CUET UG 2026 expected cutoff for OBC category is likely to fall between 120 and 185 out of 200 per domain subject, depending on whether the paper was easy, moderate, or difficult — with a typical gap of 5 to 15 marks below the General category cutoff.

With CUET UG 2026 concluded and results expected in June 2026, students from the OBC category are eager to know their admission chances at central universities. The exact cutoff is set by individual universities after results are declared, but estimates based on paper difficulty and previous year data give a reliable early picture of where you stand. OBC students receive 27% reservation across all central universities participating in CUET UG admissions.

  • OBC reservation in central universities is 27% of total seats in each program.
  • For an easy paper: expected OBC cutoff is 165–185 out of 200 per domain subject.
  • For a moderate paper: expected OBC cutoff is 145–165 out of 200.
  • For a difficult paper: expected OBC cutoff falls to 120–145 out of 200.
  • The General Test (max 300 marks) OBC cutoff is expected between 165 and 240 depending on difficulty.
  • All figures below are expected estimates based on 2024 trends and are not official cutoffs.
Direct Link to CUET UG 2026 Official Portal (Active)cuet.nta.nic.in

CUET UG 2026 OBC Cutoff Overview

The CUET UG 2026 OBC cutoff is the minimum score in the relevant CUET domain subject papers that an OBC student must achieve to qualify for admission in a given program at a participating central university. Each domain subject paper carries a maximum of 200 marks (40 questions attempted from 50, each worth 5 marks, with -1 negative marking per wrong answer). The General Test carries a maximum of 300 marks. Universities release program-specific OBC cutoffs only after NTA publishes CUET UG results.

Parameter Details
Maximum Marks per Domain Subject 200
Maximum Marks — General Test 300
OBC Reservation 27% of total seats
OBC vs General Cutoff Gap 5–15 marks lower (typically)
CUET UG 2026 Result Expected June 2026
Conducting Body National Testing Agency (NTA)

Factors Affecting CUET UG 2026 OBC Cutoff

Several variables determine how high or low the OBC cutoff lands in any given year. Understanding these helps you calibrate your expectations before the official merit lists are out.

  • Paper difficulty level: An easy paper raises the overall score distribution, pushing cutoffs higher. A difficult paper lowers them. The swing between an easy and a difficult year can be 20 to 30 marks on a 200-mark paper.
  • Number of OBC applicants per subject: Higher competition for the same OBC quota seats drives the cutoff upward.
  • Seat intake under OBC quota: Programs with fewer OBC-reserved seats at popular universities will see higher closing scores.
  • NTA score normalisation: When the same subject runs across multiple exam shifts, NTA normalises scores using a percentile method, which can shift effective marks upward or downward.
  • Previous year cutoff trend: A high-cutoff year often sees moderate compression the following cycle as students and universities recalibrate their expectations.

Expected CUET UG 2026 OBC Cutoff by Paper Difficulty

The table below shows the expected CUET UG 2026 OBC cutoff ranges for domain subjects (out of 200) and the General Test (out of 300), organised by paper difficulty. These are expected estimates based on 2024 and 2025 trends and are not confirmed figures.

Paper Difficulty Domain Subject OBC Cutoff (out of 200) General Test OBC Cutoff (out of 300)
Easy 165–185 215–240
Moderate 145–165 190–215
Difficult 120–145 165–190

Subjects like Economics, English, and Political Science consistently draw high competition and their OBC cutoffs tend to sit at the upper end of each difficulty band. Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics show greater score variance and often settle in the mid-to-lower portion of their respective bands even on moderate papers.


Previous Year CUET UG OBC Cutoff Trends

The table below captures approximate OBC closing marks from CUET UG 2024 for popular domain subjects, sourced from available university merit list data. These figures serve as the primary reference for 2026 projections and are labelled as indicative estimates.

Subject Approx. OBC Cutoff 2024 (out of 200) Paper Difficulty (2024)
Economics 160–176 Moderate
English 162–180 Easy to Moderate
Political Science 155–172 Moderate
History 148–168 Moderate to Difficult
Mathematics 142–162 Moderate
Physics 138–158 Moderate to Difficult
Biology 145–165 Moderate
Business Studies 150–170 Moderate
Accountancy 148–168 Moderate
General Test 185–212 (out of 300) Moderate

If the 2026 paper was easier or harder than 2024, shift the projected cutoff bands from the difficulty table above proportionally. All data is based on 2024 university merit lists and is labelled as indicative for 2026 projections.


Expected University-Wise OBC Cutoff for CUET UG 2026

Different universities combine specific CUET subject scores to derive program-level cutoffs. The table below shows expected OBC cutoffs for popular programs at major central universities. All values are expected estimates based on 2024 merit list data and will be updated once official cutoffs are released.

University Program Subjects Combined Expected OBC Cutoff 2026
Delhi University BA (H) Economics Economics + Maths/Business Studies + English 350–390 (out of 600)
Delhi University B.Com (H) Accountancy + Business Studies + Maths/English 330–370 (out of 600)
Delhi University BA (H) Political Science Political Science + History + English 340–375 (out of 600)
BHU BA (H) Economics Economics + domain elective 280–320 (out of 400)
Jamia Millia Islamia BA (H) Political Science Political Science + English 220–255 (out of 400)
Hyderabad Central University Integrated UG Programs Domain Subject + General Test 275–315 (out of 500)

Combined totals above depend on each university’s formula for aggregating CUET subject scores. Actual 2026 OBC cutoffs will be published on each university’s official admissions portal after CUET UG results are declared by NTA.


CUET UG 2026 OBC Cutoff FAQs

Ques. What is the expected CUET UG 2026 OBC cutoff for a moderate difficulty paper?

Ans. For a moderate difficulty domain subject paper (out of 200), the expected OBC cutoff for CUET UG 2026 is between 145 and 165 marks. For the General Test (out of 300), the expected OBC cutoff on a moderate paper is 190 to 215. These are indicative estimates based on 2024 trends.

Ques. How much lower is the OBC cutoff compared to the General category in CUET UG?

Ans. The OBC cutoff in CUET UG is typically 5 to 15 marks lower than the General category cutoff for the same subject and program. The exact gap depends on paper difficulty, total OBC applicants, and the OBC seat intake at the specific university and program.

Ques. Which students are eligible for the OBC category cutoff in CUET UG 2026?

Ans. Only OBC-NCL (Non-Creamy Layer) students are eligible for the 27% OBC reservation in central university admissions through CUET UG. You must hold a valid OBC-NCL certificate issued by a competent authority. Students whose family income exceeds the creamy layer limit are considered under the General category.

Ques. When will CUET UG 2026 official OBC cutoffs be released?

Ans. Official OBC cutoffs will be published by individual universities after CUET UG 2026 results are declared by NTA. Results are expected in June 2026, following which universities will release merit lists and program-wise cutoffs on their official admissions portals.

Ques. How does a difficult paper change the OBC cutoff in CUET UG?

Ans. A difficult paper lowers the overall score distribution, which reduces the OBC cutoff for that subject. Based on 2024 trends, the expected OBC cutoff for a difficult domain subject paper is 120 to 145 out of 200, compared to 165 to 185 for an easy paper — a swing of roughly 30 to 40 marks depending on the subject.