The Common University Entrance Test for Postgraduate (CUET PG) is a national-level entrance examination conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for admission to various postgraduate programs, including MA, MSc, MTech, MCom, MBA, LLM, and more, across central, state, deemed, private, and international universities in India. Introduced in 2022 as part of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, CUET PG replaced multiple university-specific entrance exams, providing a single-window opportunity for over 4.5 lakh aspirants annually to apply to 190+ institutions offering more than 200 PG courses. The exam emphasises domain-specific knowledge and general aptitude, with scores used for merit-based admissions. Unlike earlier fragmented systems, CUET PG ensures transparency, equity, and reduced multiple applications, covering subjects from humanities to sciences.
CUET PG 2026 Highlights
CUET PG 2026 will feature a revised pattern with 75 subject-specific questions, conducted in CBT mode across multiple shifts.
Particular
Details
Exam Name
Common University Entrance Test – Postgraduate (CUET PG)
+4 for correct, –1 for incorrect, 0 for unattempted
Language
English (some subjects bilingual)
Official Website
cuetpg.ntaonline.in
CUET PG 2026 Important Dates
NTA is expected to release the official notification in December 2025 or January 2026. Based on 2025 trends, the tentative schedule is as follows:
Event
Tentative Date
Notification Release
December 2025 / January 2026
Online Registration Starts
January 2026
Last Date to Submit Application
February 2026
Application Correction Window
February 2026
Admit Card Download
March 2026
CUET PG 2026 Exam Date
March 13–31, 2026
Provisional Answer Key
April 2026
Result Declaration
May 2026
Counselling Registration
May–June 2026
CUET PG 2026 Eligibility Criteria
Candidates must fulfil general and program-specific eligibility as per participating universities. NTA sets minimum criteria, while universities verify documents during counselling.
Nationality: Indian citizens, NRIs, OCIs, PIOs eligible.
Educational Qualification: Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline with a minimum of 50% aggregate (45% for SC/ST/OBC/PwD/EWS).
Appearing Candidates: Final-year students eligible; must complete degree by admission time.
Age Limit: No upper age limit.
Attempts: No restriction.
Subject Requirement: Relevant UG degree for domain-specific tests (e.g., BCom for MCom).
CUET PG 2026 Application Form: Step-by-Step Guide
The entire registration process is online only on cuetpg.ntaonline.in. Candidates can apply for up to 5 test papers (subject codes) in one form.
NTA provides a short correction window after registration closes.
Correction Window: Usually 3–5 days in February 2026; editable fields include photo, signature, test paper selection, university preference, and personal details (except name, mobile, and email).
Exam Centres: 300+ cities across India + international centres (Dubai, Manama, Muscat, Kathmandu, Colombo, etc.). Candidates choose 3 preferred cities during registration.
CUET PG 2026 Exam Pattern
From 2025 onwards, NTA has standardised the pattern to a single paper per subject code with 75 domain-specific questions only (no separate General Test).
Particular
Details
Mode
Computer-Based Test (CBT)
Duration
90 minutes
Total Questions
75 MCQs
Total Marks
300
Marking Scheme
+4 for correct, –1 for incorrect, 0 for unattempted
Language
English (except language papers, which are bilingual)
Sections
Single section – 75 domain-specific questions only
CUET PG 2026 Detailed Syllabus
The syllabus is UG-level domain knowledge as prescribed by respective universities. High-weightage areas include:
Humanities (MA History/Political Science/Sociology): Modern India, World History, Indian Polity, Theories, Research Methodology
Commerce (MCom): Accounting, Financial Management, Business Statistics, Economics, Taxation
Management (MBA): Quantitative Aptitude, Logical Reasoning, Verbal Ability, GK (some universities use separate papers)
Law (LLM): Constitutional Law, Jurisprudence, IPC, Contract, International Law
Best Books for CUET PG 2026 Preparation
Subject
Book
Author / Publisher
English Literature
An Objective Approach to English Literature
Kiran Publications
History
India’s Ancient Past + Medieval India
R.S. Sharma / Satish Chandra
Political Science
Indian Polity + Introduction to Political Theory
M. Laxmikanth / O.P. Gauba
Commerce
Financial Accounting + Cost Accounting
T.S. Grewal / Maheshwari
Economics
Indian Economy + Microeconomics
Ramesh Singh / H.L. Ahuja
MSc Physics
Concepts of Physics + Quantum Mechanics
H.C. Verma / Griffith
MSc Chemistry
Organic Chemistry
Morrison & Boyd
LLM
Constitutional Law of India
J.N. Pandey / M.P. Jain
MBA
Quantitative Aptitude + Verbal Ability
R.S. Aggarwal / Arun Sharma
CUET PG Cutoff Trends (Expected Marks for Top Universities – General Category)
Cutoffs vary by subject, university, and number of applicants. Below are approximate marks out of 300 for first-round admission (2025 data; 2026 expected to be similar):
University & Program
2025 Cutoff (Marks)
2024 Cutoff (Marks)
JNU – MA Politics / IR
245–260
240–255
JNU – MA Economics
250–265
248–262
DU – MA English
235–255
230–250
DU – MCom
240–260
238–258
BHU – MSc Physics / Chemistry
220–245
215–240
JMI – MA Mass Communication
230–250
228–248
University of Hyderabad – MA History
225–245
220–240
Central University of Punjab – LLM
210–235
205–230
List of Major Universities Participating in CUET PG 2026
190+ universities accept CUET PG scores (partial list of prominent ones):
Central Universities (53): JNU, DU, BHU, JMI, AMU, HCU, Tezpur, Pondicherry, NEHU, Visva-Bharati, Central University of Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, Gujarat, South Bihar, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, etc.
Top State Universities: University of Hyderabad, Osmania, Calcutta University, Jadavpur, Mumbai University, Savitribai Phule Pune, Anna University, Madras University
Documents required: CUET PG scorecard, UG marksheets, caste/EWS/PwD certificate, migration, and character certificate
Reservation: As per Government of India norms (SC 15%, ST 7.5%, OBC 27%, EWS 10%, PwD 5%)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. From academic year 2022–23 onwards, admission to all PG programs in all 53 central universities and most state/deemed/private universities is based only on CUET PG scores. Earlier university-specific exams like JNUEE, DUET, BHU PET, etc., have been completely discontinued.
Yes, you can select up to 5 different test papers (subject codes) in a single application. For example, one candidate can apply for MA History, MA Political Science, MCom, and LLM together.
No upper age limit. Any candidate who has completed or is appearing in the final year of graduation is eligible.
For General category: 240–260+ out of 300 is considered excellent and safe for top programs like MA Politics/IR/Economics at JNU, MA English/History at DU, or MCom at Delhi School of Economics. 220–240 gets you into mid-tier central universities.
No. From 2025, NTA has removed the compulsory General Test. Now each paper has only 75 domain-specific questions.
Yes, appearing candidates are fully eligible. You just need to submit the final marksheet/degree at the time of university admission.
Yes, +4 for correct, –1 for incorrect, 0 for unattempted.
More than 190 universities — 53 Central, 42 State, 15 Deemed, 80+ Private, and 1 International (Kathmandu University). The list keeps growing every year.
Not necessarily. The difficulty is moderate to high but standardized. Earlier exams like JNUEE were considered tougher because of descriptive questions; CUET PG is objective and syllabus-based, so with proper preparation it is manageable.
Each university starts its own counselling within 7–15 days of result declaration. JNU, DU, BHU usually release first merit list in the last week of May or first week of June.
Yes. All participating universities follow Government of India reservation policy: SC 15%, ST 7.5%, OBC-NCL 27%, EWS 10%, PwD 5% (horizontal).
No. CUET PG is mandatory for all regular PG seats. Only PhD (through NET/JRF) and a few diploma/certificate courses are exempt.
No bond for MA/MSc/MCom/LLM. Only the medical PG (NEET PG) has compulsory service in some states.
Central universities like JNU (₹500–₹5,000/year), BHU, Tezpur, Pondicherry, and Visva-Bharati have extremely low fees. Many state universities charge ₹10,000–₹40,000 per year.
Yes, during the correction window (usually 3–5 days after registration closes), you can add/remove test papers.
Only language papers (Hindi, Sanskrit, Tamil, etc.) are bilingual. All other domain papers are in English only.
Around 4.5–5.5 lakh candidates register, and approximately 4 lakh appear.
MA Political Science/IR, MA Economics, MCom, LLM, MA English, MA History, and MA Mass Communication have the toughest cutoffs and maximum applicants.
Yes. NRIs/OCIs/PIOs can appear for CUET PG and are considered under the supernumerary NRI quota in most universities with higher fees.
Not mandatory, but helpful for competitive subjects like MA Economics, Political Science, and LLM. Self-study with standard UG books + previous-year papers works for most humanities and commerce subjects.
Only for the 2026–27 academic session. Scores cannot be carried forward.
Yes, almost all central universities provide hostel accommodation on merit basis (usually top rankers get priority). Fees range from ₹5,000–₹30,000 per year.
University of Hyderabad, Pondicherry University, several new central universities (Haryana, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka), and many private universities like Amity, LPU, Sharda, Galgotias, and Bennett joined in the last two cycles.
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