As per the CUET reservation policy released by NTA, 10% of seats are reserved for General Economically Weaker Sections while 27% of seats are reserved for Other Backward Classes. Read the CUET Reservation Criteria/Policy 2026 and reservation policy for Kashmiri Migrant and Persons with Disabilities (PwD) in detail.
CUET Reservation Criteria/Policy 2026: The National Testing Agency (NTA) will hold the CUET UG 2026 exams in May 2026, tentatively. NTA is expected to release the official brochure for CUET 2026 in March 2026. The official brochure of the CUET 2026 includes the CUET 2026 Reservation Criteria/Policy. The students will be offered seats in the CUET Participating Institutes based on the final CUET Reservation Criteria 2026. Before completing the CUET registrations 2026, the candidates must check the CUET Reservation Criteria 2026. The CUET reservation policy prescribed by the NTA will be crucial in providing equal opportunities to students from different backgrounds.
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NTA conducts the CUET exam as a centralised admission test for granting admission to various UG-level and PG-level programs in participating universities in India. CUET aims to streamline the admission process in India and reduce the burden on students. It also aims to conduct a fair admission process through the CUET exam. Students who belong to any of the reservation categories, such as EWS, SC, S.T., OBC-NCL, and PwD must be well aware of the CUET reservation policy 2026. On this page, we have provided detailed information on the CUET Reservation Criteria 2026 and its significance in shaping higher education in India.
From CUET UG 2026 onwards, candidates can now choose for five CUET subjects. Earlier, the subject choices were six. With the rediuction in number of CUET subjects, the choices have been reduced. Candidates can opt for five subjects from 23 domain subjects of any stream irrespective of subjects studied in class 12th.
For admission to the desirous University/Institution, the candidates must appear in CUET 2026 in the Languages and Domain Specific subjects as per the Program-Specific Eligibility for which s (he) is desirous to take admission. For instance, if a candidate wishes to apply for B.Com (Hons.) programe in Delhi University he/she will be required to make the subject combination as :
Combination I: Any one Language from List A + Mathematics/Applied Mathematics + Any two subjects out of which at least one should be from List B1
OR
Combination II: Any one Language from List A + Accountancy/Book Keeping + Any two subjects out of which at least one should be from List B1
Candidates are advised to check CUET programme-specific eligibility criteria before filling the application form, failing which they will not qualify for further admission process.
The National Testing Agency will come up with an official CUET 2026 exam date. The details of the CUET reservation criteria/policy will be notified along with the release of the CUET information bulletin 2026.
- CUET Reservation Criteria/Policy 2026 for Central Universities
- CUET Reservation Criteria 2026 for Kashmiri Migrant Candidates
- CUET Reservation Criteria 2026 for Persons with Disabilities (PwD)
- CUET Reservation Policy 2026: Provisions for Persons with Disability (PwD)
- CUET Reservation Criteria 2026: Application Fee for UG/PG Programmes
- FAQs on CUET Reservation Criteria/Policy 2026
CUET Reservation Criteria/Policy 2026 for Central Universities
Once the information bulletin is released, we will update the same here in the table below. However, as per the policy reservation prescribed by the board last year, the seats in Central Universities are reserved as under:
| Categories |
Seat Reservation (In Percentage) |
|---|---|
| General Economically Weaker Sections (GEN-EWS) |
10% |
| Other Backward Classes (Non creamy layer) |
27% |
| Scheduled Castes (SC) |
15% |
| Scheduled Tribes (ST) |
7.5% |
| Persons with Disabilities |
5% in each category |
CUET Reservation Criteria 2026 for Kashmiri Migrant Candidates
As per the released CUET reservation policy 2026, Kashmiri Migrant candidates are benefitted from the following:
- If the applicants meet the basic requirement as prescribed by the board, up to 10% of the cutoff percentage may be relaxed.
- Kashmiri Migrant Candidates may get an extension of the entrance date by nearly 30 days.
- Increase in course-wise intake capacity of up to 5%.
- A minimum of one seat is reserved for Kashmiri Migrant candidates under a merit quota in technical or professional Colleges/Universities.
- Kashmiri Migrant candidates are also exempted from the domicile requirement.
CUET Reservation Criteria 2026 for Persons with Disabilities (PwD)
NTA has also a reservation policy for Persons with Disabilities (PwD). If you are a student with a defined disability that is greater than 40%, as confirmed by the appropriate authority, you will fall within the PwD category. Such students can apply for admission under the PwD category and can also benefit in payment of the application fee. Candidates who have any of the following conditions will be regarded to fall under the Persons with Disabilities (PwD) category.
Candidates can apply for CUET exam 2026 till February 04, 2026. NTA has released the CUET application form 2026 online at cuet.nta.nic.in. Candidates must make sure to register for CUET exam and select appropriate CUET subjects to be eligible for admissions. CUET UG application form 2026 commenced on January 03.
NTA has released the CUET eligibility criteria.
- Students who have passed class 12th exam or are appearing for final examinations will be eligible to apply for CUET exam.
- Student must have scored 50% marks in total (general category) or 45% marks (SC/ST and other categories).
- There is no age limit to apply for CUET UG 2026 exam. However, candidates are advised to check the university and course wise criteria for admissions.
Candidates may be allotted different CUET 2026 exam centres for different dates and slots. However, the city would most likely be the same. Candidates must check the exam centre details carefully in the admit card and appear in the correct CUET centre. Candidates will be issued the CUET intimation slip three to four days prior to the day of examination. On release of the CUET intimation slip, candidates can know the exam centre allotted and can make the preparations for travel accordingly.
Candidates must note that different admit card and intimation slip will be issued for each exam. Candidates cannot re-use the admit card of previous slot or session.
- If the candidate is deaf or has hearing problems.
- Whether the candidate is completely blind or has impaired eyesight.
- Candidates with intellectual disabilities, learning disabilities, mental illnesses, or Autism also fall within the PwD category.
- If the candidates have problems with their bones, muscles, or joints significantly that restricts their ability to move their limbs. It includes applicants who have had leprosy treatment or have cerebral palsy or muscular dystrophy, are acid attack survivors, or are dwarfs.
CUET Reservation Policy 2026: Provisions for Persons with Disability (PwD)
There are guidelines for conducting written examinations for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities above 40%. Written Examination for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities who are also holding a Disability Certificate will be completed with the service of a Scribe. It is to be noted that the Scribe service will be provided by the National Testing Agency if requested. PwBD candidates who desire to avail the services of a scribe need to opt for a scribe during the online registration of CUET 2026.
Rules for a Service of Scribe:
The facility of a Scribe is provided to the candidates who have physical limitations. The PwD candidates who are visually impaired OR have a disability in the upper limbs OR have lost fingers/hands thereby preventing them from properly operating the computer-based test platform may avail the services of a scribe (amanuensis). The scribe will help the Candidate in reading the questions and/or keying in the answers as per the directions of the Candidate. A scribe will neither explain the questions nor suggest any solutions.
CUET Reservation Criteria 2026: Application Fee for UG/PG Programmes
While filling out the CUET 2026 application form, the students need to pay the application fee as per the fee criteria mentioned below:
| Category |
Application Fee |
|---|---|
| General |
Rs. 650 |
| SC/ ST / PwD |
Rs. 550 |
| OBC/ EWS |
Rs. 600 |
Also Read: CUET Eligibility Criteria 2026
FAQs on CUET Reservation Criteria/Policy 2026
Q. What is CUET Reservation Criteria/Policy 2026?
A. National Testing Agency releases the CUET Reservation Criteria/Policy 2026 under which the students belonging to reserved categories will benefit from seat reservation, application fees, and more. The CUET reservation criteria 2026 may vary depending on the university/college in which the candidates are applying for admission.
Q. Which category of students can benefit from the CUET reservation criteria 2026?
A. As per the CUET Reservation Policy 2026 released by the NTA, students belonging to Gen-EWS, SC, S.T., OBC-NCL, or PwD categories will be eligible to benefit from the CUET reservation criteria 2026.
Q. What is the percentage of seats reserved in the CUET 2026?
A. The percentage of reservations in the CUET exam may vary in some universities. However, in most of the Universities, CUET reservation policy 2026 released by the board for different categories will be followed. As per the official CUET reservation criteria, seats are reserved for EWS candidates is 10%, SC/ST candidates 15%, and 27% for OBC candidates.
Q. Can a Person with Disabilities avail the service of a Scribe during CUET UG written test?
A. Yes, any candidate with Benchmark Disabilities above 40% can apply for a service of Scribe during the CUET UG exam. However, such candidate are required to apply for the same while filling out the CUET UG application form. Thereafter, the Scribe service will be provided to those candidates by the National Testing Agency.

Shahzad carries 8+ years of editorial experience in various domains of the education sector, including but not limited to Boards, Engineering, Medical, MBA, and many more. He has been helping students by providing v
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Student Forum
Answered 14 hours ago
No, cuet is not compulsory to take admission in matoshri pratishthan group of institutions Nanded
V
Beginner-Level 1
Answered 2 days ago
Yes, Gurugram University does accept CUET UG and CUET PG for admission to its UG & PG courses respectively. The exam is accepted for selective courses only. Some of the courses for which CUET is accepted are - BBA, BSc, LLB, MSc, MBA, etc.
A
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 days ago
No, CUET exam is not compulsory to take admission in Christ College of Science and Management. The admissions are done on merit basis. Final selections are based on marks scored in qualifying exam and interview performance.
R
Contributor-Level 9
Answered 3 days ago
It's completely normal to feel confused when deciding between completely different streams for CUET. The choice should depend on your long-term goals, interests, and career plans rather than pressure or trends. Humanities subjects like Political Science, Fine Arts, or Physiology suit students who ar
A
Beginner-Level 2
Answered 3 days ago
For CUET UG 2026, aspirants should be aware of all important dates to plan their preparation effectively. The key dates are:
- Registration Starts: 3 January 2026
- Last Date to Apply: 30 January 2026 (up to 11:50 PM)
- Fee Payment Deadline: 31 January 2026 (up to 11:50 PM)
- Correction Window: 2–4 February 202
A
Beginner-Level 2
Answered 3 days ago
It's completely normal to feel confused about CUET, especially with so many subjects and topics to cover. The best approach is to start with a clear plan and small, consistent steps. Begin by understanding the syllabus thoroughly and identifying which sections need more focus. Practicing mock tests
T
Beginner-Level 2
Answered 4 days ago
Compared to board exams, CUET Maths requires a different approach. You can't rely on long methods; shortcuts matter a lot. Practicing CUET-style Maths mocks on cuetmock.com helped me adapt to this shift and understand which chapters are more scoring in a competitive setting.
T
Beginner-Level 2
Answered 4 days ago
Yes, candidates who wish to apply for BTech (Lateral Entry) admissions at MJRPU are required to appear for the CUET to qualify. However, CUET scores are not accepted for the first year BTech admissions at MJRPU. Candidates are required to appear for the JEE Mains to qualify for first year admissions
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 4 days ago
No, CUET exam is not required for taking admission into the courses offered by ITM-institute of Health Science. The college follows a merit-based selection method.
R
Contributor-Level 9
Answered a week ago
National Testing Agency commenced CUET UG 2026 registrations on January 03, 2026. The registration window is open. Candidates who are desireous of appearing for CUET and admission to undergraduate programme must stay updated with the upcoming important CUET 2026 UG dates below:
- Last date to apply for
N
Contributor-Level 6
Registration - 3 Jan '26 - 4 Feb '26
Go on the official website of university/organaisation. Check the courses offered and eligibility test that they should appear in for admission to desired course. The choice of language/domain subject and General test will depend upon the course and university. Candidates will be able to opt for one or more tests as per the requirement of the course and university from the following sections: