CUET Eligibility Criteria 2026: Candidates must carefully check the eligibility criteria before applying for CUET 2026. The National Testing Agency (NTA) will release the official CUET 2026 eligibility details on its website. These criteria define the basic requirements students must meet to appear for the entrance exam.
The CUET eligibility criteria 2026 include important factors such as age limits, educational qualifications, and subject requirements. Candidates can also check college-wise and programme-wise eligibility on the official NTA CUET portal to ensure they qualify for their preferred course and university.
CUET UG (Common University Entrance Test – Undergraduate) is a national-level exam conducted for admission to top central, state, and private universities through a single test. Read the complete article below to understand the detailed CUET 2026 eligibility requirements for various participating universities and courses.
CUET Eligibility Criteria 2026
The CUET 2026 eligibility criteria clearly state whether a candidate is eligible to apply for undergraduate courses offered by all participating universities. Students planning to appear for CUET must fulfill the eligibility conditions set by the National Testing Agency (NTA).
The CUET UG eligibility criteria include key requirements such as age limit, educational qualifications, and nationality. Only candidates who meet these conditions can apply for the entrance examination.
The CUET UG 2026 application form is available online on the official website, cuet.nta.nic.in. Interested candidates must complete the application process within the given timeline. As per the schedule, NTA will conduct the CUET UG 2026 examination from May 11 to May 31 in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode.
Also Check: CUET Syllabus 2026
CUET Educational Qualification 2026
Candidates applying for CUET UG 2026 must have passed Class 12 or be appearing in the Class 12 examination from a recognised board in any stream.
- General category candidates must score at least 50% marks in Class 12.
- SC/ST candidates need a minimum of 45% marks in Class 12.
- For BTech programmes, the minimum aggregate required is 45% for General category and 40% for reserved categories.
CUET Age Limit 2026
There is no common age limit set by NTA for CUET UG 2026. However, candidates must meet the age requirements (if any) specified by the university or institution they wish to apply to.
Admissions through CUET UG are subject to the individual university’s policies related to quota, category-wise relaxation, reservations, educational qualifications, subject combinations, and preferences.
CUET 2026 Eligibility Criteria: Nationality
Candidates must fulfill one of the following nationality conditions to appear for the CUET 2026 exam, c:
- Must be an Indian citizen, or
- A citizen of Nepal or Bhutan, or
- A Tibetan refugee who came to India before 1 January 1962 with the intention of permanent settlement, or
- A person of Indian origin who migrated permanently to India from Pakistan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia, or Vietnam.
CUET 2026 Eligibility Criteria: Reservation Policy
Reservation benefits are provided to eligible Indian nationals as per the Government of India norms. The reservation policy of the respective university will apply for Central Universities.
| Category | Certificate Requirement | Issue Date Criteria | Alternative if Certificate Not Available |
|---|---|---|---|
| GEN-EWS | GEN-EWS Certificate | Issued on or after 01 January 2026 as per Government of India guidelines | Upload Declaration in Lieu of GEN-EWS Certificate (Annexure-IB mentioned in CUET 2026 Brochure) |
| OBC-NCL | OBC-NCL Certificate | Issued on or after 01 January 2026 following Government of India norms | Upload Declaration in Lieu of OBC-NCL Certificate (Annexure-IIB mentioned in CUET 2026 Brochure) |
| SC | SC Caste Certificate | As per latest Government of India guidelines | No alternative declaration mentioned; certificate mandatory |
| ST | ST Tribe Certificate | As per latest Government of India guidelines | No alternative declaration mentioned; certificate mandatory |
Note: Reservation benefits are applicable only to Indian nationals and are subject to the reservation policy of the respective universities, especially in the case of Central Universities. Candidates must upload valid documents during the CUET UG 2026 application process to claim reservation benefits.
CUET Eligibility Criteria 2026 for Central Universities
Candidates must have passed Class 12 or an equivalent examination from a recognised board to secure admission to any Central University through CUET UG 2026. As per the latest CUET guidelines, students are now allowed to choose CUET subjects irrespective of the subjects studied in Class 12, provided they meet the programme-wise subject combinations prescribed by the university.
Below is an overview of CUET UG 2026 eligibility criteria for major Central, State, and Deemed Universities.
Delhi University (DU) CUET UG Eligibility Criteria 2026
| Course | CUET Subject Combination / Eligibility |
|---|---|
| BSc (Hons) Biological Sciences / Botany / Zoology / Biomedical Science | Physics + Chemistry + Biology / Biological Studies / Biotechnology / Biochemistry + Minimum 30% in any one Language from List A |
| BSc (Hons) Chemistry / Physics / Polymer Science | Physics + Chemistry + Mathematics + Minimum 30% in any one Language from List A |
| BSc (Hons) Mathematics | Any one Language from List A + Mathematics + Any two subjects (one must be from List B1) |
| B.Com (Hons.) | Combination I: Language (List A) + Mathematics/Applied Mathematics + Any two subjects (one from List B1) OR Combination II: Language (List A) + Accountancy/Book Keeping + Any two subjects (one from List B1) |
| Other UG Courses | Subject combinations as prescribed by Delhi University |
University of Allahabad CUET UG Eligibility Criteria 2026
| Course | CUET Subject Mapping |
|---|---|
| B.Sc. (Mathematics) | Section IA: English or Hindi (Any One) Section II: Any Two of Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Computer Science/IP Section III: General Test (Compulsory) |
| B.Sc. (Biology) | Section IA: English or Hindi (Any One) Section II: Biology (Compulsory) + Physics or Chemistry (Any One) Section III: General Test (Compulsory) |
| B.Com | Section IA: English or Hindi (Any One) Section II: Accountancy/Book Keeping (Compulsory) Section III: General Test (Compulsory) |
| Other UG Courses | As per Allahabad University subject requirements |
Banaras Hindu University (BHU) CUET UG Eligibility Criteria 2026
| Course | CUET Subject Combination |
|---|---|
| B.Sc. (Hons.) Mathematics | Physics + Chemistry + Mathematics |
| B.Sc. (Hons.) Biology | Physics + Chemistry + Biology |
| B.A. (Hons.) Arts | Section IA: Hindi or English Section III: General Test |
| Other UG Courses | Programme-specific subject combinations |
Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) CUET UG Eligibility Criteria 2026
| Course | CUET Subject Requirement |
|---|---|
| B.A. (Hons.) Arabic / Korean / French | Section IA: English Test Section III: General Test |
| Other UG Courses | As notified by JNU |
Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) CUET UG Eligibility Criteria 2026
| Course | CUET Subject Mapping |
|---|---|
| B.Sc. (Hons.) Physics | Physics |
| B.A. (Hons.) Korean Language | General Test |
| B.A. (Hons.) Economics | Economics |
| Other UG Courses | As per JMI guidelines |
Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) CUET UG Eligibility Criteria 2026
| Course | CUET Subject Combination |
|---|---|
| B.Sc. (Hons.) Statistics | English + Physics + Chemistry + Mathematics / Biology (Mathematics compulsory in Class 12 for Statistics major) |
| B.A. (Hons.) Women Studies | English + General Test |
| B.A. (Hons.) Hindi | English + General Test |
| Other UG Courses | University-specific combinations |
CUET Eligibility Criteria 2026 for Deemed Universities
The official list of CUET UG 2026 deemed universities will be released on the official website once the notification is published. Candidates can check the updated and complete list of deemed universities accepting CUET UG scores through the official portal.
Students aiming to secure admission to universities through CUET UG must carefully review the university-wise eligibility criteria. These details are available on the official website cuet.nta.nic.in under the “Universities” section in the main menu. Applicants can also refer to the individual university admission brochures for specific eligibility requirements.
CUET Reservation Policy 2026
Candidates applying for undergraduate programmes through CUET UG 2026 must follow the reservation policy prescribed by the Government of India. As per the guidelines, students belonging to reserved categories are eligible for a 5% relaxation in the qualifying criteria for each programme.
It is mandatory for candidates to complete the reservation claim process correctly during admission. Failure to submit valid documents or follow the prescribed procedure may lead to cancellation of candidature for admission to any participating university.
CUET Eligibility Criteria 2026 FAQs
Q.1. Who is eligible to apply for CUET UG 2026?
Ans. Candidates who have passed or are appearing in Class 12 from a recognised board and meet the programme-wise eligibility criteria can apply for CUET UG 2026.
Q.2. Is there any age limit for CUET UG 2026?
Ans. No, NTA has not prescribed a common age limit for CUET UG 2026. However, candidates must follow the age criteria set by the respective universities.
Q.3. What is the minimum Class 12 percentage required for CUET 2026?
Ans. General category candidates need at least 50% marks, while SC/ST candidates require a minimum of 45% marks in Class 12.
Q.4. Can students choose CUET subjects different from Class 12 subjects?
Ans. Yes, as per the latest guidelines, candidates can choose CUET subjects irrespective of Class 12 subjects, provided they meet the university’s programme-specific requirements.
Q.5. Is reservation applicable in CUET UG 2026?
Ans. Yes, reservation benefits are available for eligible Indian nationals as per Government of India norms and the reservation policy of participating universities.
