CUET UG Eligibility Criteria 2026: Age Limit, Qualification & Who Can Apply
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Dreaming of getting admission into your favorite College through CUET UG 2026? Before starting the preparation, students are advised to make sure they are well aware of the eligibility criteria. The CUET UG Eligibility Criteria helps students to know whether they are eligible for the exam or not. They also help them know if they can apply for the exam and avoid any confusion later.
The eligibility rules guide you about the basic requirements needed for appearing in the exam. It also explains what universities expect from students applying for different undergraduate courses. It’s the first step towards getting admission into top universities. In this article, we have explained the detailed CUET eligibility criteria in the simplest way so that every student can understand it clearly. Read on to check if you meet all the required conditions.
CUET UG 2026 - Overview
The Common University Entrance Test (CUET) for Undergraduate students is a national-level entrance test for students who want to take admission in central universities and other participating colleges across India. It is held to give all students a fair chance to get into good colleges based on their performance in a common exam.
The CUET UG exam is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), which is a government body. Any student who has passed or is appearing for Class 12 from a recognized board can apply for this exam. It does not matter which stream you are from—Science, Commerce, or Arts. The exam helps students get admission into undergraduate courses like B.A., B.Sc., B.Com., and more in different universities across the country.
CUET Eligibility Criteria 2026
To appear for the CUET UG exam, students must have passed or be appearing in Class 12 from a recognized board. The eligibility may vary depending on the course and the university you choose. Some programs may also have specific subject or percentage requirements. It’s important to check all details carefully before applying. Students can check the detailed eligibility criteria in the article below to make sure they meet all the conditions for their desired course.
CUET UG Eligibility Criteria 2026 | |
| Name of Examination | CUET UG 2026 |
| Full Form | Common University Entrance Test (Undergraduate) 2026 |
| Conducting Body | National Testing Agency (NTA) |
| Frequency of Examination | Once a year |
| Types of Questions | Multiple Choice Questions |
| Number of Questions | 50 questions, out of which only 40 are to be answered |
| Exam language | 13 languages - |
| Mode of Examination | Online Computer-Based Test Mode |
| Exam Centers | 388 cities inside India and 24 cities outside India |
| Marking Scheme | +5 marks are awarded for each correct answer |
| Negative marking | 1 mark is deducted for each wrong attempt |
CUET UG Eligibility Criteria - Age Limit
- NTA has not set any fixed age limit for appearing in the CUET UG 2026 exam.
- Each university decides its own rules for admission, including age limit, reservation policies, relaxations, preferred subject combinations, and other eligibility criteria.
- However, candidates must follow the age requirements (if any) set by the universities they are applying to.
CUET 2026 Eligibility Criteria - Number of Attempts
- There’s no restriction on how many times you can appear for the CUET UG exam.
- You must meet all the eligibility rules set for the exam each time you apply.
- These rules include educational qualifications and other important requirements decided by CUET.
- As long as you meet the criteria every time, you’re free to take the exam again in 2026 or later.
- You can attempt CUET multiple times without any limit, provided you’re eligible for each attempt.
Academic Qualifications for CUET UG 2026
- Who can Apply: Students who have already passed or are currently studying in Class 12th from a recognized board (CBSE, State Board, or any other approved board) are considered eligible to apply for the CUET UG 2026.
- For SC/ST Category: Students are required to score a minimum of 45% marks overall in Class 12 to be eligible.
- For General Category Students: To be eligible for the CUET UG 2026, students must have scored at least 50% marks in total in their Class 12 board exams.
- For B.Tech Courses: General Category students should have at least 45% aggregate marks in Class 12. While the SC/ST or Reserved Category students must score a minimum of 40% aggregate marks in Class 12.
Nationality Required for CUET UG Eligibility Criteria
- To be eligible for CUET UG 2026, students should be Indian citizens.
- A citizen of Nepal or Bhutan.
- A person from Pakistan, Myanmar (Burma), Sri Lanka, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia, or Vietnam who has moved to India to live here permanently.
- A Tibetan refugee who came to India before January 1, 1962, to settle here permanently.
Subject Combination for CUET UG 2026
- To apply for a particular Undergraduate (UG) course, students must have studied related subjects in their Class 12.
- Different courses and universities have their subject preferences for CUET, so the required subjects may change accordingly.
CUET UG 2026 Reservation Policy
The CUET UG reservation policy is designed to give equal opportunities to all students, especially those from different backgrounds and categories. It ensures that everyone gets a fair chance to study in top universities, no matter their personal or social circumstances. It’s a step towards fairness, inclusivity, and empowering every student to shine in the world of education. Students can also check category-wise CUET UG 2026 Reservation Criteria in the table shared below.
CUET UG 2026 Reservation Policy | |
| Category | Reservation Percentage |
| General – Economically Weaker Sections (GEN-EWS) | 10% |
| Scheduled Caste (SC) | 15% |
| Scheduled Tribe (ST) | 7.5% |
| Other Backward Classes – Non-Creamy Layer (OBC-NCL) | 27% |
| Persons with Disability (PwD) | 5% |