CUET PG 2026: Admit Card, Answer Key, Result, Counselling

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CUET PG

The Common University Entrance Test for Postgraduate programs (CUET PG 2026) represents one of the most significant centralized entrance examinations in India’s higher education landscape. Conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) under the Ministry of Education, Government of India, CUET PG serves as the primary gateway for admission to various Master’s degree programs, integrated PG courses, and select PG Diploma programs across a vast network of central universities, state universities, deemed universities, private universities, and other participating institutions.

Introduced in its current form starting from the 2022-23 academic cycle (with roots in earlier centralized efforts), CUET PG 2026 is designed for the academic session 2026-27. It replaces or supplements many university-specific entrance tests, aiming to reduce the burden on students who previously had to appear for multiple exams, promote equity in access, and standardize evaluation across diverse institutions.

As of February 19, 2026, CUET PG 2026 is in an advanced stage: registration closed in late January 2026, the detailed subject-wise exam schedule was released on February 14, 2026, and the actual examination is imminent, scheduled from March 6 to March 27, 2026.

Historical Context and Evolution

Before CUET PG, postgraduate admissions in India were fragmented. Prestigious central universities like Delhi University (DU), Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Jamia Millia Islamia, Aligarh Muslim University, and others conducted their own entrance tests. State universities often followed suit or relied on merit-based admissions from undergraduate scores. This led to logistical challenges, overlapping dates, high costs for travel and multiple applications, and varying difficulty levels.

The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 emphasized a unified, merit-based admission system to foster transparency and reduce disparities. CUET (UG) launched successfully in 2022, followed by CUET PG in the same year. By 2026, participation has grown dramatically: over 250+ universities (including almost all central universities) accept CUET PG scores, with 157 subjects offered in the 2026 cycle.

This expansion reflects growing trust in NTA’s execution—despite initial teething issues like technical glitches in early years—and the convenience of a single score valid for multiple institutions.

Key Features of CUET PG 2026

Conducting Body: National Testing Agency (NTA), an independent autonomous organization under the Ministry of Education.
Exam Mode: Computer-Based Test (CBT) only—no pen-and-paper option.
Duration per Paper: 90 minutes (1.5 hours).
Question Type: Objective Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs), generally 75 questions (some subjects may vary slightly based on domain).
Marking Scheme: +4 for correct answer, -1 for incorrect (negative marking), 0 for unanswered/unattempted.
Total Subjects: 157 (covering humanities, social sciences, sciences, commerce, languages, fine arts, performing arts, law, education, etc.).
Shifts: 44 shifts across the exam window (2–3 shifts per day: typically 9:00 AM–10:30 AM, 12:30 PM–2:00 PM, 4:00 PM–5:30 PM).
Exam Cities: Approximately 292 cities in India + 16 international cities.
Languages: Question papers available in English (primary) + selected regional languages for certain domain subjects.
Registration Numbers: Over 4.11 lakh candidates registered for CUET PG 2026 (as per NTA’s February 14 notice).

Official Timeline for CUET PG 2026

Notification Release: December 14, 2025 (Information Bulletin and application link activated).
Online Registration Window: December 14, 2025 to January 25, 2026 (with extensions/corrections in January).
Application Correction Window: Late January 2026 (specific dates like January 23–25 in some notices).
Subject-Wise Schedule Release: February 14, 2026 (detailed date-sheet with subject codes, shifts, and timings).
City Intimation Slip: Expected ~10 days before the respective candidate’s exam date (download from exams.nta.nic.in/cuet-pg).
Admit Card Release: Likely late February or early March 2026 (3–7 days before individual exam date).
Exam Window: March 6 to March 27, 2026 (inclusive; spans ~3 weeks with breaks on weekends/non-scheduled days).
- Specific dates: March 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16, 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, and 27, 2026.
- Opening day (March 6): Shift 1 – Yoga (COQP21); Shift 2 – Sports-related, Sanskrit, Urdu, Textile Design, etc.
Provisional Answer Key & Challenge Window: Likely late March/early April 2026.
Final Answer Key: Mid-April 2026.
Result Declaration: Expected late April or early May 2026 (NTA Scores/percentiles released).
Counselling/Admission: May–July 2026 (university-specific; no centralized counselling—candidates apply separately using CUET scores).

Detailed Exam Structure and Pattern

Each paper is domain-specific (except General Paper in rare cases). For example:

M.A. English (LAQP01): Literature, language, criticism, comprehension.
M.Sc. Physics (SCQP24): Classical mechanics, quantum, electromagnetism, etc.
M.Com (COQP08): Accounting, business economics, statistics, finance.
M.A. Economics (COQP10): Micro/macro, statistics, Indian economy.

Questions test undergraduate-level knowledge + analytical ability. No sectional time limits—candidates manage 90 minutes for the entire paper.

The negative marking encourages accuracy over guesswork, making strategic preparation crucial.

Syllabus and Preparation Strategy

Syllabus is based on UGC-recommended undergraduate curriculum for the respective subject (detailed PDFs on exams.nta.nic.in/cuet-pg/syllabus). Key tips:

Refer to official syllabus (updated for 2026).
Use standard UG textbooks (e.g., for History – NCERT + Romila Thapar/Bipan Chandra).
Practice previous CUET PG papers (2022–2025 available online).
Mock tests: NTA provides practice mocks; coaching platforms offer full-length simulations.
Time management: Aim to attempt 80–90% questions with high accuracy.
For interdisciplinary subjects (e.g., Public Administration, Social Work), focus on conceptual clarity.

Many toppers emphasize 4–6 months of dedicated prep post-undergraduation, combining self-study with online resources.

Participating Universities and Admission Process

CUET PG scores are accepted by:

Almost all Central Universities (DU, JNU, BHU, JMI, AMU, University of Hyderabad, etc.).
Many State Universities (e.g., in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh).
Deemed/Private Universities (e.g., Amity, Lovely Professional, Sharda, etc.).
Specialized institutions (e.g., for M.Tech/MBA in some cases, though GATE/CAT dominate those).

Admission is not centralized—each university releases its own merit list/cutoffs based on CUET PG NTA Scores, followed by GD/PI (if applicable) or direct counselling. Cutoffs vary widely:

Top central universities: 200–250+ raw marks (out of 300) or 95+ percentile.
Mid-tier: 150–200 marks.

Candidates must apply separately on university portals (e.g., du.ac.in, jnu.ac.in) after results.

Fees, Reservations, and Inclusivity

Application Fee (2026 cycle): General ≈ ₹1,200–1,500; SC/ST/PwD ≈ ₹600–750; additional subjects extra.
Reservations: Follow central/state government norms (15% SC, 7.5% ST, 27% OBC-NCL, 10% EWS, 5% PwD horizontal).
Special Provisions: Extra time for PwD, scribes, compensatory time.

Challenges and Criticisms

While CUET PG has streamlined admissions, issues persist:

Technical glitches in early years.
High competition (4+ lakh candidates for limited seats).
Syllabus alignment concerns for some regional universities.
Normalization of scores across shifts.

NTA has improved infrastructure, with better servers and mock tests addressing most concerns by 2026.

Why CUET PG 2026 Matters

For lakhs of graduates, March 6–27, 2026, will be life-defining. A strong performance unlocks affordable, quality PG education in top institutions, shaping careers in academia, research, civil services, corporate, teaching, etc.

In summary, CUET PG 2026 embodies India’s push toward meritocratic, accessible higher education. With the exam just weeks away, candidates should focus on revision, mock tests, and health. Official portal: exams.nta.nic.in/cuet-pg — bookmark it for city slips, admit cards, and results.