The National Testing Agency (NTA) has issued an urgent advisory to millions of college hopefuls across India as the registration window for the CUET UG 2026 enters its final 48 hours.

The application portal for the Common University Entrance Test (Undergraduate) is scheduled to close on Friday, Jan 30, at 11:50 pm IST. NTA officials have urged candidates to complete their submissions immediately, warning of significant "technical disruptions" and heavy server traffic typical of the final hours of the registration cycle.

Key Deadlines and Schedule

While the application window closes on Friday, the NTA has provided a 24-hour grace period specifically for fee transactions to accommodate banking delays.

  • Registration Deadline: Friday, Jan 30 (11:50 pm IST)
  • Last Date for Fee Payment: Saturday, Jan 31 (11:50 pm IST)
  • Correction Window: Monday, Feb 2 – Wednesday, Feb 4, 2026
  • Exam Window: May 11 – May 31, 2026 (Tentative)

Registration Fees (Up to 3 Subjects)

For the 2026 cycle, the NTA has maintained a tiered pricing structure based on candidate categories. Each additional subject beyond the initial three incurs an extra fee ranging from ₹350 to ₹400.

CategoryApplication Fee (3 Subjects)
General (Unreserved)₹1,000
OBC-NCL / EWS₹900
SC / ST / PwBD / Third Gender₹800
International Centres₹4,500

Vital Instructions for Applicants

The CUET UG 2026 serves as the mandatory single-window gateway for undergraduate admissions into all Central Universities, including Delhi University (DU), BHU, and JNU, as well as over 200 participating state and private institutions.

  • Digital Requirements: Applicants must have a scanned photograph (10–200 KB), a scanned signature (4–30 KB), and a valid government ID (Aadhaar, PAN, or Passport) ready.
  • Live Photo Capture: A new requirement for 2026 includes a live photo capture option on the portal; candidates are advised to ensure a plain background and clear lighting during the process.
  • Subject Selection: Candidates can choose up to five subjects. The NTA has reduced the domain list from 27 to 23 this year, moving certain subjects like Performing Arts into the "General Test" category.

The NTA has confirmed that there is currently no proposal to extend the deadline. Candidates facing issues with OTP verification or document uploads are advised to contact the NTA Help Desk at 011-40759000 or email cuet-ug@nta.ac.in.