DUET (CUET) Exam 2026

The Common University Entrance Test (CUET), which has replaced the Delhi University Entrance Test (DUET) for undergraduate admissions, is the mandatory exam for students seeking admission to Delhi University and other central universities. Below are the key highlights for the 2026 session:

• Exam Name: CUET (UG) 2026
• Conducting Body: National Testing Agency (NTA)
• Exam Level: National
• Frequency: Once a year
• Mode of Exam: Hybrid (Computer Based Test and Pen-Paper mode)
• Language of Exam: 13 languages
• Official Website: exams.nta.ac.in/CUET-UG/

Based on current trends, the tentative schedule for the CUET (UG) 2026 is as follows:

• Online Application Release: Last week of February 2026
• Last Date for Submission: Last week of March 2026
• Correction Window: First week of April 2026
• Announcement of City Intimation: First week of May 2026
• Admit Card Release: Second week of May 2026
• Exam Dates: May 15 to May 31, 2026
• Result Declaration: Last week of June 2026

The Common University Entrance Test (CUET) is a standardized entrance examination introduced by the Ministry of Education for admission to all Undergraduate Programs in all Central Universities for academic sessions. For Delhi University (DU), it has replaced the merit-based (Class 12 marks) system and the previous DUET system to provide a single-window opportunity for students across the country.

While DUET stands for Delhi University Entrance Test, it has now been integrated into CUET, which stands for Common University Entrance Test. For students targeting Delhi University, the exam is officially referred to as CUET (UG).

Since its inception in 2022, CUET has grown to become the second-largest entrance exam in India. Initially, it faced technical challenges, but the transition to a hybrid model in 2024 significantly streamlined the process. By 2026, the exam is expected to see over 15 lakh applicants competing for seats in over 250 participating universities, including 45+ central universities.

The eligibility criteria for CUET (UG) 2026 are as follows:

• Educational Qualification: Students must have passed Class 12 or be appearing in the Class 12 board exams in 2026.
• Age Limit: There is no age limit for appearing in CUET (UG). However, students must fulfill the age criteria of the specific university they are applying to.
• Minimum Marks: While NTA doesn't set a minimum percentage, individual colleges in DU may require specific aggregate marks in Class 12.

The application process is entirely online:

1. Registration: Visit the official NTA CUET website and register using a valid email and mobile number.
2. Form Filling: Fill in personal, educational, and contact details.
3. Subject Selection: Choose the subjects/tests based on the requirements of the desired course at DU.
4. University Selection: Select 'University of Delhi' and the specific programs.
5. Upload Documents: Upload scanned photograph, signature, and category certificates (if applicable).
6. Fee Payment: Pay the application fee via online modes (Net Banking/UPI/Credit Card).

The exam is divided into three sections:

• Section IA & IB: 33 Languages (e.g., English, Hindi, Sanskrit, French).
• Section II: 27 Domain-Specific subjects (e.g., Physics, Accountancy, History, Sociology).
• Section III: General Test (General Knowledge, Current Affairs, Mental Ability, Quantitative Reasoning).

The syllabus for CUET (UG) 2026 is primarily based on the NCERT Class 12 curriculum:

• Languages: Reading Comprehension (based on different types of passages–Factual, Literary and Narrative), Literary Aptitude, and Vocabulary.
• Domain Subjects: As per the NCERT Class 12 syllabus only.
• General Test: GK, Current Affairs, General Mental Ability, Numerical Ability, Quantitative Reasoning, and Logical & Analytical Reasoning.

The exam pattern for 2026 follows an objective type MCQ format:

• Marking Scheme: +5 for every correct answer; -1 for every incorrect answer; 0 for unattempted questions.
• Question Choice: In most domain subjects, candidates must attempt 40 out of 50 questions.
• Duration: 45 minutes for most subjects; 60 minutes for subjects like Mathematics, Physics, and Accountancy.

The admission to Delhi University involves two main stages:

• Stage 1: Appearing for the CUET (UG) 2026 exam and obtaining a valid score.
• Stage 2: Registering on the DU CSAS (Common Seat Allocation System) portal with CUET scores and preference filling for colleges and courses.

Apart from the University of Delhi (DU), other major participating universities include:

• Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU)
• Banaras Hindu University (BHU)
• Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI)
• Aligarh Muslim University (AMU)
• University of Allahabad
• Various State, Private, and Deemed Universities.

The NTA will release the CUET 2026 results in the form of a Scorecard. This scorecard will display the candidate's percentile and the normalized score (NTA Score) for each subject. These scores are used by universities to prepare their own merit lists.

Once the results are declared:

• Download the scorecard from the NTA portal.
• Apply to the individual university portals (like DU CSAS).
• Participate in the counseling rounds based on the merit list and preferences.
• Verify documents and pay the admission fee to freeze the seat.

For Delhi University, the CSAS 2026 process will have three phases:

• Phase 1: Application on the CSAS portal.
• Phase 2: Filling of preferences for Programs and Colleges.
• Phase 3: Seat Allocation and Admission based on the merit list, category, and availability of seats.

The cut-off for DU 2026 will depend on several factors: the number of applicants, the difficulty level of the exam, and the total seats available. Top-tier colleges like SRCC, St. Stephens, and Hindu College usually require a percentile of 98-99+ for popular courses like B.Com (Hons) and B.A. Economics (Hons).

For queries regarding the exam, candidates can contact the NTA Help Desk:

• Email: cuet-ug@nta.ac.in
• Contact Number: 011-40759000 / 011-69227700
• Address: NSIC-MDBP Building, First Floor, Okhla Industrial Estate, New Delhi-110020