Common Universities Entrance Test Post Graduate Overview 2026
Common Universities Entrance Test Post Graduate Overview
The Common University Entrance Test (CUET) PG 2026 have started from today, i.e., March 06, 2026, in CBT mode. The Yoga paper is now over, which was conducted in the 1st shift (9:00 am - 10: 30 am). The Sports - Physiology, Biochemistry, Nutrition, Biomechanics, etc, Sanskrit, Urdu, and Textile Design exam has concluded in the 2nd shift (12:30 pm - 2:00 pm).
The CUET PG 2026 admit cards have been released for the exams scheduled from 6 to 10 March 2026.
- The CUET PG will be conducted from March 06 to March 27, 2026, for 157 subjects across 44 shifts (~3 shifts per day) in 292 centres.
- The candidates have to reach the exam centre 90 minutes before the commencement of the exam. The exam city details have been released through the city intimation slip.
- The question paper will be available in both English and Hindi, except for the language papers.
- The M. Tech./Higher Sciences papers will be in English only.
- The Acharya papers will be in the Sanskrit language only, except for the Indian Knowledge System and Baudha Darshana.
- The exam will be held for a duration of 90 minutes with a marking scheme of +4 for a correct answer and -1 for a wrong answer as per the latest exam pattern.
This year, 4,11,366 candidates registered for the CUET PG 2026, which is around 0.16% lower than the previous year.
Check:
- CUET PG 2026 Exams Live Updates
- CUET PG Subject-Wise Exam Schedule
- CUET PG Admit Card 2026: Check Release Date, Details & City Intimation Slip
Key Summary
In this Article, we have discussed about CUET PG 2026, including the Preparation Strategy, Exam Pattern, Question Papers, Mock Test and Cutoff.
- The CUET PG Exam includes 75 MCQs, with a total of 300 marks, with +4 marks for each correct answer and -1 for incorrect answers.
- Around 90-100+ universities participate in CUET PG, with 40+ central universities like DU, JNU, BHU, and HCU.
- The CUET PG 2026 results are tentatively expected by early May 2026, along with separate counselling for each university.
- Due to rising registrations, top-course cutoffs may increase by 5–10 marks compared to last year in popular subjects.
- The Category-wise reservation in CUET PG follows the Government Norms at the counselling stage, not during the score calculation.
What is CUET PG 2026?
The CUET PG is a national-level examination, which is conducted by NTA for admission into postgraduate programmes in Indian Universities.
More than 5 lakh candidates appear every year in the CUET PG Exam, which makes the competition very high.
CUET PG 2026: Overview
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | CUET PG 2026 (Common University Entrance Test – Postgraduate) |
| Conducting Body | National Testing Agency (NTA) |
| Purpose | Admission to PG courses in 190+ universities (Central, State, Deemed & Private) |
| Exam Dates | March 6 – March 27, 2026 (3 Shifts) |
| Exam Mode | Online, Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
| Duration | 90 minutes per paper |
| Question Type | Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) |
| Marking Scheme | +4 for correct, 1 for incorrect, 0 for unattempted |
| Medium | Bilingual (English & Hindi) for all subjects |
| Number of Papers | 157 subject/domain papers |
| Participating Universities | 190+ (including DU, JNU, BHU, Hyderabad University, etc.) |
| Difficulty Level | Moderate (concept-based from UG syllabus) |
Check this video by @MyKollege to know more about the CUET Exam Dates, Eligibility, Syllabus & Preparation Tips.
Ques. What is CUET PG Used For?
Ans. The CUET PG Exam is conducted by NTA and is a single exam giving admission opportunity into different PG Programs across central, state, deemed & private universities of India.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Admission to Postgraduate programs (MA, MSc, MBA, MTech, LLM, etc.) |
| Universities | 200+ Participating Institutes, including Central and State Universities |
| Benefit | Single entrance exam instead of multiple state/university-level tests |
| Coverage | 45+ disciplines across Arts, Science, Commerce, Management, Law, etc. |
Ques. Is CUET PG very tough?
Ans. The Difficulty level of CUET PG will differ for each subject, but it is overall of a moderate difficulty level. The Competition is high in CUET PG. It is expected that more than 6 lakh candidates will register for the exam.
| Subject Category | Expected Difficulty Level | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Languages (E.G., English, Hindi) | Moderate | Balanced comprehension and grammar; scoring moderately high, possible. |
| Science (E.G., Physics, Math, CS) | Moderate to Difficult | Technical and problem-solving questions increase complexity. |
| Life Sciences (E.G., Zoology, Microbiology) | Moderate | Mix of theory and application; a few challenging items expected. |
| Humanities & Social Sciences | Easy to Moderate | Conceptual but generally accessible questions. |
| General/Common Tests (E.G., MBA, LLB) | Moderate | Logical reasoning and verbal ability dominate. |
| Commerce/Applied Subjects | Easy to Moderate | Practical and factual focus makes it manageable. |
What’s New in CUET PG 2026?
The NTA has announced some changes in CUET PG to improve the fairness and experience of candidates during the exam.
The Major Changes in CUET PG 2026 are:
| New Update | CUET PG 2026 Change |
|---|---|
| Exam Cities | The Total number of exam cities has been reduced from 312 to 292 in 2026. |
| Limited City Preferences | You can select only 2 exam cities based on their permanent and present addresses. |
| Exam Pattern | The total number of questions asked in the exam will be 75, and the duration will be of 90 minutes. |
Check CUET Exam Cities:
| Download CUET PG Exam Cities PDF |
If you are appearing for CUET PG 2026, check this video by @cuetpgadda to know about the overall difficulty level of CUET PG for all subjects.
Also, Check:
- CUET PG Exam Centres 2026: Check State-wise List of CUET PG Exam Centres
- CUET PG Expected Paper Analysis
CUET PG 2026 Exam Dates
The CUET PG Exam Dates 2026 include the application, exam dates, admit card, answer key and result dates. Now that the application process is over, your focus should be on the exam day and the result process of the exam.
CUET PG 2026 Exam Dates Table
| Date (2026) | Event |
|---|---|
| 26th February 2026 (OUT) | Exam City Intimation Slip Release |
| March 03, 2026 (OUT) | Admit Card Release |
| 6th to 27th March 2026 | Exam Dates |
| April 2026 | Answer Key (Provisional) |
| April 2026 | Challenges to Answer Key |
| 6 May 2026 (tentative) | Final Answer Key / Result |
| May 2026 (university-specific) | Counselling / Admission Window |
Also, Read: CUET PG Exam Dates: Check Complete 2026 Schedule
CUET PG Exam Schedule 2026
The NTA has officially released the CUET PG Subject-Wise and Shift-Wise Schedule for 6th March to 27th March 2026, in CBT Mode, with 3 shifts of 90 minutes each.
You must refer to the official timetable PDF to check their subject code, exam date, and allotted shift.
Check the complete list of CUET PG Exam Dates 2026:
| Exam Date | Shift 1 (09:00 AM - 10:30 AM) | Shift 2 (12:30 PM - 02:00 PM) | Shift 3 (04:00 PM - 05:30 PM) |
| March 06, 2026 | Yoga | Sports-Physiology; Biochemistry; Sanskrit; Urdu; Textile Design | |
| March 07, 2026 | Anthropology | Applied Geography/Geoinformatics | Healthcare & Hospital Management |
| March 08, 2026 | B.Ed.; B.Ed.-M.Ed. Integrated Lifelong Learning & extension, etc. | General-Management | General; Puranetihasa |
| March 09, 2026 | Statistics | B.Ed. Mathematics; French; Dance | Criminology; Telugu |
| March 10, 2026 | Data Science; AI; Cyber Security & Computer Science; Engineering/Technology; Home Science; Animal Science | MA Education; Forensic Science | Fine Arts; Disaster Studies |
| March 11, 2026 | Political Science; Soil Science; Sahitya (Alankara & Kavya); MPT/MRT, etc. | Computer Science/IT/AI; Museology; Khasi; Kokborok | Chemistry; Commerce; Music-Percussion; Punjabi; Sahitya |
| March 12, 2026 | Agricultural Science; B.Ed. Humanities & Social Sciences, etc. | Economics; Korean; Shiksha Shastri B.Ed. etc. | English; Vedanta; Textile Engineering; Shiksha Acharya M.Ed |
| March 13, 2026 | Library & Information Science | History; Nanoelectronics/Material Sciences, etc. | Life Science; Hindu Studies |
| March 16, 2026 | Geography; Pharmacy | Zoology; German | Psychology / Applied Psychology |
| March 17, 2026 | B.Ed. Languages; Horticulture; Geophysics; Civil and Structural Engineering | L.L.M.; Food Engineering & Technology; Arabic | Microbiology; Ancient Indian History; Electronics, etc. |
| March 18, 2026 | Food Science & Technology; Baudha Darshan, etc. | Mathematics; History of Art, etc. | Botany; Development & Labour Studies, etc. |
| March 19, 2026 | Geology; Theatre; Public Health | Sociology; Mechanical Engineering; Atmospheric Science, etc. | Mass Communication & Journalism; ; Nanoscience / Integrative Biosciences; Odia |
| March 24, 2026 | Environmental Sciences / Studies | B.Ed. Science; Art, and Aesthetics | Physics |
| March 25, 2026 | Social Work; Medical Lab Technology | Linguistics; Indian Knowledge System; Painting, etc. | Philosophy; Biochemistry; Electrical, Power, and Energy Engineering |
| March 27, 2026 | M.Ed.; Agro-forestry; Jyotish (Falit) Rigveda; Bengali, etc. | Physical Education; Plant Biotechnology | Hindi; Nano Science / Nano Technology |
Check:
- CUET PG Mock Test
- CUET PG Previous Year Question Paper
CUET PG 2026 Last 30 Days Preparation Plan for Maximum Score
As CUET PG Exams are scheduled between 13th March and 1st April 2026, only 30 days are left, so your focus should be on a weekly preparation pattern, mock-test analysis, PYQs, not on the new books and topics.
Below is a week-wise preparation plan for 1 month, for the candidates to prepare in an effective way.
Week 1: Syllabus Prioritisation & Concept Stabilisation
- Around 2 to 3 questions are similar to patterns followed in PYQs, and some similar concepts.
- You should focus more on the high-weightage topics and the scoring syllabus.
| Parameter | Strategy | Data-Driven Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Syllabus Coverage | Identify the top 60–65% high-weightage topics | Covers the majority of questions |
| PYQs | Solve PYQs (last 5–7 years) topic-wise | Pattern recognition |
| Concept Revision | Revise core UG concepts only | Avoid overload |
| Mock Tests | 2 full-length mocks | Baseline score |
Week 2: Accuracy Improvement & Weak Area Correction
- Around a 5 to 7% increase in accuracy can shift the percentile because of normalisation.
- This week, your actual average performance will be used as a competitive percentile.
| Parameter | Strategy | Data-Driven Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Weak Topics | Revise the bottom 30–35% scoring areas | To stabilise your score |
| Practice Tests | Section-wise & topic-wise tests | Precision improvement |
| PYQs | Re-solve PYQs without notes | Concept retention |
| Mock Tests | 3 full-length mocks | Accuracy tuning |
Week 3: Exam Simulation & Time Control
- Time management can increase the difficulty in CUET PG, so you should focus more on Mock tests.
- If completing the exam in 80 minutes, the accuracy will be improved.
| Parameter | Strategy | Data-Driven Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Mock Frequency | 4–5 mocks in exam-time slots | Improve time management |
| Time Management | Finish paper in 75–80 minutes | Review buffer |
| Error Tracking | Maintain the mistake log | Error elimination |
| Revision | Short notes + formulas daily | Speed recall |
Week 4: Final Revision & Exam Guidelines
| Parameter | Strategy | Data-Driven Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Revision | Only notes, PYQs, formulas | Concept reinforcement |
| Mock Tests | 2–3 light mocks only | Score consistency |
| PYQs | Revisit marked & tricky PYQs | Pattern mastery |
| Exam Prep | Admit card, centre check | Stress reduction |
Check: CUET PG Preparation Strategy 2026
CUET PG 2026: High-Weightage Topics for the final month of preparation
In the last month of CUET PG, your preparation should be based on high-weightage topics, rather than covering the complete syllabus.
As per the previous year's analysis, around 60 to 70% of the questions are repeatedly asked from the same topics, which makes them important for high scoring.
CUET PG 2026 High-Weightage Topics:
| Subject Area | High-Weightage Topics | Expected Weightage |
|---|---|---|
| English / Languages | Literary Movements, Critical Theories, Reading Comprehension, Grammar & Usage | High (40–45%) |
| Economics | Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, National Income, IS-LM, Statistics | Very High (45–50%) |
| Political Science | Political Theory, Indian Constitution, IR Theories, Public Administration Basics | High (40–45%) |
| History | Modern Indian History, World History, Historical Methodology | Moderate–High (35–40%) |
| Mathematics | Linear Algebra, Calculus, Differential Equations, Probability | Very High (50%+) |
| Physics | Quantum Mechanics, Classical Mechanics, Mathematical Physics, EM Theory | High (45–50%) |
| Chemistry | Organic Reaction Mechanisms, Coordination Chemistry, Thermodynamics | High (40–45%) |
| Life Sciences | Cell Biology, Genetics, Ecology, Biochemistry Basics | Very High (50%+) |
| Computer Science | Data Structures, DBMS, Operating Systems, Computer Networks | High (45–50%) |
| Commerce / Management | Accounting, Financial Management, Business Economics, Marketing Basics | Moderate–High (40–45%) |
CUET PG 2026: Right Way to Use Mocks & PYQs Before the Exam
In the last month before CUET PG 2026, the mock tests & PYQs are important to learn new topics, as they directly impact your speed & accuracy for the exam.
How Many Mock Tests & PYQs to Solve in the Last Month for CUET PG 2026?
- In the last month, solve at least 15 to 18 full-length mock tests for most CUET PG Subjects.
- Around 80 to 90% of questions are asked from the last 8 to 10 years, so target solving the PYQs.
- Spend at least 2-3 hours on each mock test for proper analysis.
- Avoid new mocks in the last 48 hours; revise PYQs, formulas, and previously incorrect questions instead.
| Preparation Phase | Mock Tests to Attempt | PYQs to Solve | Focus Area | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 (Days 30–24) | 3–4 full-length mocks | PYQs of the last 3 years | Identifying weak areas, syllabus gaps | Clear understanding of scoring vs non-scoring topics |
| Week 2 (Days 23–17) | 4–5 full-length mocks | PYQs of the last 5 years (topic-wise) | Accuracy improvement, concept strengthening | Reduced silly mistakes, improved question selection |
| Week 3 (Days 16–10) | 5–6 full-length mocks | PYQs of the last 8–10 years | Speed building, exam simulation | Stable attempt strategy, better time allocation |
| Week 4 (Days 9–1) | 3–4 high-quality mocks | Selected PYQs + error log revision | Revision & confidence building | Peak performance with controlled risk |
CUET PG Exam Pattern 2026
The CUET PG Exam Pattern is expected to be the same as the previous year, with a time limit of 90 minutes to 105 minutes of duration.
- The CUET PG Exam will be held in a CBT Mode, including MCQs, in a bilingual language in all streams.
- With each correct answer, the candidate will get +4 marks, and with each incorrect answer, -1 mark will be deducted.
- Most of the subjects will focus on domain-based knowledge, as per your chosen PG Programme.
CUET PG 2026 Subject-wise Exam Pattern
Check:
- CUET PG Previous Year Exam-Analysis
- CUET PG Subject-wise pattern
CUET PG 2026 Subject-Wise Official Syllabus Download PDF
The NTA has released the official CUET PG 2026 Syllabus PDF on the official website.
CUET PG Syllabus for Science
CUET PG Syllabus for M.Tech
CUET PG Syllabus for Language
| English LAQP01 | Limbu LAQP22 |
| Hindi LAQP02 | Malayalam LAQP23 |
| Sanskrit LAQP03 | Manipuri LAQP24 |
| Linguistics LAQP04 | Marathi LAQP25 |
| Arabic LAQP05 | Nepali LAQP26 |
| Assamese LAQP06 | Odia LAQP27 |
| Bengali LAQP07 | Pali LAQP28 |
| Bhutia LAQP08 | Pashto LAQP29 |
| Chinese LAQP09 | Persian LAQP30 |
| French LAQP10 | Prakrit LAQP31 |
| Garo LAQP11 | Prayojanmoolak LAQP32 |
| German LAQP12 | Punjabi LAQP33 |
| Gujarati LAQP13 | Russian LAQP34 |
| Spanish (Hispanic) LAQP14 | Tamil LAQP35 |
| Japanese LAQP15 | Telugu LAQP36 |
| Kannada LAQP16 | Urdu LAQP37 |
| Kashmiri LAQP17 | Urdu Journalism LAQP37 |
| Khasi LAQP18 | Indo-Tibetan LAQP39 |
| Kokborok LAQP19 | Santali LAQP40 |
| Korean LAQP20 | Italian LAQP41 |
CUET PG Syllabus for Humanities
CUET PG Syllabus for Common
CUET PG Syllabus for Acharya
For More Information, Check: CUET PG Syllabus 2026
CUET PG Cutoff 2026
The Cutoff for CUET PG will be released after the counselling process, as per the previous year trends and competition level.
For most of the top central universities, the closing score is expected to increase because of a high number of candidates and a pattern of normalised scores.
- The Cutoff for DU, BHU, JNU and HCU is expected to be high, mainly in humanities, commerce and science streams.
- For the reserved category candidate, the cutoff is 20-40 marks less than that of the general category.
- For safe admission in top universities, candidates should target 220+ (UR) and 200+ (OBC/EWS) in most competitive courses.
| Category | Expected Score Range (Top Courses/Universities) | Expected Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| General (UR) | 210 – 245 | 96 – 99+ |
| OBC-NCL | 190 – 225 | 92 – 97 |
| EWS | 195 – 230 | 93 – 98 |
| SC | 165 – 200 | 85 – 93 |
| ST | 150 – 185 | 80 – 90 |
| PwD | 140 – 175 | 75 – 88 |
Check:
- CUET PG Cutoff 2026
- CUET PG Marks vs Percentile
Ques. What is a good score in CUET PG?
Ans. A Good Score in CUET PG depends upon the university, course and category of the candidate. In the top central universities like DU, JNU and BHU, a score of around 240 to 260 out of 300 is required.
| University / Stream | Category | Good Score Range (out of 300) | Percentile Approx. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delhi University (MA, MSc, MCom) | General | 250–260 | 95–98 |
| BHU (MA, MSc) | General | 245–255 | 93–97 |
| JNU (MA, MSc) | General | 248–258 | 94–97 |
| DU / BHU / JNU | OBC | 235–250 | 90–94 |
| DU / BHU / JNU | SC/ST | 200–230 | 75–85 |
Ques. How much score in CUET PG for DU?
Ans. The Score required for admission in DU depends upon the category & course of the candidate. The Top courses like M.A., M.Sc., and M.com require a high score because of competition.
| Course / Stream | Category | Expected Score Range (out of 300) | Percentile Approx. |
|---|---|---|---|
| MA / MSc / MCom (Popular Streams) | General | 250–260 | 95–98 |
| MA / MSc / MCom | OBC | 240–250 | 90–94 |
| MA / MSc / MCom | SC | 215–230 | 80–85 |
| MA / MSc / MCom | ST | 200–220 | 75–80 |
| Less Competitive Streams | General | 230–245 | 88–92 |
CUET PG Result & Counselling
The CUET PG Results are expected to be released in May 2026, after which central and participating universities will release their own merit lists and start the counselling.
| Stage | Expected Timeline | What Happens | Key Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Result Declaration | By 6 May 2026 (tentative) | Scorecard & percentile released | Includes normalised scores, subject-wise marks |
| Scorecard Download | Same day as the result | Available on the NTA portal | Log in with the application no. & DOB |
| University Applications | May–June 2026 | Universities open admission portals | Apply separately for each university |
| Merit List Release | May–July 2026 | Course-wise cutoffs released | Based on CUET score + eligibility |
| Counselling Rounds | June–Aug 2026 | Seat allotment & document verification | Multiple rounds likely |
| Final Admissions | By Aug 2026 | Fee payment & reporting | Spot rounds are possible in some universities |
Check:
- CUET PG Result
- CUET PG Counselling
CUET PG 2026: Participating Institutes
The CUET PG is a single entrance test for admission into postgraduate programs in more than 190 universities in India. Including the Central University, State University, Deemed University and private university.
| Type of University | Examples of Institutes |
|---|---|
| Central Universities | Delhi University (DU) |
| Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) | |
| Banaras Hindu University (BHU) | |
| University of Hyderabad | |
| Jamia Millia Islamia | |
| State Universities | Punjab University |
| Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda | |
| Rajasthan University | |
| Andhra University | |
| University of Madras | |
| Deemed Universities | Amity University |