CUET PG 2026 New Guidelines; Check Details on Application, Eligibility, Exam City Selection and More

Central University Entrance Test Postgraduate 2026 ( CUET-PG )

DeskCalelnderRegistration - 14 Dec '25 - 14 Jan '26

Sreetama Datta
Sreetama Datta Roy
Manager Content
Updated on Dec 25, 2025 21:14 IST
The National Testing Agency has released the CUET PG 2026 notification and application form on December 14, 2025. This article of Shiksha brings the CUET PG 2026 new guidelines in terms of application, exam city selection, eligibility, course selection and more.

The National Testing Agency has released the CUET PG 2026 notification and application form on December 14, 2025. This article of Shiksha brings the CUET PG 2026 new guidelines in terms of application, exam city selection, eligibility, course selection and more.

CUET PG 2026 New Guidelines

CUET PG 2026 New Guidelines

The National Testing Agency has released the CUET PG 2026 notification and application form on December 14, 2025. Even though the major aspects of the exam, including CUET PG exam pattern, syllabus, courses, etc. have remained the same, there are a few changes in the exam centres and selection of the number of exam cities. This article of Shiksha brings the CUET PG 2026 new guidelines in terms of application, exam city selection, eligibility, course selection and more.

Before going through the important guidelines for CUET PG 2026, let us first know about the exam overview and exam pattern in detail. Followed by which the official guidelines for CUET PG 2026 will be explained.

Table of contents
  • CUET PG 2026 Overview
  • CUET PG 2026 New Guidelines on Application Process
  • CUET PG 2026 New Guidelines on Exam City Choices
  • CUET PG 2026 New Guidelines on Paper and University Selection
  • CUET PG 2026 Eligibility Criteria

CUET PG 2026 Overview

The CUET PG 2026 highlights are provided below.

Particulars

Details

Exam Name

Common University Entrance Test (Postgraduate)

Conducting Body

National Testing Agency 

Exam Level

Postgraduate

Exam Frequency

Once a year

Exam Mode

Online or CBT

Total No. of Test Takers

Around 4 lakh

Courses Offered Through CUET PG

Master's Degree- MA, MSc, MCom, MTech, MCA, MFA

Professional Degree- LLB, LLM, BEd, MEd, MBA

Exam Fees

INR 1400 (General)

INR 1200 (OBC-NCL, EWS)

INR 1100 (SC, ST and Transgender)

INR 1000 (PwD)

INR 7,000 (International centres)

Exam Duration

90 Minutes 

Total Marks

300 Marks

Total Number of Questions

75 Questions

Marking Scheme

+4 for each correct answer

-1 for each incorrect answer

Language of Exam

English, Hindi and Sanskrit (Acharya papers)

Exam Centre Cities

302 cities in India and 24 cities abroad

Accepting Colleges

190+ institutions

Official Website

exams.nta.nic.in/CUET-PG/

Contact Details

011-40759000
011-69227700

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CUET PG 2026 New Guidelines on Application Process

The CUET PG 2026 application process is completely online. To complete the process, candidates have to visit the exam website, followed by registration and application. The important instructions shared by NTA regarding the application process are given below.

  • Candidates can apply for CUET PG 2026 through Online mode only on the website https://exams.nta.nic.in/cuet-pg/. The Application Form in any other mode will not be accepted.
  • Only one application is to be submitted by a candidate. More than one application i.e. multiple Application Forms submitted by a candidate will be rejected.
  • Candidates must ensure that the e-mail address and Mobile Number provided in the Online Application Form are their own or Parents/Guardians' only, as all information/communication will be sent by NTA on the registered e-mail address or the registered Mobile Number only.

The table below shows the CUET PG application fee:

Category

Application Fee (in INR)

(For upto two test papers)

Application Fee Outside India (in INR)

(For upto three test papers)

General

1,400

7,000

Gen-EWS/ OBC-NCL

1,200

SC / ST / Third Gender

1,100

PwD

1,000

  • For each additional paper, candidates will have to pay the following application fees.

Category

Application Fee (in INR)

Application Fee Outside India (in INR)

General

700

3,500

Gen-EWS/ OBC-NCL

600

SC / ST / Third Gender

600

PwD

600

Also Read: How to Fill CUET PG 2026 Application Form

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CUET PG 2026 New Guidelines on Exam City Choices

CUET PG 2026 exam centres will be conducted in 292 cities in total. Out of this, 286 will be located in India, and 16 will be located outside India. This year, the total number of cities has decreased. Last year, the number of exam cities was 312, out of which 285 were in India, and 17 were located abroad.

As per the new CUET PG 2026 guidelines, applicants can select four cities in preferential order. Although initially, as per the CUET PG 2026 notification, candidates could select two options. Later, on December 20, 2025, NTA decided to let them select four city choices for greater flexibility. The notification also stated that those who have already submitted the application form, can add exam city choices during the CUET PG 2026 application correction window scheduled from January 18 to January 20, 2026.

Also Read:
CUET PG 2026: NTA Allows Four Exam City Choices for Greater Flexibility

CUET PG 2026 Exam Cities: Centre Allotment, City Slip vs Admit Card Explained

Q:   How many candidates appear for CUET PG?
A:

As per the statistics shared by the exam conducting authority, National Testing Agency, approximately four Lacs candidates appear for the CUET PG every year. Science, Humanities and Linguistics have the highest number of candidates. 

Q:   Government university/college in Delhi that we can get with 90 marks in CUET PG EWS category.
A:

Score of 90 marks in CUET PG, considering you are under the EWS category, your admission will be based on several factors. Given below are some of the Government Universities/Colleges in Delhi you may opt for:

1. University of Delhi
Under its constituent colleges, the University of Delhi offers a large number of postgraduate programs.
CUET PG admissions in various courses are offered in different colleges and departments at DU, each differing regarding cut-offs for a particular course or department.

2. Jawaharlal Nehru University
JNU offers a wide range of postgraduate courses through its schools.
It also offers many of the programs that CUET PG was used as an entry criterion for. Cut-offs for EWS candidates may be marginally lower than those of the general category.

Q:   What is the eligibility criteria for the MSc courses offered by Banaras Hindu University?
A:

 

Course NameEligibility Criteria
MSc ChemistryBSc (Hons)/ BSc under 10 2 3 pattern securing a minimum of 50 percent marks in the aggregate in Science subjects (considering all the three years of BSc Course). The subject in which admission is sought must be Hons subject at BSc (Hons) level/a subject studied in all the three years at Graduate level.
MSc Computer ScienceBSc (Hons)/ BSc under 10 2 3 pattern securing a minimum of 50 percent marks in the aggregate in Science subjects (considering all the three years of BSc Course). The subject in which admission is sought must be Honos subject at BSc (Hons) level/a subject studied in all the three years at Graduate level.
MSc MathematicsBSc (Hons)/B A (Hons)/BSc/B A under 10 2 3 pattern securing a minimum of 50 percent marks in the aggregate considering all the three years of BSc/B A Courses). The candidate must have studied Mathematics Hons. or studied subject Mathematics in the all the three years at Graduate level. For BSc (Hons)/BSc only Science subjects and for BA (Hons)/B A all subjects except those subjects where only pass marks are required and which do not contribute to the total in the final (degree) mark sheet.
MSc PhysicsBSc (Hons)/ BSc under 10 2 3 pattern securing a minimum of 50 percent marks in the aggregate in Science subjects (considering all the three years of BSc Course). The subject in which admission is sought must be Hons subject at BSc (Hons) level/a subject studied in all the three years at Graduate level.
MSc Environmental SciencesA minimum of 50 percent marks (equivalent GPA) in BSc (Hons)/BSc (10 2 3) as well as at 10 & 10 2 examinations.
MSc BotanyBSc (Hons) Botany
MSc ZoologyBSc (Hons) Zoology

CUET PG 2026 New Guidelines on Paper and University Selection

Candidates have to select up to four subjects or test papers. However, there is no cap on the number of universities that can be applied for. Candidates must note that the application to the CUET PG 2026 participating universities has to be done separately, by visiting the university website, once the CUET PG 2026 result is declared. Before applying for the universities, they should also check whether their preferred courses are offered by them and the papers are as per their course-wise eligibility criteria.

Also Read: CUET PG 2026 Course List

CUET PG 2026 Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility criteria for CUET PG 2026 are as follows:

  • Candidates must have passed a Bachelor's degree or equivalent from a recognised institute
  • Final year students are also eligible to apply, provided they pass the qualifying exam before the counselling process
  • There is no age limit for applying for CUET PG exam. However, universities may have separate eligibility criteria regarding age limit or other factors

Note:

  • For admission in Universities through CUET PG 2026, the existing policies regarding quota, category, relaxation, reservations, qualification, subject combinations, preferences, etc. of the
    respective University shall be applicable.
  • As the eligibility criteria for admission may be unique for every University, the candidates are advised to visit the University website to which they are applying for their respective programs.
  • Candidates are advised to satisfy themselves before applying that they possess the eligibility criteria laid down by the University they are applying.
  • Mere appearance in the Entrance Test or securing pass marks at the test does not entitle a candidate to be considered for admission to the Programme unless he/she fulfil the Programme
    wise eligibility conditions of the University they are applying to.

Also Read:

CUET PG 2026 Eligibility Criteria Explained: Who Can Apply and What to Check

CUET PG Eligibility Criteria for Science Stream: Check Subject Wise Eligibility Here

Q:   What is the age limit to apply for CUET PG examination?
A:

For appearing in the CUET PG examination there is no age limit for the candidates. The candidates who have passed the
bachelor degree/equivalent examination or appearing in 2026 irrespective of their age can appear in CUET (PG) 2026
examination. However, the candidates will be required to fulfill the age criteria of the University in which they are desirous of taking admission. 

As the eligibility criteria for admission may be unique for every University, the candidates are advised to visit the University website to which they are applying for their respective programs

Q:   How to select courses and university in the CUET PG exam?
A:
Check out the steps to selct the university programme selection in CUET PG application process:

Step 1: After adding the exam centre city preferences, candidates will then have to select the University/Programme selection.

Step 2: In this section, candidates are required to select the university name first and then select the programme name. Likewise, candidates can select up to four universities and its allied programmes offered. After adding the university programme choices, save the details and move on to the next sections.

Step 3: In this section, candidates need to add the test details. Add the test paper subject code from the drop-down options mentioned in the window. After adding all the respective test paper codes of the university programme list which was selected in the previous step, save the details.

Q:   What miscellaneous information about eligibility criteria that CUET PG aspirants should be aware of?
A:

For admission in Universities through CUET (PG)-2026, the existing policies regarding quota, category, relaxation, reservations, qualification, subject combinations, preferences etc. of the respective University shall be applicable.

As the eligibility criteria for admission may be unique for every University, the candidates are advised to visit the University website to which they are applying for their respective programs. Candidates are advised to satisfy themselves before applying that they possess the eligibility criteria laid down by the University they are applying to.
Mere appearance in the Entrance Test or securing pass marks at the test does not entitle a candidate to be considered for admission to the Programme unless he/she fulfils the Programme wise eligibility conditions of the University they are applying to.

The CUET PG 2026 exam pattern and syllabus have remained the same as last year. The exam will be conducted in a computer-based or CBT mode. Last year, the pattern was changed, and this year it has remained the same. The total duration of the exam will be 90 minutes or 1.5 hours. There will be 75 objective type multiple choice questions from the test paper opted for. Unlike previous years, attempting the General Paper is not mandatory.

The CUET PG 2026 exam will be conducted in March 2026 in multiple days window. As per last year’s trend, it is expected that the exam will be conducted in a maximum of three shifts.  

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About the Author
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Sreetama Datta Roy
Manager Content
Sreetama Datta Roy is a journalist working in the Education beat, with over 15 years of work experience. A postgraduate in English Journalism from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, New Delhi. At Shiksha, s
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