Course
CUET PG 2026 Exam: Check Dates, Eligibility, Exam Pattern, Syllabus & Preparation
What is CUET PG 2026?
The CUET PG is a national-level examination, which is conducted by NTA for admission into postgraduate programmes in Indian Universities.
- The CUET PG offers more than 157 domain-based subjects, which allows candidates to apply according to their UG Background.
- More than 5 lakh candidates appear every year in the CUET PG Exam, which makes the competition very high.
CUET PG 2026: Overview
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | CUET PG 2026 (Common University Entrance Test – Postgraduate) |
| Conducting Body | National Testing Agency (NTA) |
| Level | National-level Exam |
| Purpose | Admission to PG courses in 190+ universities (Central, State, Deemed & Private) |
| Exam Dates ( EXPECTED) | March 13 – April 1, 2026 (Multiple Shifts) |
| Exam Mode | Online, Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
| Duration | 90 minutes per paper |
| Question Type | Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) |
| Marking Scheme | +4 for correct, 1 for incorrect, 0 for unattempted |
| Medium | Bilingual (English & Hindi) for all subjects |
| Number of Papers | 150+ subject/domain papers |
| Participating Universities | 190+ (including DU, JNU, BHU, Hyderabad University, etc.) |
| Difficulty Level | Moderate (concept-based from UG syllabus) |
CUET PG 2026 Dates
The CUET PG 2026 Schedule includes the admission schedule from registration to result declaration. You should check these dates carefully, so as not to miss any deadline that can impact the admission process.
CUET PG 2026 Important Dates
| Event | Expected Dates |
|---|---|
| Start of Online Registration | December 14, 2025 |
| Last Date to Apply | January 20, 2026 |
| Last Date for Fee Payment | 23rd January 2026 |
| Application Correction Window | 3 January 2026 to 25 January 2026 |
| Admit Card Release | Early March 2026 |
| CUET PG 2026 Exam Dates | Mid-March 2026 (multiple shifts) |
| Provisional Answer Key | Mid-April 2026 |
| Result Declaration | Late April 2026 |
| University Counselling Begins | May–June 2026 |
CUET PG Previous Year Registration Statistics
Knowing the CUET PG Registration statistics will give you an analysis of how many candidates registered for the exam in the last few years. The CUET PG has an increase in the number of registrations and the total number of candidates who appeared.
CUET PG Registration & Appearance Trends (Previous Years)
- Since 2022, the registration has increased by 70%, indicating a rise in Candidates appearing in the CUET PG.
- Around 80 to 90% candidates who register appear annually.
- As the registration has increased to more than 4.5 lakh candidates, the cutoffs for top universities have also increased.
| Year | Candidates Registered | Candidates Appeared |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 4,60,000 | 4,10,000 |
| 2024 | 4,30,000 | 3,80,000 |
| 2023 | 3,90,000 | 3,30,000 |
| 2022 | 2,70,000 | 2,10,000 |
How to apply for CUET PG 2026?
If you are looking to appear for CUET PG, you can apply easily with an online process by the NTA. You have to visit the official website, register, enter your details and follow all the steps along with the submission of application fees.
CUET PG 2026 Registration Fees
The CUET PG registration fee depends on the candidate’s category and the number of test papers selected. You have to pay accurate exam fees for proper form submission.
CUET PG Application Fee
| Category | Fee for First Test Paper |
|---|---|
| General | ₹1,200 |
| OBC-NCL / EWS | ₹1,000 |
| SC / ST / PwD | ₹900 |
| Third Gender | ₹900 |
| Additional Test Paper | ₹600 (per paper) |
CUET PG Eligibility Criteria
The CUET PG Eligibility Criteria allows graduates from different academic backgrounds to compete for PG Admissions with a single national-level exam conducted by NTA.
The CUET PG sets the minimum eligibility, but the final admission will depend upon the programme-based rules of participating universities.
CUET PG Eligibility Criteria
| Eligibility Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Educational Qualification | Bachelor’s degree or equivalent from a recognised university |
| Final-Year Students | They can also apply, also depends upon the university admission requirements. |
| Minimum Marks | It is fixed by CUET PG; it differs by university and programme. |
| Age Limit | No age limit to appear for CUET PG |
| Nationality | Indian nationals, foreign nationals, as per university rules |
| Number of Attempts | No restriction on attempts |
| Subject Eligibility | Must meet programme-specific eligibility set by the admitting university |
CUET PG 2026 Academic Programs Offered
The CUET PG 2026 Exam offers admission in the postgraduate programmes in more than 190+ participating universities, including central, state, Deemed & private institutes.
There are more than 150+ subject papers for which candidates can apply, such as science, commerce, arts, humanities, management, education & law.
| Stream / Discipline | Example Programmes Offered |
|---|---|
| Science | M.Sc. (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biotechnology, Environmental Science, Life Sciences) |
| Commerce & Management | M.Com, MBA, PGDM, M.A. (Economics, Business Studies) |
| Arts & Humanities | M.A. (English, Hindi, History, Political Science, Sociology, Philosophy, Linguistics, Psychology, Geography) |
| Education | M.Ed., M.A. (Education) |
| Law | LLM, PG Diploma in Law |
| Social Sciences | M.A. (Anthropology, International Relations, Development Studies, Social Work, Public Administration) |
| Computer Science & IT | M.Sc. (Computer Science, Information Technology), MCA |
| Specialised/Professional Courses | Journalism & Mass Communication, Library & Information Science, Fine Arts, Performing Arts, Tourism, Public Health |
CUET PG Exam Pattern
The CUET PG Exam is conducted by NTA and will follow the same exam pattern. The time limit has changed from 90 minutes to 105 minutes of duration.
- The CUET PG Exam will be held in a CBT Mode, including MCQs, in a bilingual language in all streams.
- The total number of questions and marks is the same in each subject.
- With each correct answer, the candidate will get +4 marks, and with each incorrect answer, -1 mark will be deducted.
- Most of the subjects will focus on domain-based knowledge, as per your chosen PG Programme.
CUET PG 2026 Subject-wise Exam Pattern
| Subject Category | Sections Included | No. of Questions | Marks per Question | Total Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Science / Commerce / Arts / Humanities / Social Sciences | Domain-Specific Section | 75 | 4 | 300 | 90 minutes |
| Language Papers | Language Comprehension & Usage | 75 | 4 | 300 | 90 minutes |
| Professional / Interdisciplinary Courses | Domain Knowledge | 75 | 4 | 300 | 90 minutes |
| Common Papers (where applicable) | Subject-Specific Concepts | 75 | 4 | 300 | 90 minutes |
CUET PG Subject-Wise Syllabus
The CUET PG Syllabus is based on the Curriculum of UG Subjects, which makes conceptual clarity more important than rote learning.
It is set by NTA, and will vary according to different subjects and focuses on the knowledge of core-domain subjects, depending upon the chosen postgraduate programme.
CUET PG Syllabus includes:
- Common / General Subject: Including Economics, Commerce, Education, Law, Physical Education, and Library Science.
- Humanities Subjects: Including History, Geography, Sociology, Fine Arts, Textile Design, Home Science, and Museology.
- Acharya / Religious Studies Subjects: Including Hindu Studies, Dharma Shastra, Agama, Vedanta, Rigveda, and Sahitya.
- Languages Subjects: Including English, Hindi, Kannada, Japanese, Spanish, German, Nepali, Odia, and other languages.
- M.Tech / Engineering Subjects: Including Nanoscience, Nanoelectronics, Chemical, Thermal & Polymer Engineering, Food & Electronics Engineering.
- Science Subjects: Including Physics, Mathematics, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Statistics, Pharmacy, Criminology, and Forensic Science.
FAQs for CUET PG 2026
Ques. What is the Pattern of CUET PG Exam 2026?
Ans. The CUET PG Exam will follow a proper CBT Format with objective questions, bilingual language and negative marking.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Mode | Online, CBT |
| Duration | 90 minutes |
| Questions | 75 MCQs |
| Marks | 300 (4 marks each, –1 negative) |
| Medium | English & Hindi |
Ques. Is CUET PG Conducted Twice a Year?
Ans. No, CUET PG is held only once a year by NTA.
- Expected to be conducted in March–April 2026.
- The Exam will be conducted in multiple shifts.
- The Application opens in January 2026.
Ques. How to Prepare for CUET PG 2026?
Ans. The CUET PG Preparation requires a focused approach to the UG Syllabus, mock test and revision. By proper time management, candidates can crack the exam in 2-3 months.
- Do the Revision of the UG subject syllabus thoroughly.
- Solve the last 3–5 years’ papers and NTA sample papers.
- Attempt at least 20–25 mock tests for speed & accuracy.
- Revise at least 2–3 times before the exam.
Ques. How to Apply for CUET 2026?
Ans. The CUET PG Application process has started on 14th December on the official website. To apply for CUET 2026, candidates should:
- Register on the NTA CUET PG website.
- Fill the form with personal & academic details.
- Select courses & universities.
- Upload documents and pay the application fee.
- Download the confirmation page.
Ques. Which College Accepts CUET PG for MBA?
Ans. The CUET PG Score is not accepted by MBA Admissions in the top central universities in DU and BHU. The Top Universities accept the CAT Score for MBA.
| College | MBA Admission Mode | CUET PG Accepted? |
|---|---|---|
| DU (FMS) | CAT | NO |
| BHU (FMS) | CAT | NO |
| JNU, AMU, CUs | MBA via CAT/other tests | NO |
| PG Courses (MA, MSc, MCom) | CUET PG | YES |
