Candidates willing to appear for the CUET 2026 Performing Arts exam can check the CUET Performing Arts Syllabus here. It will help students get an idea about the topics from which the questions are asked in the exam.
NTA released the official CUET Performing Arts Syllabus 2026 at cuet.nta.nic.in. Candidates preparing for the CUET Performing Arts exam must download and cover the entire topics included in the CUET Performing Arts Syllabus 2026. For better preparation for Performing Arts exam, candidates should also refer to the previous years’ Performing Arts question papers, as they will help them know the total marks, chapter-wise weightage, topics, and types of questions asked in the exam.
The CUET UG syllabus for all subjects is available in PDF format. Candidates preparing for CUET exam who have selected Performing Arts as one of their domain subjects can check find the complete CUET UG Performing Arts syllabus on this page. NTA conducts Common University EntranceTest for admission to UG courses in all participating central, state, private, government and deemed universities in India.
For 2026-27 admission cycle, CUET UG 2026 will take place between May 11 and May 31, 2026.
Commonly asked questions
CUET UG syllabus for Delhi University admission is completely based on NCERT curriculum. CUET UG syllabus for Delhi University varies depending on the course that candidate desires to pursue and CUET subjects that have been opted. Candidates can download the CUET UG 2026 syllabus for 13 languages, 23 domain subjects and General Aptitude Test from the official website.
No, CUET syllabus is not based on CBSE syllabus as claimed by Education Ministry in Rajya Sabha. The CUET exam is designed to assess the general understandig of the candidate in subjects he/she has opted for. CUET UG is on of the biggest UG entrance exam carnival conducted for admission in cebtral, state, private and deemed universities.
Candidates preparing for CUET UG exam must check the detailed CUET syllabus and CUET question paper to become familiar with the important topics and type of questions asked in the exam.
Common University Entrance Test syllabus for Delhi University consists of three sections- Language, Domain subjects and General Aptitude Test. The syllabus for CUET domain subjects is entirely based on NCERT curriculum. Candidates can check the subject-wise CUET UG syllabus at cuet.nta.nic.in. NTA has prescribed syllabus for 37 subjects. Admission to Delhi University through CUET requires appearing in subjects passed in class 12th.
Since the CUET UG 2026 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.
- CUET Performing Arts Syllabus PDF Download
- CUET Performing Arts Syllabus 2026
- CUET Performing Arts Pattern
- Best Books for CUET Performing Arts Preparation
- CUET Subject List: Syllabus and Question Paper
CUET Performing Arts Syllabus PDF Download
Students who are preparing to appear for the Fine Arts exams can download the CUET Syllabus 2026 Performing Arts PDF from the direct link provided below.
| Download CUET Performing Arts Syllabus PDF |
| CUET Performing Arts 2026 Syllabus PDF |
CUET Performing Arts Syllabus 2026
In the Performing Arts Subject, there are a total of four sections which are Dance, Drama-Theatre, and Music. Candidates can check the detailed CUET Performing Arts Syllabus 2026 in the table below:
Explore colleges based on CUET
| Section |
Unit |
Details / Topics Covered |
|---|---|---|
| Music (Section A) |
Unit I |
Definitions: Sangeet, Nad, Shruti, Swara (Shuddha, Komal, Teevra), Pitch, Intensity, Timbre, Gram, Murcchana, Varna, Alankar, Raga, Alap, Tana, Gamak, Meend, Kan |
| Unit II |
Vadi, Samvadi, Anuvadi, Vivadi, Uttarang, Puravang, Aroh, Avroh, Pakad, Thata (Mela), Jati – Audav, Shadav, Sampurna and varieties |
|
| Unit III |
Laya (Vilambit, Madhya, Drut), Layakari (Dagun, Tigun, Chaugun, Chegun), Tala terms (Tala, Matra, Tali, Khali, Sam, Vibhag, Avartan), Talas: Teental, Ektala, Dadra, Keharwa, Jhaptala, Rupak, Adi, Saptala, Chaputala, Rupakam |
|
| Unit IV |
Musical forms: Prabandh, Dhrupad, Khayal, Thumri, Tarana, Maseetkhani & Razakhani Gat, Kriti, Pallavi, Padam, Tillana |
|
| Unit V |
Contributions of musicians: V.N. Bhatkhande, Omkar Nath Thakur, Allauddin Khan, Mushtaq Ali Khan, Tyagaraja, Purandaradasa, Rabindranath Tagore, Kazi Nazrul Islam |
|
| Unit VI |
Musical instruments & classification: String (Sitar, Tanpura, Veena, Sarod, Sarangi), Percussion (Tabla, Pakhawaj, Mridangam, Khatam, Khanjira, Dholak), Wind (Flute, Shehnai, Nagaswaram, Harmonium), Metallic (Chimta, Cymbal, Ghungroo, Khadtala, Chipla, Morchung) |
|
| Unit VII |
Salient features of ragas: Yaman/Kalyani, Bhairav/Mayamalavagowla, Alhaiya Bilawal/Shankarabharanam, Malkauns/Hindolam, Bageshree/Shri Ranjani, Bhupali/Mohanam |
|
| Dance (Section B) |
Unit I |
Classical dances of India (Kathak, Bharatanatyam, Manipuri, Kathakali, Odissi, Kuchipudi, Mohiniattam, Sattriya): History, repertoire, music, costume & makeup |
| Unit II |
Life sketches of chief exponents and contributors (past & present) |
|
| Unit III |
Terms: Sangeet, Natya, Nritta, Nritya, Tandav, Lasya, Lokdharmi, Natyadharmi |
|
| Unit IV |
Texts: Abhinaya Darpan, Natya Shastra, Abhinaya Chandrika, Hasta Lakshana Deepika; Major folk dances of India |
|
| Unit V |
Abhinaya & Rasa theory: Aangika, Vachika, Aaharya, Satwika; Navrasa & Sthayi Bhava; Bhava, Vibhava, Anubhava, Sanchari |
|
| Unit VI |
Survey of classical dance practice: Gharanas, institutions, university departments; Major dance festivals |
|
| Percussion Music (Section C) |
Unit I |
Structure of Tabla, Pakhawaj and Mridangam |
| Unit II |
Varnas of Tabla, Pakhawaj and Mridangam |
|
| Unit III |
Tala terminology, compositions (Theka, Kayada, Rela, Tukda, Paran, etc.), Carnatic forms (Korvai, Mohra, Muktayipu), Laya, Layakari, Jati |
|
| Unit IV |
Bhatkhande Tala Notation System & Carnatic Tala Notation System |
|
| Unit V |
Origin of Tabla, Pakhawaj, Mridangam; Gharanas of Tabla & Pakhawaj |
|
| Unit VI |
Prescribed Talas: Teental, Jhaptala, Ektala, Rupak, Keharwa, Dadra, Chautala, Dhamar, Sooltala, Khemta, Carnatic Talas (Dhruva, Matya, Jhampa, Triputa, Ata, Eka) |
|
| Unit VII |
Biographies: Pt. Kishan Maharaj, Ustad Zakir Hussain, Raja Chatrapati Singh, Guru Purushottam Das, Palani Subramania Pillai, Palghat Mani Iyer |
|
| Drama & Theatre (Section D) |
Unit I |
Indian classical & traditional theatre: Sanskrit playwrights (Bhasa, Kalidasa, Sudraka, Bhavabhuti), major traditional forms |
| Unit II |
Modern Indian theatre: Tagore, Bhartendu, Tendulkar, Mohan Rakesh, Girish Karnad etc.; Theatre practitioners |
|
| Unit III |
Western classical & medieval drama: Greek playwrights (Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides), Shakespeare |
|
| Unit IV |
Modern Western theatre: Chekhov, Ibsen, Shaw, Beckett, Brecht etc.; Theatre practitioners |
|
| Unit V |
Theatre production & design: Types of theatres; Set, light, costume, makeup, sound & music |
|
| Unit VI |
Indian theatre organisations (NSD, SNA, ZCCs); Research project development & documentation |
CUET Performing Arts Pattern
Best Books for CUET Performing Arts Preparation
Check out recommended books to prepare well for CUET performing arts exam:
- NCERT Performing Arts (Class 11 & 12)
- Together with CUET UG & NCET Question Bank Performing Arts by Rachna Sagar
- Oswaal CUET UG Question Bank
- R. Gupta's CUET-UG Guide
Commonly asked questions
National Testing Agency releases the subject-wise CUET UG syllabus on its official website. Candidates can download the syllabus PDFs as per their stream-wise subjects. CUET syllabus is available for 23 domain subjects of Arts, Commerce and Science streams.
No, class 11th subject syllabus is not included in CUET UG exam. Students who are preparing for CUET 2026 exam must focus on class 12th NCERT curriculum. NTA prescribes the CUET UG syllabus on its official website. Candidates must be familar the detailed syllabus mentioned on the NTA CUET official website- cuet.nta.nic.in. However, for better concepts clarity, candidates may refer to the class 11th resources.
NTA CUET 2026 exam will be scheduled in May/June 2026 tentatively. Candidates preparing for board examinations must prepare well for the CUET exam along.
CUET Subject List: Syllabus and Question Paper
Candidates can access the CUET 2026 syllabus and CUET previous year's question papers for all the subjects in the table below:
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Student Forum
Answered 2 days ago
Yes, the BHU UG 2026 Counselling registration has been started at the samarth portal. The last date to apply for the BHU UG 2026 admissions is July 25.
R
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 2 days ago
Yes, aspirants can get admission at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj University via CUET-UG scores. Aspirants who pass CUET can register on the university's website with their score. Once selected, aspirants have to come for document verification and pay course fees to confirm their seat.
N
Guide-Level 15
Answered 2 days ago
No, candidates cannnot get admission in Shri Ram College of Commerce without CUET. It is strictly mandatory for applicants to register and qualify CUET UG and CUET PG exam for applying into UG and PG courses. Seats are offered through the Delhi University Common Seat Allocation System (CSAS). Candid
R
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 days ago
Aspirants do not require CUET scores for admission in BA LLB course of Brainware University. Candidates are selected based on their merit or BET scores. No, entrance exam is required to get admission.
N
Guide-Level 15
Answered 2 days ago
No, CUET is not required to get admission in BCom at Jai Hind College. Admission is given by considering: 50% merit (Class 12 marks) and 50% entrance-based (Jai Hind College Common Entrance Exam - CEE).
R
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 days ago
Apex University considers CUET scores for admission in UG and PG courses. However, only 50% seats are filled via CUET. Aspirants can also appear for AUCET conducted by the university for admission in other 50% seats.
N
Guide-Level 15
Answered 3 days ago
Yes, Tezpur University has notified the activation of the samarth application portal for its admissions. Candidates can fill the application form till July 20.
A
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 3 days ago
No, CUET is not compulsory for admission at SGT University. Aspirants can also get admission based on their qualifying exam scores. For BTech, candidates with JEE Main scores are also offered admission.
N
Guide-Level 15
Answered 3 days ago
No, SGT University does considers CUET-UG scores for admission in BA LLB (Hons) course. However, it is not compulsory. Aspirants can also get admission based on their qualifying exam scores. Candidates do have to pass the PI round conducted by the university for admission.
N
Guide-Level 15
Answered 4 days ago
No, CUET is not required for admission in BBA at J. C. Bose University of Science and Technology, YMCA. Admission is offered based on merit of the qualifying examination, wherein the percentage shall be calculated on the basis of the
consolidated marks of the best five subjects.
R
Contributor-Level 10
Nupur Jain started with a passion for educational content writing, which soon grew into a meaningful journey of helping students through reliable guidance. A commerce graduate from Delhi University, she has spent ov
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