CUET UG 2026 expected cutoff scores range from 110 to 200 out of 200 per subject, depending on the university, program, and category, based on 2024 and 2025 trends.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) conducts CUET UG as the single gateway to undergraduate admissions at central universities across India. Each domain subject paper carries a maximum of 200 marks, and universities announce program-specific cutoffs after the merit list is published. Students targeting top programs at Delhi University, BHU, and JNU should prepare for highly competitive scores, while several language and niche subjects consistently record lower cutoffs that give a wider range of students a realistic pathway into central universities.
- CUET UG 2026 results are expected in June–July 2026; cutoffs are announced by individual universities during their admission rounds, not by NTA.
- High-demand programs at Delhi University (General category) are expected to require 185–200 out of 200 in the relevant domain subject, based on 2024 trends.
- Language subjects such as Sanskrit, Urdu, and Hindi tend to have the lowest CUET UG cutoffs, often between 110 and 165 for the General category.
- Category-wise, SC cutoffs are typically 20–25 marks lower and ST cutoffs 35–45 marks lower than the General category for the same program.
- All cutoff projections in this article are based on 2024 CUET UG trends and will be updated once NTA declares the 2026 results.
| Direct Link to CUET UG 2026 Official Portal | cuet.nta.nic.in |
CUET UG 2026 Cutoff Overview
CUET UG cutoffs represent the minimum score a student must secure in the relevant domain subject to be considered for a specific program at a participating university. Each subject paper is out of 200 marks. Cutoffs vary sharply by program, university, and category. The table below shows a broad expected range for CUET UG 2026 based on 2024 closing scores.
| Category | Top Programs (DU and JNU) | Mid-Tier Programs | Language and Niche Subjects |
|---|---|---|---|
| General (UR) | 185–200 | 160–184 | 110–159 |
| OBC-NCL | 175–195 | 150–174 | 100–149 |
| EWS | 180–198 | 155–179 | 105–154 |
| SC | 160–185 | 135–159 | 85–134 |
| ST | 145–175 | 120–144 | 70–119 |
All figures above are expected ranges based on 2024 trends and should be treated as indicative projections, not confirmed cutoffs.
Previous Year CUET UG Cutoffs (2024)
Delhi University’s CUET-based admission system (CSAS) provides the most widely tracked cutoff data among central universities. The table below shows closing scores for selected DU programs in the first allocation round of CUET UG 2024, which serve as the primary benchmark for 2026 projections.
| Program (Delhi University) | CUET Domain Subject | General 2024 | OBC-NCL 2024 | SC 2024 | ST 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BA (Hons) Political Science | Political Science | 193 | 188 | 172 | 154 |
| BA (Hons) English | English | 190 | 184 | 168 | 150 |
| BCom (Hons) | Accountancy or Business Studies | 192 | 185 | 170 | 152 |
| BA (Hons) Economics | Economics | 188 | 182 | 165 | 148 |
| BA (Hons) History | History | 184 | 176 | 158 | 140 |
| BA (Hons) Psychology | Psychology | 186 | 180 | 163 | 145 |
| BA (Hons) Hindi | Hindi | 158 | 142 | 122 | 105 |
| BA (Hons) Sanskrit | Sanskrit | 138 | 120 | 100 | 82 |
| BA (Hons) Urdu | Urdu | 145 | 128 | 108 | 90 |
These 2024 figures are cited as reference benchmarks. Actual 2026 cutoffs will depend on exam difficulty, total applicant volume, and seat availability at each university.
Category-wise Expected Cutoffs for CUET UG 2026
Reservation norms create significant cutoff differences across categories. The table below shows expected category-wise closing scores for popular DU programs in 2026, based on 2024 trends. All figures are projected and indicative only.
| Program | General | OBC-NCL | EWS | SC | ST |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BA (Hons) Political Science | 192–196 | 186–190 | 188–193 | 170–175 | 152–158 |
| BA (Hons) English | 188–193 | 182–187 | 185–190 | 165–172 | 148–155 |
| BCom (Hons) | 190–195 | 183–188 | 187–192 | 168–174 | 150–157 |
| BA (Hons) Economics | 185–190 | 178–184 | 182–187 | 162–168 | 144–151 |
| BA (Hons) History | 182–187 | 174–179 | 178–183 | 155–162 | 138–145 |
| BA (Hons) Hindi | 155–162 | 138–145 | 148–155 | 120–128 | 102–110 |
| BA (Hons) Sanskrit | 135–142 | 118–125 | 128–135 | 98–108 | 80–90 |
Low-Cutoff Subjects in CUET UG 2026
Several CUET UG domain subjects record consistently low cutoffs because fewer students appear for them relative to available seats. Students who studied these subjects in Class 12 and are open to pursuing related undergraduate programs gain a meaningful strategic advantage in central university admissions.
| Subject or Domain | Expected General Cutoff (Out of 200) | Why Cutoff is Lower |
|---|---|---|
| Sanskrit | 110–145 | Very few test-takers; small applicant pool nationally |
| Urdu | 120–150 | Limited regional applicant base; niche language subject |
| Hindi | 148–165 | High seat availability relative to demand at several universities |
| Home Science | 145–165 | Limited demand; moderate seat intake at most central universities |
| Fine Arts and Painting | 140–160 | Small applicant pool; programs often include portfolio screening |
| Applied Mathematics | 150–168 | Lower program preference compared to core Mathematics |
| Mass Media and Communication | 155–172 | Niche program with fewer competing applications at most universities |
Students who score 140–165 in these subjects can realistically target undergraduate programs at leading central universities including Delhi University, BHU, and Hyderabad Central University. All projected cutoffs above are based on 2024 trends.
Factors Affecting CUET UG 2026 Cutoffs
CUET UG cutoffs shift from year to year based on several variables. Understanding these helps you set a realistic score target and interpret differences between 2024 and 2026 figures.
- Number of applicants per subject: A surge in students appearing for a particular domain subject raises competition and pushes cutoffs higher.
- Exam difficulty level: A harder paper produces lower raw scores across the board, which typically pulls closing cutoffs down compared to previous years.
- Seat availability at participating universities: Universities that expand seats for a program see lower cutoffs; any reduction in seats has the opposite effect.
- NTA normalisation process: Scores are normalised across multi-shift exams, so students who sit an easier shift do not automatically gain an advantage in the final merit list.
- University preference patterns: High-demand universities such as DU, BHU, and JNU consistently record the highest cutoffs for the same subject regardless of paper difficulty in a given year.
- Category composition of applicants: The proportion of reserved-category students appearing for a program influences how category-specific cutoff thresholds settle.
CUET UG 2026 Cutoff FAQs
Ques. What is the expected CUET UG 2026 cutoff for DU BCom (Hons)?
Ans. Based on 2024 trends, the expected CUET UG 2026 cutoff for BCom (Hons) at Delhi University is approximately 190–195 for the General category and 168–174 for the SC category. These are projected figures; official cutoffs will be released by DU after the 2026 merit list is published.
Ques. Which CUET UG subjects have the lowest cutoffs in 2026?
Ans. Sanskrit, Urdu, Hindi, Fine Arts, and Home Science consistently record the lowest CUET UG cutoffs. Sanskrit in particular often has a General category cutoff as low as 110–145 out of 200, making it one of the most accessible domain subjects for central university admissions.
Ques. Are CUET UG 2026 cutoffs the same across all universities?
Ans. No. Each participating university sets its own program-specific cutoffs based on seat availability, applicant score distribution, and reservation norms. Delhi University, BHU, and JNU typically record the highest cutoffs among central universities for the same subject.
Ques. How much lower are SC and ST cutoffs compared to the General category in CUET UG?
Ans. Based on 2024 data, SC cutoffs are typically 20–25 marks lower than the General category for the same program, while ST cutoffs are approximately 35–45 marks lower. EWS cutoffs generally fall 5–10 marks below the General category threshold.
Ques. When will CUET UG 2026 official cutoffs be released?
Ans. NTA does not publish CUET UG cutoffs directly. Individual universities release program-specific cutoffs during their counselling or admission rounds, typically 2–4 weeks after CUET UG result declaration. Students should monitor the official portals of their target universities for updates.
Ques. Is a score of 175 out of 200 good enough for CUET UG 2026 admissions?
Ans. A score of 175 out of 200 is competitive for mid-tier programs at top central universities and opens options for most programs at regional central universities. For high-demand programs such as BA Political Science or BCom (Hons) at Delhi University in the General category, a score of 185 or above is typically required based on 2024 trends.
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