CUET Biology Syllabus 2026: Important Chapters, Questions & Books; PDF Download
Common University Entrance Test 2025 ( CUET )
Are you planning to take the CUET 2026 Biology exam? If yes, read the article below to get the direct PDF link for CUET Biology Syllabus. Also, get the important topics, previous years' question papers, and some recommended books to prepare for the CUET Biology exam.
CUET Biology Syllabus
CUET Biology Syllabus 2026: CUET is an undergraduate entrance exam held by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for students to gain admission to different universities/colleges across India. Biology is one of the top 10 CUET subjects and requires thorough preparation for the exam. Candidates interested in taking UG courses that require Biology as one of the mapped domain subjects must know the CUET Biology Syllabus. NTA releases the CUET UG syllabus for all 37 subjects in PDF format on its official website.
The CUET Biology Syllabus includes topics such as reproduction, biotechnology, ecology and environment, health and disease, and many more. Candidates preparing for the CUET exam must check the CUET eligibility criteria and ensure they meet all the requirements of their target university. NTA will conduct CUET 2026 for UG admissions in the second week of May 2026. The mode of examination will be Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode. Get the direct CUET Biology Syllabus PDF link and the list of biology books for exam preparation here on this page.
The CUET Biology exam consists of 50 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and candidates must attempt all questions within 60 minutes. Each correct answer carries 5 marks and 1 mark is deducted for every incorrect answer.
Yes, you can take Biology as a domain subject in CUET for many universities. However, each university has specific requirements for different programmes. It is essential to review the university's eligibility criteria and subject mapping guidelines to ensure that Biology is accepted for the course you're applying for. Universities offering life sciences, biotechnology, and medical-related programmes are more likely to accept Biology as a domain subject. Always check the CUET subject mapping for the specific university before applying.
CUET 2026 Biology Syllabus: Highlights
Check out the table below to know the details regarding CUET UG Biology Syllabus 2026:
| Particulars |
Details |
|---|---|
| CUET Exam Conducting Body |
National Testing Agency |
| Mode of the examination |
Computer-based test mode |
| Language of exam |
13 languages - English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu |
| Type of questions |
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) |
| Total number of Questions |
50 questions (all compulsory) |
| Duration of Exam |
60 minutes |
| 250 per subject |
|
| Negative marking |
Yes |
| Marking Scheme |
+5 for each correct answer -1 for each incorrect answer |
| CUET Biology Mapping for Courses |
B.Sc. in Biology or Zoology |
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The CUET Biology Syllabus includes 13 chapters and is distributed among 5 units. Candidates can take a look at the detailed CUET Biology Syllabus here.
Unit I: Reproduction
Chapter 1: Sexual Reproduction in Flowering Plants Flower structure; development of male and female gametophytes; pollination - types, agencies and examples; out breeding devices; pollen-pistil interaction; double fertilization; post fertilization events - development of endosperm and embryo, development of seed and formation of fruit; special modes- apomixis, parthenocarpy, polyembryony; Significance of seed dispersal and fruit formation
Chatpter 2: Human Reproduction Male and female reproductive systems; microscopic anatomy of testis and ovary; gametogenesis -spermatogenesis and oogenesis; menstrual cycle; fertilisation, embryo development upto blastocyst formation, implantation; pregnancy and placenta formation (elementary idea); parturition (elementary idea); lactation (elementary idea).
Chapter 3: Reproductive Health Need for reproductive health and prevention of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs); birth control - need and methods, contraception and medical termination of pregnancy (MTP); amniocentesis; infertility and assisted reproductive technologies - IVF, ZIFT, GIFT (elementary idea for general awareness).
Unit II: Genetics and Evolution
Chapter 4: Principles of Inheritance and Variation Heredity and variation: Mendelian inheritance; deviations from Mendelism – incomplete dominance, co-dominance, multiple alleles and inheritance of blood groups, pleiotropy; elementary idea of polygenic inheritance; chromosome theory of inheritance; chromosomes and genes; Sex
determination - in humans, birds and honey bee; linkage and crossing over; sex linked inheritance - haemophilia, colour blindness; Mendelian disorders in humans - thalassemia; chromosomal disorders in humans; Down's syndrome, Turner's and Klinefelter's syndromes.
Chapter 5: Molecular Basis of Inheritance Search for genetic material and DNA as genetic material; Structure of DNA and RNA; DNA packaging; DNA replication; Central Dogma; transcription, genetic code, translation; gene expression and regulation - lac operon; Genome, Human and rice genome projects; DNA fingerprinting.
Chapter 6: Evolution Origin of life; biological evolution and evidences for biological evolution (paleontology, comparative anatomy, embryology and molecular evidences); Darwin's contribution, modern synthetic theory of evolution; mechanism of evolution - variation (mutation and recombination) and natural selection with examples,
types of natural selection; Gene flow and genetic drift; Hardy- Weinberg's principle; adaptive radiation; human evolution
Unit III: Biology and Human Welfare
Chapter 7: Human Health and Disease Pathogens; parasites causing human diseases (malaria, dengue, chikungunya, filariasis, ascariasis, typhoid, pneumonia, common cold, amoebiasis, ring worm) and their control; Basic concepts of immunology - vaccines; cancer, HIV and AIDS; Adolescence - drug and alcohol abuse.
Chapter 8: Microbes in Human Welfare. Microbes in food processing, industrial production, sewage treatment, energy generation and microbes as bio-control agents and bio-fertilizers. Antibiotics; production and judiciousus.
Unit IV: Biotechnology and its Applications
Chapter 9: Biotechnology: Principles and Processes Genetic Engineering (Recombinant DNA Technology).
Chapter 10: Biotechnology and its Applications Application of biotechnology in health and agriculture: Human insulin and vaccine production, stem cell technology, gene therapy; genetically modified organisms - Bt crops; transgenic animals; biosafety issues, biopiracy and patents.
Unit V: Ecology and Environment
Chapter 11: Organisms and Populations Population interactions - mutualism, competition, predation, parasitism; population attributes - growth, birth rate and death rate, age distribution. (Topics excluded: Organism and its Environment, Major Aboitic Factors, Responses to Abioitic Factors, Adaptations)
Chapter 12: Ecosystem Ecosystems: Patterns, components; productivity and decomposition; energy flow; pyramids of number, biomass, energy (Topics excluded: Ecological Succession and Nutrient Cycles).
Chapter 13: Biodiversity and Conservation Biodiversity-Concept, patterns, importance; loss of biodiversity; biodiversity conservation; hotspots, endangered organisms, extinction, Red Data Book, Sacred Groves, biosphere reserves, national parks, wildlife, sanctuaries, and Ramsar sites.
Also Download:
| CUET Biology Question Paper | CUET Biology Syllabus PDF |
Download CUET Subject-Wise Syllabus and Question Paper PDF
Find the CUET Syllabus 2026 and CUET UG Question Papers PDFs for the Language Paper, 23 CUET Domain Subjects, and General Test in the table below:
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Recommended Books for CUET UG Biology 2026
The CUET 2026 exam is generally based on the Class 12 syllabus and the NCERT book. However, to prepare well for the exam, students planning to take the CUET Biology 2026 can refer to the CUET books listed below:
- NCERT Class 12 Biology Textbook
- Pradeep’s A Text Book of Biology Class 12 by P.S. Dhami
- Together with Biology by S. Chand
- Biology by Campbell and Reece
- S. Chand’s Biology for class XII by B.P. Pandey
After taking CUET exam, biology students can pursue various career options depending on the courses they choose for higher education. Some of the common career paths include:
- Medical Careers – MBBS, BDS, Nursing, Pharmacy, or Ayurvedic Medicine.
- Biotechnology and Genetics – Research and Development, Genetic Engineering, or Biotechnology roles.
- Environmental Science – Careers in Ecology, Wildlife Conservation, and Environmental Policy.
- Agriculture and Food Science – Careers in Agricultural Research, Food Science, or Nutrition.
- Allied Health Sciences – Physiotherapy, Radiology, or Laboratory Technology.
These options lead to roles in hospitals, research institutions, pharmaceutical companies, and government sectors.
Candidates can choose upto two exam cities of their choice while filling the CUET application form. NTA will make the best efforts to allot the city of examination to the candidates in the order of preference opted by them in their CUET 2026 application form. However, due to administrative/logistic reasons, a different city can be allotted to the candidates. Choice of CUET 2026 centre city will be limited to the State of Permanent Address or State of Present Address only. In case, there are very few candidates from a particular CUET exam centre city, the NTA reserves the right to merge one, two, or more cities.
Candidates will have the oppurtunity to choose the exam city while filling the CUET application form 2026. Candidates must carefully choose the exam cities. No request for change in exam centre will be entertained once the admit cards are issued.
NTA has mentioned that CUET UG 2026 syllabus will adhere to NCERT syllabus. Hence, it can be safely assumed that the NCERT books are enough to cover the syllabus of the exam. Candidates must note that, CUET exam tests students' understanding of the concepts and ability to apply them in various situations.
Therefore, to prepare well and get a good score, it is advised that students refer to other study materials and books designed for national level competitive entrance exams. The CUET UG syllabus is in tune with the Class 12 Board exam syllabus. The chapters and topics are similar to Class 12 syllabus. Unlike other UG entrance exams, CUET UG syllabus does not include Class 11 syllabus.
Since the CUET UG 2025 syllabus is in line with the Class 12 Board exam syllabus, it can be safely assumed that the NCERT books are enough to clear CUET UG 2025 exam. Candidates must note that, CUET exam tests students' understanding of the concepts and ability to apply them in various situations. Therefore, to prepare well and get a good score, it is advised that students refer to other study materials and books designed for national level competitive entrance exams. The CUET UG syllabus is in tune with the Class 12 Board exam syllabus. The chapters and topics are similar to Class 12 syllabus. Unlike other UG entrance exams, CUET UG syllabus does not include Class 11 syllabus.
Yes, there are several recommended books for the CUET Knowledge Tradition and Practices of India (KTPI) exam. These include:
- NCERT books on Indian History, Culture, and Tradition.
- "Knowledge Traditions and Practices of India" by CBSE, which offers comprehensive material on various knowledge
- systems.
- Indian Heritage and Culture textbooks for Class XI-XII, focusing on India's intellectual and cultural traditions.
- Specialized guides and previous year papers for KTPI-specific preparation.
These resources can help candidates understand India's ancient traditions and practices, which are the focus of the CUET KTPI paper.
How to Prepare for CUET Biology Exam 2026
Listed below are some points that candidates preparing for the CUET 2026 Biology exam should keep in mind to attain a good score in CUET UG 2026 exam and get admission to the CUET participating college of their choice.
- Know the Syllabus and Exam Pattern: The first and foremost preparation strategy for any exam or subject is to know the exam pattern and syllabus. Once you do, deciding on the preparation strategy will be easier.
- Know the Important Chapters and Topics: Go through the CUET Previous Years’ Question Papers and CUET UG Exam Analysis to understand the question types, important topics, and topics with higher weightage. These will help you understand the difficulty level of CUET exam.
- Identify Strengths and Weaknesses: After completing the syllabus, identify your areas of strength and weakness. Based on that, decide which chapters to prepare thoroughly and which to leave out. Ideally, you should focus more on the areas of strength and leave out those in which you are not confident. However, before deciding on the topics to leave out, check the CUET Biology Chapter-wise weightage or importance of those areas. If your weak areas carry a high weightage, you must try to improve them. In case of a lower weightage, you can leave them and concentrate on preparing for the stronger areas.
- Practice and Solve Mock Tests and Question Papers: After completing the syllabus, the next step for CUET Biology preparation is to practice by taking regular CUET UG Mock Tests and solving the previous year’s question papers. Practice alone is not enough. After taking tests, get those analyzed by mentors or teachers to understand the areas of improvement and how to be more accurate and manage time more effectively.
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NCERT is essential for CUET Biology preparation, but is not always sufficient. The NCERT books cover the fundamental concepts, forming the base of the CUET UG syllabus, but the exam often includes application-based questions that require deeper understanding of the topic. To maximize CUET score, candidates are advised to supplement NCERT with MCQ practice papers, previous years' qestion papers, and mock tests to improve speed and accuracy.