CUET 2026: Registration for CUET 2026 is live on the official website https://cuet.nta.nic.in/. The last date to apply is January 30, 2026 (up to 11:50 PM), with fee payment until January 31, 2026. A correction window will be open from February 2-4, 2026. In this article, we will cover every important aspect of CUET 2026. NTA has retained 23 domain subjects and a maximum of 5 subjects choosable for CUET 2026 to ensure smooth conduct of the examination.
What is CUET?
Common University Entrance Test (CUET) is the national-level exam conducted for admission to Central Universities, Deemed and Private Universities. CUET 2026 is a single exam for all the programs in Universities across India. CUET covers all graduate programs in Humanities, Commerce, Science and even Engineering.
CUET exam is conducted by NTA (National Testing Agency). The first CUET exam was conducted by NTA in 2022. CUET exam is a standardized exam that gives a fair chance to every candidate from different educational backgrounds. Over 280 universities are expected to participate in CUET 2026 for admissions to various courses, including top institutions like Delhi University (DU), Banaras Hindu University (BHU), and Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU).
With a vision of “One Nation, One Entrance Exam”, CUET will become mandatory for almost all graduate courses in India in the future. The CUET will be required for all students finishing their +2 to get into any University, regardless of their field of study. In the future this test might become the first step in exams like the JEE and NEET, making it a stepping stone to clearing these prestigious exams.
CUET Highlights
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Particulars
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Details
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Exam Name
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CUET UG
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CUET (UG) Full Form
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Common University Entrance Test (Undergraduate)
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CUET Conducting Body
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National Testing Agency (NTA)
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Exam Frequency
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Once a year
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Exam Mode
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Computer Based Test (CBT)
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Number of Candidates
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Expected over 15 lakh (based on previous trends)
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Total Subjects
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37 (13 Languages, 23 domain subjects, 01 General Aptitude Test)
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Language of Exam
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13 languages - English, Hindi, Bengali, Assamese, Odia, Punjabi, Marathi, Gujarati, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Urdu
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Test Pattern
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Objective Type with Multiple Choice Questions
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CUET Exam Duration (Tentative)
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60 minutes per subject (multiple shifts as per subject combinations)
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CUET Marking Scheme
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- +5 for each correct response
- -1 for each incorrect response
- 0 for unattempted
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Exam Centre Cities
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Over 300 Cities Across India and cities Outside India (as per Appendix III)
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Official Website
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https://cuet.nta.nic.in
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CUET 2026 Exam Dates
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Events
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Dates
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CUET 2026 Registration Start Date
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January 3, 2026
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CUET UG 2026 Registration End Date
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January 30, 2026 (up to 11:50 PM)
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Last date for fee payment
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January 31, 2026 (up to 11:50 PM)
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Application Correction Window
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February 2-4, 2026
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CUET Admit Card Release
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To be announced later on the website
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CUET 2026 (UG) Exam
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May 11-31, 2026
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CUET 2026 Answer Key Release Date
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To be announced later on the website
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CUET 2026 Result Date
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To be announced later on the website
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Counselling Session (Tentative)
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July 2026 onwards
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Announcement of City of CUET UG 2026 exam
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To be announced later on the website
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CUET 2026 Eligibility Criteria
Age Limit: No age limit for candidates.
Qualification: Must have passed or be appearing in Class 12/equivalent examination in 2026
Reservations: Indian nationals of specific categories (OBC-NCL, Gen-EWS, SC, ST) have seats reserved as per Government of India rules, subject to the reservation policy of the respective Central University
Persons with Disability (PwD)
- Provisions include the use of a scribe (if necessary) and compensatory time during exams.
- For one-hour exam, an extra 20 minutes will be given to the candidates
- A minimum disability of 40% is required for reservation benefits.
CUET 2026 Exam Pattern
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Section
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Description
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Questions
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Language
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Reading Comprehension (Factual, Literary, Narrative), Literary Aptitude, Vocabulary
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50 questions (all compulsory)
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Domain Subjects
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23 domain-specific subjects based on NCERT Class 12 syllabus
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50 questions (all compulsory)
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General Aptitude Test
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General Knowledge, Current Affairs, General Mental Ability, Numerical Ability, Quantitative Reasoning, Logical and Analytical Reasoning
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50 questions (all compulsory)
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Note:
- Candidates can choose a maximum of 5 subjects (including languages and General Test).
- Subject choice must align with university/programme eligibility.
Structure of CUET 2026 Exam
- Total subjects: 37 (13 languages, 23 domain-specific and 01 General Aptitude Test)
- Medium of the Test: 13 languages (Assamese, Bengali, English, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Punjabi, Odia, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu)
- Duration for each test paper: 60 minutes
- Marking: +5 correct, -1 incorrect, 0 unattempted
CUET Free Master Classes:
CUET 2026 Syllabus
Section IA & IB (Languages)
The language section evaluates reading comprehension (factual, literary, narrative), verbal ability, vocabulary, etc. 13 languages are offered.
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Languages Offered
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English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu
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Section II (Domain-Specific Subjects)
23 domain subjects based on Class 12 NCERT syllabus. Detailed syllabus available on official website.
Section III (General Aptitude Test)
General Knowledge, Current Affairs, General Mental Ability, Numerical Ability, Quantitative Reasoning, Logical and Analytical Reasoning.
CUET 2026 Study Material
Candidates can take their CUET 2026 preparation to the next level with Hitbullseye. CUET 2026 study material is tailored for success and includes comprehensive coverage of the CUET Syllabus. You can track your progress, enjoy interactive learning and study at your own pace. In addition, we offer exclusive material for General Aptitude Test and English Comprehension, as well as links to recommended books that can help you on your journey to success.
CUET 2026 Application Process
Step 1: Registration
Register for the online application and note the system-generated Application Number.
Provide Personal Details: Supply necessary details and select a password, along with a security question and answer.
This application number is crucial for completing the application and for future correspondence.
Step 2: Completing the Application Form
Use the system-generated application number and your password for login
Fill out Details which include personal information, educational qualifications, University/program selection and examination cities
- Upload Documents
- Photograph: Recent passport-size (colour or black & white with 80% face visible, white background). Size: 10 kb to 200 kb (JPG/JPEG).
- Signature: Size 4 kb to 30 kb (JPG/JPEG).
- PwD Certificate (if applicable).
Step 3: Fee Payment
Pay the exam fee online via Net Banking, Credit Card, Debit Card or UPI. Processing charges and GST will apply.
Confirmation Page: Generated post-successful fee payment. If not generated, contact the concerned Bank/Payment Gateway.
Application Confirmation: The application is considered successful only after fee payment confirmation.
Right Information: Ensure all details entered are correct. Changes are not permitted after submission. Provide a valid and personal email address and mobile number for receiving updates from NTA.
Single Application: Submit only one application per candidate (except for twins).
Documentation: No need to send any documents to NTA post-application.
Note: Incomplete applications (without successful fee payment) will be rejected.
CUET 2026 Admit Card
The admit card for CUET 2026 will be released in the second week of May 2026 onwards at https://cuet.nta.nic.in/.
- Registered candidates will be able to download the admit card when it is released.
- Candidates are required to download the admit card from the official website.
- Before the release of the admit card, NTA will release the exam city intimation slip.
- To download the admit card, candidates will need to enter their application number and password or date of birth.
- It is important to note that candidates must appear at the examination center on the date and time allotted to them.
CUET 2026 Answer Key
The National Testing Agency (NTA) will publish the provisional answer key for CUET 2026 on the official website. Candidates can challenge the answer key by paying a fee if necessary.
- Candidates can use the provisional answer key and response sheet to estimate their probable score.
- The final answer key will be released after considering challenges and will determine the result.
CUET 2026 Cutoff
CUET 2026 Cut Off is expected to be released after the results. Institutions will publish their cutoffs on their official websites. Only candidates meeting the cutoff will be eligible for admission. The cutoff depends on factors like number of applicants, seats, and scores.
CUET 2026 Result
The result for CUET 2026 is expected to be announced in June/July 2026 via https://cuet.nta.nic.in/. Candidates can access the scorecard using login credentials.
For more information about candidates can refer to the CUET 2026 Analysis
CUET 2026 Counselling
The Counselling process is conducted by respective universities using CUET scores. Universities prepare merit lists and conduct counselling rounds.
CUET 2026 Mock Test
NTA provides official mock tests on its website. Practicing mocks is crucial for understanding the exam pattern and improving performance.
CUET 2026 Previous Year Question Paper
Solving previous year papers helps understand the pattern and question types. Download from official website or reliable sources.
CUET 2026 Preparation Tips
- Work on solving more and more questions because solving questions helps in improving the speed and accuracy
- Analyze your weak areas and work on them to boost your overall performance
- Try to cover each section because each sections hold its own significance in the exam
- Learn to manage your time effectively so that in the time of CUET exam you can maintain a positive attitude toward your CUET preparation
- For better performance seek guidance from your teachers and CUET Online Coaching
- Keep yourself updated about any changes in the CUET Exam pattern and syllabus.
FAQs Regarding CUET Exam
How is CUET (UG) 2026 going to be helpful to a student?
- Reduces stress of scoring over 95% in Class 12 Boards for University admission.
- Standardizes marks across different Boards by having a common exam.
- Offers objective evaluation with Multiple Choice Questions, eliminating subjectivity.
- Conducted in Computer-Based Test (CBT), making it more accessible.
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