CUET Eligibility Criteria 2026: Qualification, age limit, reservation policy, minimum marks
The CUET eligibility criteria 2026 outline whether candidates are qualified to apply for undergraduate programmes offered by participating universities. Students who plan to appear for the exam must meet the NTA’s eligibility criteria, including academic qualifications, age requirements, and nationality requirements.
The CUET UG 2026 application window has been reopened, allowing candidates to complete their registration until February 26, 2026, while the fee payment can be made within the specified deadline. The CUET UG 2026 exam is expected to be conducted between May 11 and May 31 in CBT mode.
CUET Eligibility Criteria 2026: Key Requirements
To appear for the exam, candidates must fulfill the CUET eligibility criteria mentioned below:
Academic Qualification
- Candidates must have passed or be appearing in Class 12 from a recognized board or any stream.
- For the General category, a minimum of 50% marks in Class 12 is required.
- For SC/ST candidates, the minimum required marks are 45%.
- For B.Tech programmes, eligibility differs slightly:
- General category: minimum 45% aggregate.
- Reserved categories: minimum 40% aggregate
Age Limit
As per the CUET eligibility criteria 2026, the NTA has not prescribed a fixed age limit. However, candidates must meet the age requirements (if any) set by the universities they are applying to.
Admissions are also subject to each university’s policies regarding reservation, quotas, subject combinations, and other eligibility norms.
Nationality Criteria
To meet the CUET eligibility criteria 2026, candidates must fall under one of the following categories:
- Must be an Indian citizen
- Citizens of Nepal or Bhutan
- Tibetan refugees who migrated to India before January 1, 1962 for permanent settlement.
- Individuals of Indian origin from countries like Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Ethiopia, and Vietnam who intend to settle permanently in India.
CUET Reservation Policy 2026
| Category | Certificate Requirement | Additional Guidelines |
| GEN-EWS | Valid certificate issued on or after January 1, 2026, or declaration if unavailable | Must follow the Government of India income and asset criteria |
| OBC-NCL | Certificate issued on or after January 1, 2026, or declaration as per official rules | Must belong to Non-Creamy Layer as per central government norms |
| SC/ST | Valid caste/tribe certificate as per government norms | No date restriction typically, but must be issued by the competent authority |
| Reserved Categories (General Note) | Applicable certificates required during the application and admission process | Usually receive up to 5% relaxation in eligibility marks (varies by university) |
Important Notes on CUET Eligibility Criteria 2026
- Eligibility requirements may vary across universities and courses.
- Candidates should always check the university’s official website before applying.
- Simply appearing for the exam does not guarantee admission unless programme-specific criteria are met.
CUET UG Eligibility Criteria 2026
The CUET Eligibility criteria 2026 for central universities require candidates to have passed class 12 from a recognized board. Students can now choose CUET subjects regardless of their Class 12 subjects, which is based on course requirements.
Delhi University CUET UG Eligibility Criteria
| Course | CUET Subject Combination / Eligibility Criteria |
| BSc (Hons) Biological Science | Physics + Chemistry + Biology / Biological Studies / Biotechnology / Biochemistry + Minimum 30% in any one language from List A |
| BSc (Hons) Botany | Physics + Chemistry + Biology / Biological Studies / Biotechnology / Biochemistry + Minimum 30% in any one language from List A |
| BSc (Hons) Zoology | Physics + Chemistry + Biology / Biological Studies / Biotechnology / Biochemistry + Minimum 30% in any one language from List A |
| BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science | Physics + Chemistry + Biology / Biological Studies / Biotechnology / Biochemistry + Minimum 30% in any one language from List A |
| BSc (Hons) Chemistry | Physics + Chemistry + Mathematics + Minimum 30% in any one language from List A |
| BSc (Hons) Physics | Physics + Chemistry + Mathematics + Minimum 30% in any one language from List A |
| BSc (Hons) 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 (at least one from List B1) |
| B.Com (Hons.) | Combination I: Any one Language from List A + Mathematics/Applied Mathematics + Any two subjects (at least one from List B1)
OR Combination II: Any one Language from List A + Accountancy/Book Keeping + Any two subjects (at least one from List B1) |
| Other UG Programmes | Refer to official subject combinations prescribed by University of Delhi |
University of Allahabad CUET UG Eligibility Criteria
| Course Name | CUET Course Criteria / Subject Mapping |
| B.Sc. (Mathematics)
(Physics / Mathematics / Chemistry / Computer Science / Defence Studies / Psychology / Geology / Statistics / Geography) |
Section IA (Language): Minimum 1 from English or Hindi
II (Domain Subjects): Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Computer Science / Information Practices (Any 2 are compulsory) Section III (General Test): Compulsory |
| B.Sc. (Biology)
(Zoology / Botany / Chemistry / Biochemistry / Geography / Anthropology / Defence Studies) |
Section IA (Language): Minimum 1 from English or Hindi
II (Domain Subjects): Biology (Compulsory) + Chemistry or Physics (Any 1) Section III (General Test): Compulsory |
| B.Com | Section IA (Language): Minimum 1 from English or Hindi II (Domain Subjects): Accountancy / Book Keeping (Compulsory) Section III (General Test): Compulsory |
Banaras Hindu University CUET UG Eligibility Criteria
| Course Name | CUET Course Criteria / Subject Mapping |
| B.Sc. (Hons.) Mathematics
(Chemistry, Computer Science, Geography, Geology, Mathematics, Physics, Statistics) |
Section II (Domain Subjects):
1. Physics 2. Chemistry 3. Mathematics |
| B.Sc. (Hons.) Biology | Section II (Domain Subjects):
1. Physics 2. Chemistry 3. Biology |
| B.A. (Hons.) in Arts
(Hindi, Kannada, Marathi, Persian, Pali, Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu, Nepali, English, Japanese, Chinese, German, French, Russian, Ancient Indian History, Culture & Archaeology, History of Art, Philosophy, Linguistics, Geography, Mathematics, Statistics, Tourism & Travel Management, Economics, Home Science, Music, Painting, Education, Dance) |
Section I A (Language Test): Hindi or English
III (General Test): Compulsory |
Read More – BHU CUET Eligibility Criteria | Delhi University CUET Eligibility Criteria
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the CUET exam work?
Computer-based test (CBT) mode will be used for the CUET as per the schedule.
When will the registration for CUET 2026 start?
The CUET 2026 registration started in February 2026.
What are the eligibility criteria for the CUET exam 2026?
Candidates who have passed Class 12th or an equivalent examination appearing in 2024 are eligible to apply for CUET. However, CUET 2024 is not age-restricted.
What is the minimum eligibility condition not satisfied in CUET?
Candidates in the general category must have a minimum of 50% in their high school diploma in order to qualify for CUET. The candidates in the SC/ST category should have a 45% in Class 12. Candidates for PG courses should hold a valid three-year graduation degree from a recognized university with a minimum grade point average of 50% or 45% in the case of ST/SC candidates.
What is CUET, and what is its importance?
CUET is used for undergraduate admissions at state, central, and other participating universities. It is a standardized test that is required for admission to many universities’ undergraduate and graduate programs. CUET is administered by the National Testing Agency (NTA).
How many marks are required to qualify for CUET?
Candidates should score between 300 and 400 points on the CUET. Besides, the CUET section 1 language passing marks will be between 80 and 90 for each of the two sections.
What is the good rank in CUET?
According to the previous year’s analysis, CUET cut-off scores above 700 are considered excellent. Students who receive marks above 600 may be eligible for admission to top colleges such as JNU, DU, and BHU, etc. As for the CUET, a score between 300 and 400 is considered to be an average result.
How is the CUET examination conducted?
The tests will be offered in 13 languages comprising English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu.
What is the age limit to apply for CUET?
There is no age limit for the applicants of CUET.
What educational qualification is required to apply for CUET 2026?
Candidates, either have passed the class 12th examination or the exams are scheduled in 2026. However, the aspirants should review the eligibility criteria for CUET.
