The National Testing Agency (NTA) has invited applications for the Common University Entrance Test Undergraduate (CUET-UG) 2026 for admission into the Undergraduate Programmes at Central Universities (CUs) and State/Participating Universities in India for the academic year 2026-27.

This is a test that will enable students to cover a wide outreach and be part of the admissions process to various Central Universities and other participating universities.

The list of Central Universities/Participating Universities may be seen at https://cuet.nta.nic.in/ (Universities link). The list of participating universities is dynamic. Candidates must regularly visit https://cuet.nta.nic.in for the latest updates regarding the examination and participating universities.

The role of NTA is confined to registration of candidates, conduct of tests, hosting of answer keys, inviting challenges, finalizing answer keys, preparing & declaring results and hosting scorecards. Merit lists will be prepared by participating universities/institutes/organizations. For admission to universities through CUET (UG) 2026, the existing policies regarding quota, category, relaxation, reservations, qualification, subject combinations, preferences, etc. of the respective university/institution/organization will be applicable.

Eligibility: There is no age limit for appearing for CUET UG 2026. However, candidates will be required to fulfill the age criteria (if any) of the university/institution/organization in which they are desirous of taking admission.

Those who have passed the class 12/equivalent examination or are appearing in 2026 can appear for CUET (UG) 2026. The condition on the year of appearance in Class 12/equivalent examination will be the relevant conditions of the universities/institutions applied to, which may be ascertained from the website of the respective universities/institutions.

Mode of Examination: CUET (UG) 2026 will be conducted in Computer Based Test (CBT) mode between May 11 2026 and May 31, 2026, in 13 languages (English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu). The option of language for the Question Paper (QP) should be exercised carefully while filling up the online Application Form, and it cannot be changed at a later stage.

CUET UG will be held in 37 subjects, which includes 13 languages, 23 domain-specific subjects and 1 General Aptitude Test. Languages include English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu. Domain Specific Subjects: Accountancy / Book Keeping; Agriculture; Anthropology; Biology/ Biological Science/ Biotechnology /Biochemistry; Business Studies; Chemistry; Environmental Science; Computer Science / Information Practices; Economics / Business Economics; Fine Arts/Visual Arts/Commercial Arts; Geography / Geology; History; Home Science; Knowledge Tradition - Practices in India; Mass Media / Mass Communication; Mathematics / Applied Mathematics; Performing Arts (Dance, Drama , Music); Physical Education (Yoga, Sports); Physics; Political Science; Psychology; Sanskrit; Sociology. The list of subjects covered in CUET (UG) 2026 is given in Appendix II of the Information Bulleting at https://cuet.nta.nic.in/. The detailed syllabus of CUET (UG) 2026 is also available on the website.

Candidates may choose up to a maximum of five subjects, including languages and the General Aptitude Test, irrespective of subjects opted in class XII. Candidates may select subjects based on the eligibility criteria for a programme of a desired university. There will be 50 objective-type multiple-choice questions (MCQs) for each test paper. All questions are compulsory. Duration for each test paper would be 60 minutes. A correct answer will get 5 marks. One mark will be deducted for each wrong answer. The examination will be conducted in multiple shifts, depending on the number of candidates and subject choices.

Applications can be submitted online at https://cuet.nta.nic.in/ latest by 11.50 pm on 30 January 2026. The application fee will be calculated based on category, centre (in India/abroad) and the number of subjects chosen by the candidates. Details are given in the Information Bulletin. The fee can be paid through credit/debit card/net banking/UPI by 11.50 pm on 31 January 2026. While filling out the online application form, candidates can select a maximum of 4 convenient cities as their choice of cities in order of their priority. Choice of centre cities will be limited to the State of Permanent Address or State of Present Address only, and in certain cases, only one option may also be available based on the address criteria.

Corrections in particulars in the application can be done online from February 2 to 11:50 pm on February 04 2026. The other activities, including declaration of results, will be notified on https://cuet.nta.nic.in