual subject scores, and qualifying status. No physical scorecard will be sent via post or any offline method.

CUET 2026 Counselling

Each participating institute will conduct its own CUET 2026 Counselling process separately. It is mandatory for all qualified candidates to attend the counseling session.

The selection and admission process will depend on various factors, including admission criteria, eligibility, merit rank, medical fitness, document verification, and specific university requirements.