Common Universities Entrance Test Eligibility Criteria 2026

CUET 2026 Eligibility Criteria

The Common University Entrance Test (CUET) 2026 eligibility criteria check the minimum academic, subject and category-wise conditions a candidate must meet for admission. A candidate should have passed Class 12 or should be appearing in the 2026 exam from a recognised board.

CUET eligibility is checked at two levels:

1. National Testing Agency (NTA)-based eligibility is required to appear in the exam.
2. University-based eligibility is applied during admission and counselling.

CUET Eligibility Criteria 2026: Key Points

CUET 2026 Age Limit

There is no required age limit for CUET 2026, allowing candidates of all age groups to apply. Some universities do have age restrictions as well.

Course-wise age differences will be held during the counselling process.

CUET 2026 Minimum Marks Required

To get admission in most of the courses, universities expect 50% marks from general category candidates and 45% for SC/ST candidates in Class 12. The minimum marks are not fixed by CUET and vary by course.

CUET 2026 Qualifying Exam

Candidates must have passed Class 12 or equivalent from a recognised board, Indian or foreign. Candidates from NIOS and open board candidates will be eligible only if the subject required is accepted by the admitting university.

CUET 2026 Reservation Criteria

The reservation policy is followed as per the Government of India policy. The reservation will affect the cut-offs and seat allocation only.

• 15% for SC
• 7.5% for ST
• 27% for OBC-NCL
• 10% for EWS
• 5% for PwD

CUET scores will be calculated without any category-relaxation. The reservation is applied at the admission stage.

CUET 2026 Nationality and Candidate Type

The candidate applying should be from India, along with NRIs, OCIs, and PIOs, according to the university's guidelines.

CUET 2026 Document Verification

Document verification is required at counselling for candidates appearing for CUET. You have to submit the following documents:

• Class 12 marksheets
• Passing certificate
• Category certificate
• Identity proof

Screening will happen during registration, counselling and document verification. Most candidates will be rejected because of mismatch of subject, invalid certificates, and incorrect category claims.

CUET 2026 University-Wise Eligibility

CUET has similar exam testing, but the eligibility will differ as per 250+ participating universities. The CUET eligibility follows NTA-based eligibility to appear in the exam and university-based eligibility during admission and counselling.

CUET 2026: Does CUET Need a 75 Percent Criteria?

CUET does not have a fixed 75 percent criteria. Universities generally require 50% marks for general category and 45% for SC/ST candidates in Class 12, varying by course.

Does CUET UG 2026 Require 75% in Class 12?

No, CUET UG 2026 does not require 75% eligibility for the majority of universities. Candidates need to pass Class 12 from a recognised board only.

• Some universities, such as Delhi University (DU) and BHU, might have course-specific minimum marks requirements (e.g., 50% for General, 45% for SC/ST).
• Students must verify the specific eligibility criteria of their desired universities before applying.

Can a 12th Fail Apply for CUET?

No, the 12th failed candidates are not qualified for CUET UG 2026.

• Aspirants should pass Class 12 or a similar examination from a recognised board to apply.
• However, applicants appearing for Class 12 exams in 2025 are allowed to apply provisionally but need to pass before getting admitted.

CUET Eligibility Criteria: What is the Required Age Limit?

There is no fixed age limit set by NTA to appear in the CUET UG Exam, as per the policy granted by UGC. Recent Class 12 pass-outs, candidates with gap years, and older candidates can sit for CUET if they meet the academic and subject-based requirements.

• The CUET does not reject candidates based on age criteria; it is based on the academic criteria at the exam level.
• Age conditions are applied during counselling, not during registration.
• A candidate can qualify for CUET but still not be eligible for certain courses due to the age limit set by the institution.
• A gap year does not affect eligibility unless it is restricted by the admission policy of the university.

Can I Apply for CUET if I Have Taken Multiple Gap Years After Class 12?

Yes, CUET will not restrict candidates based on gap years. If you have passed Class 12 from a recognized board, you will be eligible to apply for CUET 2026.

Will My CUET Application be Rejected Because of My Age?

No, NTA does not reject the CUET application based on age. CUET 2026 has no minimum or maximum age limit at the exam level, which follows proper admission policies.

• Age is not a rejection factor at the CUET.
• Older candidates and gap year students can apply freely.

Do Universities Check Age Eligibility During CUET Registration or Counselling?

Universities do not check age eligibility during CUET registration. Age verification, if required, is done only during counselling or document verification.

CUET Eligibility Criteria 2026: Course-Wise

In CUET UG, eligibility differs as per different courses, according to the academic background of the candidate and the relevance of the subject. Two candidates with the same CUET score will be eligible for different courses as per their Class 12 subjects and marks.

CUET Eligibility for Arts & Humanities Courses

Admission to Arts courses depends on the stream and the course. Language proficiency matters more than domain subjects in most B.A. programmes.

Candidates from Science or Commerce streams can switch to Arts. Some universities give more weight to language and General Test scores than to domain subjects.

CUET Eligibility for Commerce & Management Courses

B.Com (Hons) and Economics programmes require Mathematics. General Test scores carry more weight for management-related courses.

Candidates not from Commerce can apply if they meet the maths requirement.

CUET Eligibility for Science Courses

Science course eligibility depends on the subjects selected by the candidate. Missing even one required subject can lead to disqualification.

The Language section has limited weightage compared to domain subjects.

CUET Eligibility for Professional & Skill-Based Courses

The General Test is important for shortlisting. Some programmes may have age or aptitude criteria.

As per a Reddit user, if you have studied 4 subjects in class 12, you should choose all 4 domains. The best of 3 subjects will be counted.

Check: CUET Required courses list

Is Qualifying CUET Enough for Admission?

No, qualifying CUET is not enough for CUET admission. The eligibility will depend on the course you have applied for, as per its own eligibility during counselling.

• Different courses require specific eligibility as per class 12 subjects or minimum marks.
• The eligibility will be verified before the allocation of seat.

Why Am I Eligible for One Course but Not Another with the Same CUET Score?

This happens because different courses have different subject and eligibility requirements, even in the same university.

CUET Eligibility Criteria: Which Qualifying Exam is Required?

The qualifying exam required for CUET is the Class 12 board examination. Candidates must have passed Class 12 from a recognised board to be eligible.

CUET UG 2026 Qualifying Examinations

CUET UG accepts a wide range of Class 12 qualifying exams, including Indian and foreign boards. Any exam recognised as equivalent to Class 12 is accepted. The final eligibility decision rests with the admitting university.

The table below lists the qualifying examinations accepted for CUET UG 2026.

Source: CUET Information Bulletin.

Reservation Criteria for CUET UG 2026

CUET UG 2026 follows a reservation policy adopted by individual universities according to government norms. Candidates from reserved categories (SC, ST, OBC, EWS, and PwD) get relaxation in eligibility, seats, and cut-offs.

The category-wise reservation is as follows:

Check: Seat Allotment for CUET.

University-Wise Eligibility Criteria for CUET 2026

CUET UG 2026 is the only entrance exam required for admission in 250+ universities. Every university has different course-based eligibility criteria.

Candidates should know the requirements of their target university to prepare accordingly. The university-wise list of CUET UG 2025 eligibility is given below.

CUET Eligibility Criteria for Delhi University

• Delhi University can disqualify candidates because of a mismatch of subjects, not because of low CUET scores.
• Choosing the wrong domain subject in CUET makes a candidate automatically ineligible for the course.
• Class 12 marks are used only to check eligibility, not for ranking.
• High-demand courses require both Maths in Class 12 and CUET Maths.
• Eligibility is verified before the allocation of the seat.

CUET Eligibility for Banaras Hindu University

• For admission in Banaras Hindu University, domain subjects carry more weightage.
• An age limit is applicable for BHU admissions.
• Eligibility is checked before the counselling process starts.
• In Science courses, the impact of language scores is less.

CUET Eligibility Criteria for Delhi University

Delhi University (DU) admission is based on the CUET score, and the eligibility criteria are defined by the university. The basic requirement is passing Class 12, but the specific subjects and marks needed depend on the programme.

• DU considers the CUET score for admission, not the Class 12 marks.
• The subjects you took in Class 12 must match the requirements of the course you want.
• Each programme has its own specific eligibility conditions.

CUET Eligibility Criteria for Banaras Hindu University

Banaras Hindu University (BHU) sets its eligibility criteria based on the CUET score and the stream you studied in Class 12. The requirements are strict for science courses and more flexible for others.

• BHU gives more weight to domain subjects in the CUET exam.
• Some programmes have subject-specific cut-offs.
• An age limit is applied for select integrated courses.

CUET Eligibility Criteria for Jawaharlal Nehru University

In Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), academic scores matter more than the stream you studied. The General Test and language scores are important for humanities courses.

• JNU focuses on your overall academic performance.
• Language proficiency and analytical ability are preferred.

CUET Eligibility Criteria for Aligarh Muslim University

Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) has different eligibility criteria for different courses. There are restrictions in professional and science courses.

• AMU has higher mark thresholds for select courses.
• Reservation rules follow AMU norms and Government of India guidelines.

CUET University-Wise Eligibility Criteria PDF

CUET Eligibility Criteria for State Universities

State universities have their own minimum marks and additional criteria for CUET-based admission. The requirements vary by university and course.

CUET Eligibility Criteria for Deemed & Private Universities

Deemed and private universities set their own eligibility criteria for CUET-based admission. These can include additional tests or interviews.

FAQs for CUET Eligibility Criteria

Can I apply for CUET if I am appearing in the Class 12 exam in 2026?

Yes, candidates appearing in class 12 exam in 2026 are eligible to apply for CUET.

• These candidates will be provisionally eligible for the exam and should submit the proof of passing during the counselling.
• The Eligibility will be then confirmed during the counselling session.

Are NIOS and open board students eligible for CUET?

Can I Apply for CUET if I Am Appearing for Class 12 in 2026?

Yes, candidates appearing for the Class 12 exam in 2026 are eligible to apply for CUET. These candidates are provisionally eligible for the exam.

They must submit proof of passing during the counselling session. The eligibility is confirmed at that stage.

Are NIOS and Open Board Students Eligible for CUET?

Yes, NIOS and other board candidates are eligible for CUET if their board is recognized and equivalent to Class 12. The eligibility status depends on the type of board.

Will Foreign Board Class 12 Certificates Be Accepted for CUET Admissions?

Yes, foreign board Class 12 certificates are accepted for CUET admissions. Candidates must provide the required certificates during the admission process.

How Do I Know Which CUET Subjects Are Required for My Target Course?

The required subjects for each course are listed in the official admission brochure of each university. These are given under the course-based eligibility criteria.

• Check the course-wise requirements in the brochure.
• The required CUET subjects must be the same as your Class 12 subjects.

Is Reservation Applicable at the CUET Exam Level or Only During Admission?

Reservation is not applied at the CUET exam or score level. It is implemented only during the admission process by the participating universities.