Your Roadmap to CUET (PG) 2026: Everything You Need to Know to Apply
Ready to take the next step in your academic journey? The Common University Entrance Test (CUET (PG) - 2026), conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), is your single gateway for admission into Post Graduate (PG) programmes at Central and other participating universities for the academic session 2026-27.
CUET (PG) was introduced to offer a common platform and equal opportunities to aspirants across the country, especially benefiting students from remote areas, by connecting them with various Central and Participating Universities through one single examination.
Here is your comprehensive guide to the eligibility, dates, fee structure, and step-by-step application process for CUET (PG) 2026.
📅 Important Dates at a Glance (Mark Your Calendar!)
The application window is brief and critical, so make sure you adhere strictly to the schedule announced by the NTA.
| Event | Tentative Date(s) |
|---|---|
| Online Registration & Application Submission (Complete in all respects) | 14 December 2025 to 14 January 2026 (up to 11:50 P.M.) |
| Last Date for Successful Fee Transaction | 14 January 2026 (up to 11:50 P.M.) |
| Correction Window (Online only) | 18 January 2026 to 20 January 2026 (up to 11:50 P.M.) |
| Month of Examination | March 2026 |
| Duration of Examination | 90 minutes |
| Website for Updates & Application | https://exams.nta.nic.in/cuet-pg/ |
✅ Eligibility Criteria: Can You Apply?
If you are aiming for a PG seat, here are the general requirements:
- Educational Qualification: You must have already passed a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent examination, OR you must be appearing in the Final Year of your Bachelor’s degree/equivalent examination in 2026.
- Age Limit: There is NO age limit for candidates appearing in the CUET (PG)-2026 examination set by the NTA.
- University Requirements: It is absolutely critical that you verify the age requirements and course-specific eligibility criteria set by the individual university to which you wish to apply. Meeting the CUET (PG) eligibility does not guarantee admission unless you fulfill the university's criteria.
💰 Application Fee Structure
The application fee is determined based on your category and the number of test papers you select. You may apply for up to four test papers.
| Category | Application Fee (for up to two Test Papers) |
Fees for Additional Papers (Per Test Paper) |
|---|---|---|
| General | ₹ 1400 | ₹ 700 |
| Gen-EWS / OBC-NCL | ₹ 1200 | ₹ 600 |
| SC / ST / Third Gender | ₹ 1100 | ₹ 600 |
| Person with Disability (PwD/PwBD) | ₹ 1000 | ₹ 600 |
| Outside Bharat (India) | ₹ 7000 | ₹ 3500 |
*Note: Applicable service/processing charges & GST will be charged extra by the concerned Bank / Payment Gateway Integrator.
📝 Step-by-Step Application Procedure
The entire application process for CUET (PG)-2026 is strictly online. Follow these three steps carefully to ensure a successful submission:
Step 1: Online Registration Form
- Visit the official NTA website: exams.nta.nic.in/cuet-pg/.
- Register by providing your required personal details.
- You must create a password, choose a security question, and provide your answer.
- Upon successful submission, the system will generate an Application Number. Note this number down, as it is essential for subsequent logins and all future correspondence.
Step 2: Fill Out the Application Form and Upload Documents
- Log in using the system-generated Application Number and your created password.
- Complete the Application Form, including filling in personal details, educational qualifications, and selecting the Paper(s) you are applying for. You can apply for up to four test papers.
- Choosing Exam Cities: You can select a maximum of TWO cities of your choice for the examination centre. Your choices must be limited to the State/UT of your Permanent Address and Present Address.
- Uploading Images: You must upload your live photograph during the application process. Additionally, upload scanned images of your Photograph, Signature, and PwD/PwBD Certificate (if applicable).
- Photograph Specification: Should be recent, in color or black and white, with 80% face visible (without mask), including ears, against a white background. File size must be between 10 kb and 200 kb in JPG/JPEG format.
- Signature Specification: Must be clearly legible, between 10 kb and 50 kb in JPG/JPEG format.
- PwD/UDID Certificate: If applicable, scanned copy must be a PDF between 50 kb and 300 kb.
- Warning: Upload only your own photograph and signature. Blurred or invisible images may lead to application rejection, and no correction will be permitted after the correction period closes.
Step 3: Fee Payment
- After completing the registration and application form, pay the requisite examination fee.
- Payment is accepted via online mode only using Net Banking, Credit Card, Debit Card, or UPI.
- Crucially, the Confirmation Page of your online Application Form will only be generated after the successful payment of the fee. Download, save, and print a copy of this Confirmation Page for future reference, as failure to complete this step means your application is incomplete and will be rejected.
💡 Examination Details & Structure
Test Format
- Mode: Computer Based Test (CBT).
- Duration: 90 minutes.
- Questions: Each question paper will contain 75 questions.
- Paper Medium: Papers for Humanities, Sciences, and Common Subjects are bilingual (English and Hindi). Papers for M. Tech/Higher Sciences are in English only. If any discrepancy arises in non-language questions, the English version will be considered final.
Marking Scheme
- Each question carries 4 (four) marks.
- For every correct response, you receive +4 marks.
- For every incorrect response, 1 (one) mark will be deducted.
- No marks will be given for questions left unanswered or unattempted.
NTA Score and Normalization (If Applicable)
The NTA Score will be used for admissions by participating universities. For papers conducted in multiple shifts (multi-session papers), the NTA will use a Normalization procedure based on Percentile Score (Equi-percentile method) to ensure fairness across shifts of varying difficulty.
The role of NTA ends with preparing and declaring results and hosting scorecards; admissions, counselling, and merit list preparation are handled by the individual participating Universities/Organizations.
🛑 Important Warnings for Candidates
- Single Application: Candidates are advised to fill out only one Application Form. Multiple forms will not be accepted.
- Contact Information: Ensure you provide a correct and accessible e-mail address and mobile number, as all vital communication from NTA will be sent through these channels.
- Changes to Data: Information provided (name, contact details, category, PwBD status, educational qualifications, etc.) will be treated as final. No request for change in particulars will be considered after the correction window is complete.
- Unfair Means (UFM): Engaging in unfair practices (such as possessing prohibited items, impersonation, manipulation of documents, or misuse of scribe facility) is a serious offense. Such acts can lead to the cancellation of your candidature, debarment from future public examinations for up to three years, and criminal action as per the Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means Act, 2024).
For assistance or technical queries, contact the NTA Help Line: 011-40759000 or Email: helpdesk-cuetpg@nta.ac.in.