CUET Eligibility Criteria 2026
CUET Eligibility Criteria 2026 — Overview
The CUET UG 2026 Eligibility Criteria has been officially defined by the National Testing Agency (NTA) in the CUET (UG) 2026 Information Bulletin. CUET is designed as an inclusive, single-window entrance exam — its eligibility norms are intentionally broad to give equal opportunity to students from all boards, states, and backgrounds.
A key principle of CUET 2026 eligibility: NTA sets the basic exam eligibility, while individual participating universities define course-specific criteria (minimum marks, preferred subjects, etc.). Candidates must satisfy both.
CUET 2026 Eligibility Criteria — Quick Reference Table
|
Criteria |
Details |
|
Educational Qualification |
Class 12 passed or appearing in 2026 from a recognised board |
|
Minimum Marks (General) |
45–50% in Class 12 (varies by university/course) |
|
Minimum Marks (SC/ST/OBC/PwBD) |
40–45% (varies by university/course) |
|
Age Limit |
No age limit (as per NTA CUET 2026 brochure) |
|
Stream Restriction |
None — Science, Commerce, Arts all eligible |
|
Subject Restriction |
None — any CUET subject can be chosen in 2026 |
|
Nationality |
Indian nationals; NRI; OCI; PIO (as per NTA rules) |
|
Number of Attempts |
Unlimited (no attempt cap) |
Educational Qualification for CUET 2026
|
Qualification |
Eligibility |
|
Passed Class 12 (2024, 2025, or 2026) |
Eligible |
|
Appearing in Class 12 board exams in 2026 |
Eligible (provisional) |
|
Passed Class 12 equivalency (Open School, NIOS) |
Eligible from recognised boards |
|
Diploma or vocational equivalent |
Subject to university-specific verification |
|
Class 11 students |
NOT eligible |
|
Class 10 pass only |
NOT eligible |
Candidates who are "appearing" in 2026 boards can apply and appear in CUET; however, their admission to universities is provisional and subject to passing Class 12 with the required percentage.
CUET 2026 Age Limit
|
Aspect |
NTA Official Position |
|
Minimum Age |
No minimum age prescribed |
|
Maximum Age |
No maximum age prescribed |
|
Age Relaxation |
Not applicable (no age limit exists) |
|
University Age Criteria |
May apply for specific courses (check each university separately) |
|
Attempt Limit |
Unlimited — no cap across years |
This is confirmed in the official CUET (UG) 2026 Information Bulletin: "For appearing in the CUET (UG) - 2026, there is no age limit for the candidates."
Minimum Marks in Class 12 — Category-Wise
The minimum marks requirement varies by university and course. Below is the general guideline followed by most central universities:
|
Category |
Minimum Class 12 Marks (Approximate) |
|
General / UR |
45–50% aggregate |
|
OBC-NCL |
40–45% aggregate |
|
SC |
40% aggregate |
|
ST |
40% aggregate |
|
EWS |
45% aggregate |
|
PwBD |
40% aggregate (may vary) |
These are indicative figures. Always verify the exact minimum percentage criteria on the official admission portal of your target university.
Nationality Criteria for CUET 2026
|
Nationality |
Eligibility Status |
|
Indian Nationals |
Fully eligible |
|
Non-Resident Indians (NRI) |
Eligible as per NTA guidelines |
|
Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) |
Eligible |
|
Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) |
Eligible (as per individual university rules) |
|
Foreign Nationals |
Subject to specific university international admission policies |
Subject Eligibility for CUET 2026
A major change in CUET 2026 is the removal of subject restrictions. Previously, students could only opt for subjects they had studied in Class 12. This restriction has been lifted:
|
Aspect |
CUET 2025 |
CUET 2026 |
|
Subject restriction |
Based on Class 12 subjects |
Any subject allowed |
|
Stream restriction |
Largely stream-based |
No stream restriction |
|
Subject flexibility |
Limited |
Full flexibility |
However, students must ensure their chosen CUET subjects align with the course requirements of the target university. For example, if B.Sc. Physics at a university requires Physics and Maths, the candidate must choose these in CUET even if they didn't study Physics in Class 12.
University-Specific Eligibility Requirements
Each participating university sets its own course-specific eligibility over and above CUET's basic criteria. Common examples:
|
Course |
Typical University Eligibility Requirement |
|
B.Sc. (Hons) Physics |
PCM in Class 12; min. 55–60% (General) |
|
B.Sc. (Hons) Biology |
PCB in Class 12; min. 50% (General) |
|
BA (Hons) Economics |
Mathematics preferred; 50–55% |
|
B.Com (Hons) |
50% in Class 12 (Commerce preferred) |
|
BA (Hons) History |
45–50% in Class 12 (any stream) |
|
B.Tech (some private universities) |
PCM mandatory; JEE score may also be required |
|
Law (BA LLB 5-year) |
45–50%; age below 20–22 years at some universities |
Reservation in CUET-Based Admissions (Government of India Norms)
|
Category |
Reservation in Seats |
|
OBC-NCL |
27% |
|
SC |
15% |
|
ST |
7.5% |
|
EWS |
10% |
|
PwBD |
5% (horizontal — within each category) |
CUET 2026 Eligibility for PwBD Candidates
|
Benefit |
Details |
|
Age limit |
No age limit (same as all candidates) |
|
Exam duration |
Additional 20 minutes per hour compensatory time |
|
Scribe facility |
Available; scribe details must be submitted to NTA |
|
Reservation |
5% horizontal reservation in seats |
|
Required documents |
PwBD Certificate / UDID Card at the time of registration |
Top CUET 2026 Participating Universities
|
University |
Type |
NIRF Ranking (Approx.) |
|
University of Delhi (DU) |
Central |
Top 10 |
|
Banaras Hindu University (BHU) |
Central |
Top 10 |
|
Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) |
Central |
Top 10 |
|
Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) |
Central |
Top 20 |
|
Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) |
Central |
Top 15 |
|
University of Hyderabad (UoH) |
Central |
Top 15 |
|
Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) |
Central |
— |
CUET scores are accepted by 250+ universities including Central, State, Deemed, and Private institutions.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Candidates must have passed or be appearing in Class 12 or equivalent from a recognised board.
No. NTA has confirmed there is no age limit for CUET UG 2026.
Yes. From 2026, there are no subject restrictions — any candidate can choose any CUET subject.
CUET itself has no minimum marks requirement at the exam level. However, universities typically require 45–50% in Class 12 for admission.
Candidates can appear every year as long as they meet the educational eligibility criteria.
Yes. Admission to all 48 Central Universities is through CUET scores. Many state, private, and deemed universities have also joined CUET for 2026 admissions.
