CUET Performing Arts Syllabus 2026

CUET Performing Arts Syllabus 2026 - The National Testing Agency (NTA) administers the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) 2026, a national-level examination. It provides admission to a variety of undergraduate courses at all Central Universities, Private Universities, Deemed and State Universities, as well as other participating higher education institutions in India. It is anticipated that the CUET UG exam for 2026 will be administered in May.
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Suppose you want to enroll in Performing Arts courses through the CUET UG exam. In that case, it is recommended that you check the CUET Performing Arts Syllabus 2026 and prepare all the topics.
For complete coverage of CUET exam you can refer to Hitbullseye CUET Humanities Books
Performing arts encompass music, dance, and theatre, while visual arts involve the use of various materials to create static or tangible works. Those preparing for the CUET 2026 Exam are encouraged to review the exam pattern to gain a more profound understanding of its format.
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It is highly recommended that candidates preparing for the CUET 2026 UG Performing Arts exam should refer to the previous years' Performing Arts question papers. This will help them better understand the CUET 2026 exam pattern, total marks, chapter-wise weightage, and the type of questions asked in the exam. Practising these papers will also help candidates improve their time management skills and confidence.
The CUET 2026 Exam will be conducted in three parts:
  • Section- I is of language, where students will have the choice to pick 1-2 of their preferred languages.
  • Section- II contains class XII subjects from which an aspirant can choose 2-3 options.
  • Section-III will constitute a General Aptitude Test, which is not mandatory for students to take.
  • In parts I & II, the students will attempt 50 questions.
  • For part III, a student will attempt 60 questions..
CUET Performing Arts Syllabus 2026
To comprehend the exam thoroughly, one must comprehensively understand all subjects covered in the section.
  • Section A - Vocal & Instrumental Melodic Hindustani & Karnataka Music.
  • Section B - Dance
  • Section C - Percussion Music Hindustani & Karnataka
  • Section D - Drama/Theatre
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Sections
Divisions
Sub-Divisions
Components
Section A
DANCE
A1: Kathak
  • Brief history of other dance styles in India
  • Acquaintance of Gharana of Kathak dance
  • Rasa
  • Knowledge of the relevant terms
  • Technical terminology of the dance form.
A2: Bharatanatyam Dance
  • History of the chief contributors of the past Dance form.
  • Traditional costumes, make-up, and the Dance style opted.
A3: Kuchipudi Dance
  • Traditional dance forms of the region
  • Chief exponents of the dance form
  • Formats used in Kuchipudi
A4: Odissi Dance
  • Three styles of Chhau
  • Lives and contributions of the three Gurus
  • Natya Shastra, Abhinaya Darpana, and Abhinaya Chandrika
  • ABHINAYA
  • Rasa
A5: Manipuri Dance
  • Past and present exponents of the dance form.
  • Contents of Abhinaya Darpana.
A6: Kathakali Dance
  • Life history of masters of the dance form.
  • Hastha Lakshana Deepika and Natyasasthra.
Section B
DRAMA-THEATRE
Modern And Contemporary Indian Theater
  • Modern and contemporary styles and works in Hindi/English
Modern And Western Theater
  • Survey of major contemporary styles and works in English or English translation
Theatre Production – Management And Performance
  • Readings on Theatre management and marketing
Survey Of Acting Theory And Practice
  • Reading Stanislavsky, Strasberg
  • Readings on play production
Theatre Production
  • History of theatre architecture.
  • Readings on production design-colour theory,
Developing And Documenting The Research Project
  • Research projects in different aspects of theater.
Section C
MUSIC
C1: Hindustani Melodic
  • Brief study of Gram, Murchhana, Varna, Alankar, Alap, Tana, Gamak, Meend, Kan, Khatka, Murki, krintan, Zamzama, Ghaseet, Sut.
  • Classification of Ragas.
Development of the Time Theory of Ragas
  • Detail study of Sangeet Ratnakar and Sangeet Parijat
  • Life Sketch and Contribution of Abdul Halim Zafa, Inayat Khan, Mushtaq Ali Khan, Alauddin Khan
C1: Hindustani Vocal
  • Detailed study and life sketches of some of the masters of this field.
C2: Carnatic Music (Melodic Instrumental)
  • Detailed study and life sketches of some of the masters of this field.
C2: Carnatic Music (Vocal)
  • Contributions of Kshetrajna, Annamacharya, Gopalakrishna Bharati, Swati Tirunal, Maha Vaidyanatha Iyer, Patanam Subramanya Aiyar.
  • Study of musical forms and Manodharma Sangita.
  • Definition of Prabandham, Janaka-Janya ragas, Upanga, Bhashanga Varja, Vakra ragas, Gamakas, Arudi, Eduppu.
C3: Rabindra Sangeet
  • Knowledge of the Akar Matrik Notation System.
  • Life Sketch of Rabindranath Tagore, Girish Chandra Ghosh, Kaji Nazrul Islam and Atul Prasad Sen
C4: Percussion
  • Hindustani Percussion and notes on Chakradar, Uthan, Peskhar, and Baant
C4: Percussion Instrumental (Mridangam)
  • Granthas with reference to Tala and percussion in Sangita Ratnakara, Chaturdandi Prakashika and Ragavibhodha, Svaramela Kalanidhi.
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Preparation Tips For CUET Performing Arts:
Follow these tips to prepare for the CUET Performing Arts syllabus 2026.
  • Study the exam syllabus in-depth and break it down to understand its parts. This will help you to plan your preparation effectively. Research all the important terms and expressions used in Performing Arts, which may appear as a question type in the CUET Exam 2026.
  • Create a study timetable in advance and stick to it. Devise a study strategy and allocate enough time to each topic, which will help you better prepare for the exam.
  • The CUET Performing Arts 2026 exam requires thorough preparation and practice to excel in the exam.
Candidates should attempt as many CUET 2026 mock tests and sample papers as possible to improve their overall score significantly.
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