CUET UG 2026 Eligibility Criteria: Age Limit, Reservation Rules & College List

Do you know? Taking a CUET entrance exam and securing a qualifying mark requires UG aspirants to meet the program-specific CUET eligibility criteria 2026 to be considered for admission to top CUET participating colleges.

Similarly, clearing your 12^th class and securing a passing mark in all 5 subjects will also not be enough to make you eligible to take the CUET UG exam 2026.

The CUET eligibility criteria 2026 were released by the NTA on January 3, 2026, alongside the release of the application form and official notification. To find out if you qualify to take the CUET UG 2026 exam and secure admission to CUET-Participating colleges, read the blog post.

The CUET exam is now an important part of every student's academic path. This begs the question: Is it possible for any student to take the CUET exam 2026? The answer is no! You must meet the CUET eligibility criteria 2026 set by the NTA on both the 12^th-level and program level.

Common CUET eligibility criteria 2026.
Program and college-specific CUET eligibility criteria 2026, which vary

The age restriction, academic requirements, and nationality are specified in the CUET eligibility criteria 2026 for UG programs. The CUET application form 2026 was made available at cuetug.ntaonline.in by the National Testing Agency (NTA).

The CUET UG 2026 test will be given by NTA in CBT format from May 11 to 31, 2026.

Key Points of CUET Eligibility Requirements 2026

For particular programs, each participating university establishes its own qualifying requirements (e.g., minimum marks in Class 12, mandatory topics).
CUET (UG) 2026 scores (normalized NTA scores) and meeting university-specific requirements are the only factors used to determine admissions.
Before applying, candidates should carefully review their eligibility for each program on the websites of the relevant universities.

Changes to Keep in Mind While Registering for CUET 2026

Candidates whose face don’t match their UIDAI records will be rejected. Except for the applicant's mother, father, or guardian's name, which is not listed on their Aadhaar records, NTA will collect the applicant's personal information from UIDAI records as stated on their Aadhaar cards.
Applicants with disabilities and impairments must ensure their UDID cards and disability certificates are validated, reissued, and updated to avoid rejection.
Additionally, applicants from SC, ST, OBC-NCL, and EWS must have their category certificate updated, renewed, and validated to avoid elimination of eligibility.

CUET Eligibility Criteria 2026

CUET eligibility criteria vary from program to program. Candidates must fulfil the conditions listed below to be eligible to take the CUET exam for admission to UG courses.

CUET Eligibility Criteria 2026: Educational Background

Students must have passed Class 12 from an approved board in any stream to be admitted to bachelor's degree programs at central, state, private, or deemed universities.
Students who are appearing for the 12^th class final exam may also apply for the exam.
Must have cleared the 12^th class with at least 5 core subjects and electives, depending on what program you want to pursue.
Ensure your eligibility from the respective university or college.

Note: CUET eligibility criteria vary from program to program. For example, you must have majored in mathematics in your 12th grade if you chose to pursue a Bachelor of Science (Mathematics honours) to satisfy the CUET eligibility criteria 2026.

CUET Eligibility Criteria 2026: Minimum Percentage Requirement

The National Testing Agency has not established any minimum qualifying scores for taking the CUET 2026 exam, per the eligibility requirements.
However, you must have received a minimum qualifying score in class 12 or an equivalent exam, as required by the relevant university for its courses.
Different CUET-participating universities have different minimum qualifying scores.
Go to the university's official website to see if you are interested in being admitted to the particular CUET courses.

For example:

Candidates must receive at least 50% in Class 12 for the General category and at least 45% in Class 12 for SC/ST candidates to be eligible for admission to a specific course or college.
Applicants in the general category must have a minimum aggregate of 45% for B. Tech programs, while applicants in the reserved category must have a minimum of 40%.

CUET Eligibility Criteria 2026: Minimum Age Requirements

There is no upper or lower age limit for CUET UG 2026. Students can apply if they have passed Class 12 or are taking the test that year. On the other hand, universities could have their own age limits for enrolment in specific programs.

Candidates must meet the age restrictions given by the CUET-participating universities they want to attend to apply through CUET (UG).

The age requirements are determined by the policies of each CUET-participating university.
Each university's policies on quotas, categories, relaxations, reservations, and subject combinations apply to the educational requirements for admission.

Subject Combination

According to the most recent CUET 2026 modifications, candidates may now select any 5 CUET 2026 subjects that are aligned with their Class 12 coursework. Students may also switch to a different stream. The participating universities supply the specifics of the subject combinations.

Removal of Section 1B: Optional Foreign Language Subject

Compared to Section 1A of CUET UG 2026, which includes 13 languages, candidates are no longer allowed to choose an extra language, such as French, Arabic, or German, which was optional. NTA has removed all 20 foreign languages from the CUET UG 2026 subject list.

CUET Eligibility Criteria 2026: Nationality

Candidates must follow these citizenship guidelines to be qualified to take the CUET Exam:

The applicant needs to be a citizen of India.
Bhutan is a constituent subject of Nepal.
A Tibetan refugee who arrived in India before January 1, 1962, to settle there permanently.
Pakistanis, Burmese, Kenyans, Ugandans, Tanzanians, Zambians, Malawians, Zaireans, Ethiopians, and Vietnamese individuals who have made India their permanent home.

CUET 2026: Number of Attempts

The number of attempts for CUET (UG) 2026 is unlimited. The candidate may take the test more than once as long as they meet the educational requirements and other requirements of the participating universities.

CUET Eligibility Criteria 2026: Reservations

As per the instructions of the Indian government, Indian citizens belonging to certain categories, such as SC/ST/OBC/EWS/PwD, are eligible for relaxation of marks and seats in CUET-participating universities.

The exact number of reserved seats and relaxation of marks depends on the policies of each university. All the colleges have to follow the central reserve policies of the government.

This policy opens education to all and makes it more inclusive and accessible for all the deserving candidates belonging to all segments of society by providing equal opportunities to students belonging to all backgrounds.

Special category students should upload the latest category certificate, which was issued on or after 1 January 2026, to become eligible for reservation.

Reservations for the GEN-EWS Categories

The GEN-EWS certificate is to be uploaded in the CUET UG 2026 online application form and should have been issued on or after January 1, 2026.
Applicants are required to upload a declaration [Declaration in Lieu of Gen-EWS Certificate at Annexure-IB provided in the CUET Brochure 2026] to this effect if they fail to produce their GEN-EWS certificate (dated on or after 01 January 2026) during online registration.

Reservations for the OBC-NCL Categories

The OBC-NCL certificate should be uploaded in the CUET UG 2026 Online Application Form and should be issued on or after January 1, 2026.
OBC-NCL candidates are required to upload a declaration [Declaration in Lieu of OBC-NCL Certificate as per Annexure-IIB given in the CUET Brochure 2026] to this effect if they fail to upload their OBC-NCL certificate (issued on or after 01 January 2026) during online registration.

Reservation for the SC/ST Categories

As per the latest instructions from the Indian government, the caste (in case of SC) or tribe (in case of ST) certificate has to be provided in the CUET online form 2026.

Reservation for the PwD Categories

A Physical Disability certificate (Unique Disability Identification (UDID) Certificate) from the prescribed medical authority is needed if you want to reserve a seat under the PwD category.

Refer to the table below for the CUET reservation policy category-wise:

Category	Reservation
GEN-EWS	10%
Scheduled Caste	15%
Scheduled Tribe	7.5%
Other Backward Classes (Non-Creamy)	27%
Persons with Disability	5%

How many times can you take the CUET exam?

There are no restrictions on how many times one can take the CUET exam, in contrast to other admission tests.

As long as you meet the CUET eligibility criteria for age, educational background, and minimum scores established by colleges, you are permitted to take the test.

CUET Eligibility Criteria 2026: List of Qualifying Examinations

Students can apply for the CUET exam in 2026 if they have taken and passed the exams listed below.

Exam Type	Description
10+2 Board Exam	Conducted by CBSE, CISCE, or any recognised State/Central Board.
Pre-University Exam	Two-year Intermediate or Pre-University exam from a recognised board/university.
National Defence Academy (NDA)	Final exam of the two-year course at the Joint Services Wing.
NIOS (National Institute of Open Schooling)	Senior Secondary School Exam with at least five subjects.
Foreign or Other Recognised Exams	Equivalent to 10+2, recognised by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU).
Vocational Exam	Higher Secondary Certificate Vocational Examination.
Diploma (3 Years)	Recognised by AICTE or a State Board of Technical Education.
GCE Exam	General Certificate of Education (GCE) at Advanced (A) level (London/Cambridge/Sri Lanka).
Cambridge or IB Diploma	High School Certificate from Cambridge University or International Baccalaureate (IB).
Other International Exams	Class 12 equivalent exams from outside India must be certified by AIU.
Non-Public Exams	If Class 12 was not a public exam, candidates must have passed at least one board or pre-university public exam earlier.

CUET-Participating Universities

More than 280 universities and colleges in India accept CUET scores for admission to various courses. This includes central, state, private, and deemed universities/colleges. The number of CUET-participating universities is expected to grow to 300 by the end of 2026.

University Category	Number
Central	45
State	39+
Private	160+
Deemed-to-be	28+
Government Institution	10

Some of the top CUET Participating Universities in India with NIRF rankings are as follows:

Universities Name	NIRF 2023	NIRF 2024	NIRF 2025
Jawaharlal Nehru University	2	2	2
Jamia Millia Islamia Ranking	3	3	4
Delhi University (DU) Ranking	11	6	5
Banaras Hindu University Ranking	5	5	6
UoH-University of Hyderabad Ranking	10	17	18
Amity University	57	42	22
Kalasalingam Academy of Research and Education Ranking	29	30	28
LPU-Lovely Professional University Ranking	38	27	31
Jamia Hamdard	49	62	47

CUET Eligibility Criteria by Courses 2026

Course	Eligibility Criteria
B.Tech	Must have passed Class 12 (or equivalent) from a recognized board with Physics and Mathematics as mandatory subjects
B.Tech Biotechnology	10+2 with Physics and Maths as mandatory, plus Chemistry or Biology/Biotechnology,
B.Sc.	Must pass Class 12 with specific subjects (like PCM/PCB) and meet the minimum aggregate marks (usually 50% General, 45% Reserved)
BBA	Must have passed Class 12 with at least 50% marks (45% for SC/ST) in any stream
BCA	Must have passed Class 12 (10+2) with at least 45-50% marks, often requiring subjects like Mathematics, Computer Science, or IT.
B.Com	Must have passed Class 12 with at least 50% aggregate (45% for SC/ST), often with Commerce/Maths subjects
BJMC	Must have passed 10+2 (12th grade) from any stream with at least 45-50% aggregate marks, including English as a subject
B. Voc	Must have passed Class 12 (10+2) with a minimum percentage (like 45-50%), including subject combinations (like PCM/PCB for technical fields), or relevant diploma/certificate
BA	Must have passed Class 12 (10+2) with a minimum percentage (often 45-50% aggregate
BA LLB	Must have passed Class 12 (10+2) from a recognized board, often with a minimum aggregate of 45-50% (varying by university) and English as a subject.
B.Ed	Bachelor's degree in any stream (Arts, Science, Commerce) with at least 50% marks

Under what conditions can the candidature for the CUET exam 2026 be cancelled

Academic requirements not met: A candidate will not be qualified for CUET if they fail their 12^th-grade exams with the necessary minimum percentage.
Inaccurate data on the application: Your candidature may be cancelled if you provide inaccurate or misleading information on the application form.
Fake documents used during the application: Your candidature may be cancelled if you try to use fake documents while filling out the registration form.
Not fulfilling requirements unique to the university: A university may reject your application even if you pass the CUET exam if you don't meet the precise eligibility conditions for the chosen course.

Key Takeaways

Keep in mind that several factors, including academic achievement and financial need, influence CUET qualifying requirements.

You should carefully read the requirements and provide accurate and complete information to be considered for the CUET eligibility criteria 2026.
In the end, it's critical to fulfil all prerequisites to qualify for CUET.
If you are in the General category, you should receive at least 50% on your +2 exam; if you are in the SC/ST group, you should receive at least 45%.
Subjects in +2 should have been a part of your chosen course.
For the programs chosen under CUET, you must submit applications to as many participating universities as you can.

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FAQs for CUET UG 2026 Eligibility Criteria

Q1. Will all CUET participating universities have the same requirements for eligibility?

No. Each of the courses you apply to at the CUET participating universities will have different eligibility requirements.

Q2. Does the CUET Exam offer reservations for the SC/ST category?

Yes. Each participating university has its own policy regarding the SC/ST category reservation in accordance with the Government of India's regulations, according to the official notification.

Q3. Does the NTA CUET Exam 2026 have an age limit?

The NTA CUET Exam 2026 has no upper or lower age restrictions.

Q4. Can droppers take the NTA CUET exam 2026?

The dropper may also apply for the NTA CUET 2026 Exam, according to the official announcement. They should meet the requirements of the minimum age and level of education.

Q5. Can I use 50% of my grades to apply for CUET?

It depends on what category you belong to. You need to have received 50% in class 12 to be in the general category. The minimum score needed to be in the SC/ST category is 45%.

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CUET UG 2026 Eligibility Criteria: Age Limit, Reservation Rules & College List