NTA CUET 2026: Exam Dates, Application Form, Syllabus, Pattern, Subject Choices & Colleges

The CUET UG 2026 cycle is expected to begin soon, and students planning to apply for undergraduate courses in central, state, private, deemed, or government universities should keep an eye out for the official notification. Once the announcement is made, the application form will go live on the CUET website, and candidates will be able to register for the test.

The exam itself is likely to take place in May–June 2026, but the National Testing Agency (NTA) has not confirmed an exact date yet. The notification, along with the complete schedule, is expected around the first week of March 2026.

CUET scores will be accepted by 200+ universities across India — including well-known central universities such as Delhi University, Allahabad University, Banaras Hindu University, and several others. As usual, the exam will be held across more than 300 test centres in India and abroad.

Candidates can select up to four preferred exam cities while filling the application form. All the important details — exam rules, syllabus, exam pattern, marking scheme, and the entire timeline — will be included in the official brochure released on cuet.nta.nic.in.

What’s New for CUET UG 2026?

A few changes are expected this year, based on the discussions and updates shared so far:

• The exam is most likely to be conducted offline (pen-and-paper), instead of the earlier CBT format.

• Candidates will be allowed to choose up to five subjects — this includes language papers, domain subjects, and the General Test.

• Any changes to the exam pattern, syllabus, or exam cities will be confirmed in the official notification.

• Registration is expected to begin in the first week of March.

CUET UG 2026: Important Dates (Tentative)

These dates are based on past timelines and current expectations. The official dates will be updated once the notification is released.

CUET UG Exam — Main Features

• Full Name: Common University Entrance Test (Undergraduate)

• Conducting Body: National Testing Agency (NTA)

• Level: National-level entrance exam

• Purpose: Admission to UG courses in 200+ universities

• Mode of Exam: Computer-Based Test earlier; may shift to offline mode this year

• Languages Offered: 13

• Official Websites: cuet.nta.nic.in, nta.ac.in

CUET UG 2026 Syllabus Overview

NTA follows the Class 12 NCERT curriculum for the domain subjects.
The exam has three major parts:

1. Language Section

Includes:

• Reading comprehension (factual, literary, narrative)

• Vocabulary

• Basic grammar and usage

• Literary aptitude

2. Domain Subjects 

Each subject is based on the NCERT Class 12 syllabus.
Examples:

• Physics

• Chemistry

• Biology

• Business Studies

• Accountancy

• Economics

• History

• Political Science

• Psychology

• Fine Arts

• Computer Science/ Informatics Practices

• Economics/ Business Economics

• Environmental Science

• English

• Fine Arts/ Visual Arts (Sculpture/ Painting)/Commercial Arts

• General Test
  …and more.

3. General Test

Covers:

• General knowledge

• Current affairs

• Logical reasoning

• Basic maths (up to class 8)

• Analytical reasoning

• Numerical ability

CUET UG 2026 Exam Pattern

Marking Scheme

• +5 marks for each correct answer

• –1 mark for every wrong answer

CUET UG 2026 Eligibility Criteria

Before filling the form, candidates must ensure they meet the required rules.

• Age Limit: No upper age limit

• Education: Must have passed Class 12 (or appearing in 2026)

• Nationality: Must be an Indian citizen

• University Requirements:
  Every university has its own subject requirements.
  Example:

  • B.Sc. Physics requires Physics + Math

  • B.Com. may require Accountancy/Math

  • BA courses have different requirements

Selecting the wrong subjects may lead to disqualification at the admission stage, even if the CUET score is valid.

Final Word

CUET UG 2026 is the main route to most central universities and several state and private universities. If you're planning to appear this year, keep checking the NTA website and get your documents, subjects, and preparation in place before registrations begin.