Based on 2025 admission trends, BHU CUET UG 2026 expected cutoffs range from 200 to 245 out of 250 per subject for top programmes, while BBAU expected cutoffs range from 155 to 205, a gap of 38 to 45 marks that reflects BHU’s significantly higher admission difficulty.
BHU (Banaras Hindu University) and BBAU (Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow) both admit students through CUET UG 2026. CUET UG 2026 is scored at 250 marks per subject (50 questions at 5 marks each), up from 200 in 2025. This article compares expected programme-wise cutoffs at both universities. Use it to identify which institution is a realistic target for your score.
- CUET UG 2026 is scored at 250 marks per subject; all cutoff figures in this article are per-subject expected scores for 2026.
- BHU General category cutoffs are expected between 200 and 245 out of 250 per subject for popular programmes, based on 2025 trends.
- BBAU General category cutoffs are expected between 155 and 205 out of 250 per subject, making it a more accessible central university target.
- BBAU reserves approximately 50% of its seats for SC/ST students. This is far above the standard 22.5% norm and reduces the available pool for General and OBC-NCL students.
- Both universities follow Government of India reservation norms for OBC-NCL, EWS and PwD categories.
| Direct Link to CUET UG 2026 Official Portal | cuet.nta.nic.in |
BHU vs BBAU: University Overview
Both BHU and BBAU are centrally-funded universities in Uttar Pradesh that use CUET UG as the sole basis for UG admissions. Here is a side-by-side comparison of key parameters:
| Parameter | BHU | BBAU |
|---|---|---|
| Full Name | Banaras Hindu University | Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University |
| Location | Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh | Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh |
| CUET UG Admission | Yes | Yes (approx. 1,200 seats) |
| Admission Difficulty | Very High | Moderate to High |
| SC/ST Reservation | Standard (22.5%) | Enhanced (approx. 50% for SC/ST) |
| Expected General Cutoff (2026) | 200-245 out of 250 per subject | 155-205 out of 250 per subject |
| Key UG Programmes | BA, BSc, BCom, BHM | BA, BSc, BCom, BBA, BCA, BTech |
BHU CUET UG 2026 Expected Cutoff
BHU is among the most competitive CUET UG destinations in India. Expected BHU CUET UG 2026 General category cutoffs are 200 to 245 out of 250 per subject, with science honours programmes demanding the highest scores. All figures below are estimates based on BHU’s 2025 admission trends. Scores are adjusted for the 2026 marking scheme of 250 per subject.
| Programme | Subject Test | General (Expected) | OBC-NCL (Expected) | SC (Expected) | ST (Expected) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BA English (Hons) | English | 218-232 | 208-222 | 188-202 | 175-190 |
| BA History (Hons) | History | 200-215 | 190-205 | 170-185 | 158-172 |
| BA Political Science (Hons) | Political Science | 205-220 | 195-210 | 175-190 | 162-178 |
| BSc Mathematics (Hons) | Mathematics | 228-245 | 218-235 | 195-212 | 182-198 |
| BSc Physics (Hons) | Physics | 215-230 | 205-220 | 188-202 | 175-190 |
| BCom (Hons) | Accountancy / Business Studies | 205-220 | 195-210 | 175-190 | 162-178 |
All figures are expected cutoffs based on BHU CUET UG 2025 trends, scaled for the 2026 marking scheme (250 per subject).
BBAU CUET UG 2026 Expected Cutoff
BBAU offers UG programmes across arts, science, commerce, management and engineering. BBAU CUET UG 2026 General category cutoffs are expected between 155 and 205 out of 250 per subject. Note that BBAU’s 50% SC/ST seat reservation reduces the open-category pool. This effectively raises General category competition above what the raw cutoff figure alone suggests.
| Programme | Subject Test | General (Expected) | OBC-NCL (Expected) | SC (Expected) | ST (Expected) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BA English | English | 175-192 | 162-178 | 140-155 | 128-142 |
| BA History | History | 160-175 | 148-162 | 128-142 | 115-130 |
| BA Political Science | Political Science | 165-180 | 152-165 | 132-148 | 120-135 |
| BSc Mathematics | Mathematics | 188-205 | 175-190 | 155-170 | 142-158 |
| BSc Physics | Physics | 182-198 | 170-185 | 150-165 | 138-152 |
| BCom | Accountancy / Business Studies | 162-178 | 150-165 | 132-148 | 118-133 |
| BBA | Business Studies | 155-172 | 142-158 | 125-140 | 112-128 |
All figures are expected cutoffs based on BBAU CUET UG 2025 trends, scaled for the 2026 marking scheme (250 per subject).
BHU vs BBAU CUET UG 2026: Score Comparison
The table below directly compares expected General category cutoffs at BHU and BBAU for comparable programmes and shows the score gap between the two universities:
| Programme | BHU Expected Cutoff (General) | BBAU Expected Cutoff (General) | Score Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| BA English | 218-232 | 175-192 | ~38-43 marks |
| BA History | 200-215 | 160-175 | ~38-42 marks |
| BA Political Science | 205-220 | 165-180 | ~38-42 marks |
| BSc Mathematics | 228-245 | 188-205 | ~38-42 marks |
| BSc Physics | 215-230 | 182-198 | ~32-35 marks |
| BCom | 205-220 | 162-178 | ~40-45 marks |
BHU cutoffs are consistently 32 to 45 marks higher than BBAU across comparable programmes based on 2025 trends. A student scoring 180 to 192 in a subject test has a strong chance at BBAU but is unlikely to clear BHU’s General category cutoff for the same programme.
Factors Affecting BHU and BBAU CUET UG 2026 Cutoffs
The actual 2026 cutoffs at both universities may shift from these expected ranges because of the following variables:
- Paper difficulty: A harder CUET UG 2026 exam lowers average normalised scores and moderates closing cutoffs at both universities.
- Applicant volume: Growth in 2026 registrations puts upward pressure on cutoffs, particularly at BHU where demand already far exceeds seats.
- Seat intake changes: Any expansion in seats at either university would lower the cutoff for that cycle.
- BBAU reservation impact: BBAU’s 50% SC/ST reservation shrinks the General and OBC-NCL pool. This can push the effective General cutoff higher than the raw figure suggests.
- Score normalisation: NTA normalises CUET UG scores across shifts; your final normalised score used for cutoff matching may differ from your raw score.
Which University Should You Target Based on Your Score?
Your CUET UG 2026 per-subject normalised score is the primary guide for deciding between BHU and BBAU. Use the reference table below as a starting point:
| Score Range (per subject, General category) | Likely Outcome |
|---|---|
| 225-250 | Strong contender for BHU science honours; comfortably eligible for BBAU |
| 205-224 | Eligible for BHU arts and commerce programmes; strong for most BBAU programmes |
| 185-204 | BHU borderline for some arts programmes; comfortable for BBAU science programmes |
| 155-184 | BBAU is the realistic central university target; BHU is unlikely (General category) |
| Below 155 | Explore other CUET UG-participating central or state universities |
SC and ST students should note that reserved category cutoffs at both universities are typically 35 to 50 marks below the General category threshold. At BBAU, SC/ST students have a particularly strong advantage given the 50% reserved seat policy.
BHU vs BBAU CUET UG 2026 FAQs
Ques. What is the expected CUET UG 2026 cutoff for BHU BA English Honours?
Ans. Based on 2025 trends scaled for the 2026 marking scheme, the expected BHU CUET UG 2026 cutoff for BA English Honours in the General category is 218 to 232 out of 250 in the English subject test.
Ques. What CUET UG 2026 score do I need for BBAU admission?
Ans. For most BBAU programmes, a per-subject score of 155 to 205 out of 250 is expected to be sufficient for General category admission in 2026, based on 2025 trends.
Ques. Is BHU harder to get into than BBAU through CUET UG 2026?
Ans. Yes. BHU expected cutoffs are 32 to 45 marks higher than BBAU per subject across comparable programmes. BHU is one of the most competitive central universities participating in CUET UG 2026.
Ques. Does BBAU reserve more seats for SC/ST than standard central universities?
Ans. Yes. BBAU reserves approximately 50% of its CUET UG seats for SC/ST students. Most central universities including BHU follow the standard 22.5% SC/ST reservation norm.
Ques. What is the total marks for CUET UG 2026?
Ans. CUET UG 2026 is scored at 250 marks per subject (50 questions at 5 marks each), up from 200 marks per subject in 2025. All cutoff estimates in this article use the 2026 scale of 250 per subject.
Ques. When will BHU and BBAU release CUET UG 2026 merit lists?
Ans. BHU and BBAU will release CUET UG 2026 merit lists after NTA announces the official result. Check cuet.nta.nic.in for updates on the result and admission schedule.



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