CUET Age Limit 2026 — The Official Answer
One of the most frequently asked questions among CUET aspirants is whether there is an age restriction to appear in the exam. The official answer from the National Testing Agency (NTA) is clear:
There is NO age limit for appearing in CUET UG 2026.
As confirmed in the official CUET (UG) 2026 Information Bulletin: "For appearing in the CUET (UG) - 2026, there is no age limit for the candidates."
However, this applies specifically to the CUET exam conducted by NTA. Individual universities may have their own age restrictions for specific courses and programmes. Candidates must separately verify the age criteria with their target universities before applying.
CUET 2026 Age Limit — Summary Table
|
Aspect |
Official Position |
|
Minimum Age for CUET (NTA) |
No minimum age prescribed |
|
Maximum Age for CUET (NTA) |
No maximum age prescribed |
|
Age Limit Relaxation |
Not applicable (no limit exists at the CUET level) |
|
University-Specific Age Limit |
May exist — check individually |
|
Number of Attempts |
Unlimited (as long as educational eligibility is met) |
Why Does NTA Not Prescribe an Age Limit?
CUET was introduced in 2022 as a "One Nation, One Entrance Test" platform for undergraduate admissions across Central, State, Deemed, and Private universities. The absence of an age limit ensures:
-
Equal opportunity for working professionals returning to education
-
Flexibility for students from different educational timelines
-
Inclusion of candidates from remote and rural areas who may have had delayed schooling
-
Consistency with the New Education Policy (NEP) 2020 framework of lifelong learning
CUET 2026 Eligibility Criteria (Beyond Age)
While CUET itself has no age bar, candidates must meet the following educational eligibility criteria to appear:
|
Criteria |
Details |
|
Educational Qualification |
Must have passed Class 12 or equivalent from a recognised board |
|
Appearing Candidates |
Students appearing in Class 12 boards in 2026 are also eligible |
|
Minimum Marks (General) |
45–50% in Class 12 (varies by university and course) |
|
Minimum Marks (SC/ST/OBC) |
40–45% (varies by university) |
|
Stream Restriction |
None — any stream (Science, Commerce, Arts) can apply |
|
Subject Restriction |
None — any subject can be chosen for CUET regardless of Class 12 subjects (2026 rule) |
University-Wise Age Limit Examples
While NTA sets no age limit for the CUET exam, individual universities may apply their own criteria. Below are examples based on common university rules:
|
University / Course Type |
Age Limit (Indicative) |
|
Delhi University (DU) — General UG courses |
No specific age limit |
|
BHU — Most UG courses |
Usually no age limit |
|
Law courses (e.g., BA LLB 5-year) |
Often requires candidates to be below 20–22 years |
|
B.Ed programmes |
Usually 19 years minimum |
|
NIT / IIT (uses JEE, not CUET) |
17–25 years (category-wise) |
|
Some state universities |
May specify upper age limit for specific programmes |
Disclaimer: University-specific age limits change annually. Always check the official admission prospectus of your target university before applying.
CUET 2026 Age Limit for Different Categories
Since NTA itself does not prescribe any age limit, there is no category-wise age relaxation at the CUET exam level.
|
Category |
CUET Age Limit |
Relaxation |
|
General / UR |
No age limit |
Not applicable |
|
OBC-NCL |
No age limit |
Not applicable |
|
SC |
No age limit |
Not applicable |
|
ST |
No age limit |
Not applicable |
|
EWS |
No age limit |
Not applicable |
|
PwBD |
No age limit |
Not applicable |
Reservation benefits (relaxation in qualifying marks, seat reservation) apply during the admission process as per Government of India norms — not at the CUET exam eligibility stage.
CUET 2026 Reservation in Admissions
While age limits do not apply, the following reservations are applicable in seat allotment at participating universities:
|
Category |
Reservation Percentage |
|
OBC-NCL |
27% |
|
SC |
15% |
|
ST |
7.5% |
|
EWS |
10% |
|
PwBD |
5% (horizontal, within each category) |
How Many Times Can You Appear in CUET?
|
Aspect |
Details |
|
Attempts per year |
Once (CUET is conducted once annually) |
|
Total lifetime attempts |
Unlimited — no cap on number of years |
|
Condition |
Must meet educational eligibility each time |
CUET 2026 Nationality Criteria
|
Nationality |
Eligibility |
|
Indian Nationals |
Fully eligible |
|
Non-Resident Indians (NRI) |
Eligible as per NTA rules |
|
Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) |
Eligible |
|
Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) |
Eligible (as per NTA and university rules) |
|
Foreign Nationals |
Subject to university-specific international admission rules |
Other Recommended Books | Study Materials
|
CUET Books | For 2026 Exam |
|
|
CUET Mock Test Sample Papers | For 2026 Exam |
|
|
CUET Previous Year Question Paper | For 2026 Exam |
|
|
CUET Question Banks | For 2026 Exam |
|
|
CUET Syllabus | For 2026 Exam |
|
|
CUET Notes | For 2026 Exam |
|
|
Free CUET Specimen Sample Books for Teachers |
Practice Comprehensively with Oswaal360 Online Courses for CUET 2026 Exams
Practice Now with Free Oswaal360 Online Mock Test Papers for CUET 2026 Exams
Are You a Teacher? Apply for FREE CUET Specimen Books For Teachers from our end.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. NTA has not prescribed any minimum age for CUET UG 2026.
Yes. There is no upper age limit for CUET. A 25-year-old (or older) can appear provided they meet the educational qualification criteria.
Some universities (especially for courses like BA LLB or B.Ed) may have their own age criteria. Always check the specific university's admission brochure.
Unlimited times across different years, as long as you meet the Class 12 eligibility criterion each time.
No. Since there is no age limit at the CUET exam level, the question of age relaxation does not arise for the exam. Reservation benefits apply during seat allotment, not exam eligibility.
