To be eligible for CUET UG 2026, a candidate should have passed class 12th or should be appearing in the 2026 exam from a recognised board.

As per the CUET Eligibility Criteria, to get admission in most of the courses, universities expected 50% marks from the general category candidates and 45% for SC/ST Candidates in class 12.

  • There is no required age limit for CUET 2026, allowing candidates of all age groups to apply, but some universities do have age restrictions as well.
  • The Candidate applying should be from India, along with NRIs, OCIs, and PIOs, according to the university's guidelines.
  • The Reservation policy is followed as per the Government of India policy, 15% for SC, 7.5% for ST, 27% for OBC-NCL, 10% for EWS and 5% for PwD.

If you are appearing for CUET, document verification is required at counselling. You have to submit class 12 marksheets, passing certificate, category certificate and identity proof.

Also Check:

CUET Eligibility Criteria 2026

Key Summary

In this Article, we have discussed the CUET Eligibility Criteria 2026, including the Age-limit, course-wise qualification, Total Attempts & Reservation.

  • The CUET has similar exam testing, but the eligibility will differ as per 250+ participating universities.
  • In CUET there is no Age-limit, but course-wise difference will be held during the counselling process.
  • The CUET Scores will be calculated without any category-relaxation, the reservation will affect the cut-offs and seat allocation only.
  • The Candidates from NIOS and open board candidates will be eligible only if that subject required is accepted by the admitting university.
  • Most of the candidates will be rejected because of mismatch of subject, invalid certificates, and incorrect category claims.
  • The Screening will happen during the registration, counselling and the document verification.

What is the CUET Eligibility Criteria?

The CUET Eligibility Criteria will check the minimum academic, subject and category-wise conditions that a candidate must meet to be considered for admission by the Common University Entrance Test.

The CUET Eligibility follows:

  1. NTA-Based eligibility is required to appear in the exam.
  2. University-based eligibility, which will be applied during admission and counselling.

CUET Eligibility Criteria 2026

Eligibility Component What It Means in CUET 2026
Exam-Level Eligibility Class 12 passed/appearing candidates can appear for CUET; no age restriction by NTA
Admission-Level Eligibility Universities apply their own rules for minimum marks, subjects, and age (if any)
Academic Qualification Class 12 or equivalent from a recognised board (Indian or foreign)
Minimum Marks Not fixed by CUET; universities generally require 50% (General) and 45% (SC/ST), varying by course
Subject Mapping CUET subjects chosen must match the subject requirements of the applied programme
Stream Flexibility Any stream can apply for CUET, but admission depends on course relevance
Nationality Indian nationals eligible; NRIs, OCIs, PIOs subject to university norms
Reservation Policy Applied at the admission stage as per the Government of India norms
Document Verification Final eligibility is confirmed during counselling with original certificates.

Check the video by @collegedunia to know in-depth detail about CUET Eligibility Criteria, including the Age Limit, Qualification, Marks & Reservation.

Check: CUET Photo-Size & Signature Guidelines

Ques. Does CUET need a 75 percent criteria?

Ans. No, CUET UG 2026 does not require 75% eligibility for the majority of universities. Candidates need to pass Class 12 from a recognised board only.

  • Some universities, such as Delhi University (DU) and BHU, might have course-specific minimum marks requirements (e.g., 50% for General, 45% for SC/ST).
  • Students must verify the specific eligibility criteria of their desired universities before applying.

Ques. Can a 12th fail apply for CUET?

Ans. No, the 12th failed candidates are not qualified for CUET UG 2026.

  • Aspirants should pass Class 12 or a similar examination from a recognised board to apply.
  • However, applicants appearing for Class 12 exams in 2025 are allowed to apply provisionally but need to pass before getting admitted.

CUET Eligibility Criteria: What is the required age-limit?

The most common question among the candidates looking to get admission through CUET is the required age-limit.

  • As per the Policy granted by UGC, there is no fixed age limit set by NTA to appear in the CUET UG Exam.
  • So, recent class 12 pass-outs, candidates with gap-year and even the older candidates can sit for CUET if they meet the academic and subject-based requirements.

CUET 2026 Required Age-Limit

Parameter CUET Rule Practical Impact
Minimum Age No minimum age defined by NTA Class 12 appearing/passed candidates can apply
Maximum Age No upper age limit Drop-year and gap-year students remain eligible
Age Limit at Exam Level Not applicable Age is not checked during CUET registration
Age Limit at Admission Level University-specific Some courses may impose age criteria
Integrated / Professional Courses May have age caps Checked during counselling, not the exam
Central Universities Mostly no age restriction Follows UGC’s qualification-first policy
State / Private Universities Course-dependent Age rules vary by institution
  • The CUET does not reject the candidates as per the age criteria; it is based on the academic criteria of the exam level.
  • The Age conditions are applied during counselling, not during registration.
  • A Candidate can qualify for CUET, but still can not be eligible for certain courses due to the age limit by the institution.
  • The Gap year does not affect the eligibility, unless it is restricted by the admission policy of the university.

Check: CUET Dress Code

Ques. Can I apply for CUET if I have taken multiple gap years after Class 12?

Ans. Yes, CUET will not restrict the candidates as per the gap year. If you have passed class 12 from a recognized board, you will be eligible to apply for CUET 2026.

The Eligibility of GAP Year in CUET UG:

Factor CUET Rule
Gap Years No restriction
Exam Eligibility Not affected by gap
Registration Stage Gap not checked
Admission Stage University-specific (rare cases)

Ques. Will my CUET application be rejected because of my age?

Ans. No, NTA does not reject the CUET Application on the basis of age. The CUET 2026 has no minimum or maximum age limit at the exam level, which follows proper admission policies.

  • Age is not a rejection factor at the CUET.
  • The Older Candidates and Gap year students can apply freely.

Ques. Do universities check age eligibility during CUET registration or counselling?

Ans. The Universities do not check the age eligibility during the CUET Registration. The Age verification, if required is done only during the counselling or document verification.

Stage Who Checks What Happens
CUET Registration NTA No age check
Exam & Result NTA Age not checked
Counselling University Course-level age check
Admission University Final verification

CUET Eligibility Criteria 2026: Course-Wise

In CUET UG, the eligibility will differ as per different courses, according to the academic background of the candidate and the relevance of the subject.

So, 2 candidates with the same CUET Score will be eligible for different courses as per their Class 12 subjects and marks.

CUET Eligibility for Arts & Humanities Courses

  • The Arts courses admission will be based on different streams, and the admissions from other courses as well.
  • The Language Proficiency is more important than the domain subjects, in most B.A. Programmes.
  • The Candidates from the Science/Commerce stream can also switch to Arts.
  • Some universities give more priority to language and G.T Scores than the domain Subjects.
Eligibility Parameter Typical Requirement
Class 12 Stream Any stream (Arts/Commerce/Science)
Minimum Marks
  • 50% for General
  • 45% for SC/ST (varies by university)
Mandatory Subjects One language subject is usually required
CUET Sections Used Language + Domain / GT (as per course)
Stream Restriction Generally none

CUET Eligibility for Commerce & Management Courses

  • The B.Com (Hons) and Economics programmes have a mandatory requirement of Mathematics.
  • The Scores of General Tests are more important for Management-related courses.
  • The Candidates not from commerce can also apply, if the maths requirements are met.
Eligibility Parameter Typical Requirement
Class 12 Stream Commerce preferred; others allowed
Minimum Marks 50–60% (course & university dependent)
Mandatory Subjects Mathematics / Accountancy (for some courses)
CUET Sections Used Language + Domain + GT
Subject Priority Math/Accounts often carra y higher weight

CUET Eligibility for Science Courses

  • The Eligibility for Science courses depends on the subjects that are selected by the candidates.
  • Missing even 1 required subject can lead to the disqualification of the candidate.
  • The Language section has a limited weightage, as compared to the domain subjects.
Eligibility Parameter Typical Requirement
Class 12 Stream Science (PCM/PCB)
Minimum Marks 50 to 60% of the overall subject-wise cut-offs apply
Mandatory Subjects Physics + Chemistry + Math/Biology
CUET Sections Used Domain Subjects + Language
Subject Rigidity High

CUET Eligibility for Professional & Skill-Based Courses

  • The General Test will be important for shortlisting.
  • Some of the programs can have age or aptitude criteria.
Eligibility Parameter Typical Requirement
Class 12 Stream Course-specific
Minimum Marks Varies; often higher than the general UG
Mandatory Subjects Domain-specific (e.g., Math, Science)
CUET Sections Used Domain + Language + GT
Additional Conditions Age/skill criteria (university-level)

As per the reddit user, if you have studied 4 subjects in class 12, you should choose all 4 domains, the best of 3 subjects will be counted.

Check: CUET Required courses list

Ques. Is qualifying the CUET enough, or do courses have separate eligibility rules?

Ans. No, qualifying CUET is not only enough for CUET Admission. The CUET Eligibility will depend upon the course you have applied for, as per its own eligibility during the counselling.

  • Different courses require specific eligibility as per class 12 subjects or minimum marks.
  • The Eligibility will be verified before the allocation of seat.

Ques. Why am I eligible for one course but not another with the same CUET score?

Ans. This happens as different courses have different subject and eligibility requirements, even in the same university.

Why Eligibility Changes Course to Course

Factor How It Affects Eligibility
Class 12 Subjects Must match course requirements
CUET Subject Choice Wrong paper = ineligible
Minimum Marks Course-wise cut-offs differ
Stream Relevance Critical for science & commerce
Course Demand High-demand courses apply stricter rules

CUET Eligibility Criteria: Which Qualifying Exam is Required?

The CUET UG accepts various Class 12 qualifying exams, including the Indian and Foreign boards as well. As long as the exam is recognised and equivalent to class 12, you can appear for CUET. The final eligibility will depend upon the admitting university.

CUET Eligibility 2026: List of Qualifying Examinations

Qualifying Examination Eligible for CUET Requirement
CBSE Class 12 Yes Most commonly accepted across all universities
State Board Class 12 Yes Must be from a recognised state education board
ISC (Class 12) Yes Treated at par with CBSE
NIOS Senior Secondary Yes Open schooling candidates are eligible
Equivalent 10+2 Exam Yes Must be recognised by a central/state authority
Foreign Board (12th) Yes An equivalence certificate may be required
Appearing in Class 12 (2026) Yes Proof of passing required at counselling
CUET Eligibility 2026

Source: CUET Information Bulletin

CUET Eligibility: Reservation Criteria

The CUET UG 2026 follows a reservation policy, which is adopted by the individual universities, according to the government norms. The candidates belonging to reserved categories (SC, ST, OBC, EWS, and PwD) are granted relaxation in eligibility, seats, and cut-offs.

The category-wise reservation is as follows:

Category Reservation Percentage Relaxation in Eligibility Criteria
Scheduled Caste 15% Lower cut-off & relaxed qualification criteria
Scheduled Tribe 7.50% Lower cut-off & relaxed qualification criteria
Other Backward Classes 27% 5% relaxation in the minimum qualifying marks
Economically Weaker Section 10% No relaxation in marks, but reserved seats
Persons with Disabilities 5% 5% relaxation in marks & special accommodation

Check: Seat Allotment for CUET

CUET 2026: University-Wise Eligibility Criteria

The CUET UG 2026 is the only entrance exam required for admission in 250+ universities, with every university having different course-based eligibility criteria.

You should be aware of the requirements, so they can start their preparation as per the admission policy of the required university.

Check the university-wise list of CUET UG 2025 eligibility:

CUET Eligibility Criteria for Delhi University

  • The Delhi University can disqualify the candidates because of a mismatch of subjects, not because of low CUET Scores.
  • By choosing the wrong domain subject in CUET, you will automatically be ineligible for the course.
  • The Class 12 Marks will be used only to check the eligibility, not the ranking.
  • The high-demand courses require both Maths in Class 12 and CUET Maths.
  • The Eligibility will be verified before the allocation of the seat.
Parameter Eligibility Details (UG)
Qualifying Exam Class 12 or equivalent from a recognised board
Minimum Marks Course-specific (generally 50–60%+ for General)
Subject Mapping Very strict – must match Class 12 subjects
CUET Papers Required 1 Language + relevant Domain subjects
Mathematics Requirement Mandatory for B.Com (Hons), Eco (Hons), BMS
Age Limit No general age limit
Merit Basis 100% CUET score (eligibility first, then merit)

CUET Eligibility for Banaras Hindu University

  • For admission in Banaras Hindu University, the domain subjects will carry more weightage.
  • The Age limit will be applicable for BHU Admissions.
  • The Eligibility will be checked before the counselling process starts.
  • In Science courses, the impact of language scores will be less.
Parameter Eligibility Details
Qualifying Exam Class 12 / equivalent
Minimum Marks
  • 50% for General
  • 45% SC/ST (course-wise)
Stream Requirement Course-dependent (Science courses rigid)
CUET Papers Required Domain subjects carry major weight
Subject-Specific Cut-offs Applied in some programmes
Age Limit Applied for select integrated courses
Merit Criteria CUET score + eligibility compliance

CUET Eligibility for Jawaharlal Nehru University

  • In JNU, the academic scores are more important than the stream available.
  • The General Test and language scores will be important for the humanities courses.
Parameter Eligibility Details
Qualifying Exam Class 12 or equivalent
Minimum Marks Programme-specific
Stream Flexibility Moderate (subject relevance matters)
CUET Papers Required Language + Domain / GT
Preference Areas Language proficiency, analytical ability
Age Limit Mostly none at the UG level
Merit System CUET score after eligibility screening

CUET Eligibility for Aligarh Muslim University

  • The AMU will have different eligibility criteria for the courses.
  • There will be restrictions in Professional and science courses.
Parameter Eligibility Details
Qualifying Exam Class 12 / equivalent
Minimum Marks Higher thresholds for select courses
Subject Requirements Strict, course-specific
CUET Papers Required Domain subjects essential
Age Criteria Applied for professional courses
Reservation Rules As per AMU norms + GOI
Merit Calculation CUET score post eligibility check

CUET University-Wise Eligibility Criteria PDF

CUET 2026 Delhi University Eligibility Criteria PDF
CUET 2026 Banaras Hindu University Eligibility Criteria PDF
CUET 2026 Jawahar Lal Nehru University Eligibility Criteria PDF
CUET 2026 Jamia Milia Islamia Eligibility Criteria PDF
CUET 2026 Aligarh Muslim University Eligibility Criteria PDF

CUET State Universities Eligibility Criteria

University Minimum Marks Requirement Additional Criteria
Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (GGSIPU) 50% (General)45% (SC/ST) Relevant coursework is required for professional courses.
Dr B.R. Ambedkar University, Delhi Aptitude tests are required for several programs.
Baba Saheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (BBAU), Lucknow No specific percentage Admission is determined based on the CUET results.

CUET Deemed & Private Universities Eligibility Criteria

University Minimum Marks Requirement Additional Criteria
TATA Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) 50% (General)45% (SC/ST) A further written evaluation might be necessary.
Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) Some classes call for skill-based tests or interviews.
Shiv Nadar University 55% (General)50% (SC/ST) For some courses, entrance is based on merit.

Check: Top Colleges Accepting CUET Score

FAQs for CUET Eligibility Criteria

Ques. Can I apply for CUET if I am appearing in the Class 12 exam in 2026?

Ans. Yes, candidates appearing in class 12 exam in 2026 are eligible to apply for CUET.

  • These candidates will be provisionally eligible for the exam and should submit the proof of passing during the counselling.
  • The Eligibility will be then confirmed during the counselling session.

Ques. Are NIOS and open board students eligible for CUET?

Ans. Yes, NIOS and other board candidates will be eligible for CUET, if their board is recognized and equivalent to class 12.

Board Type Eligibility Status
NIOS Eligible
State Open Boards Eligible (if recognized)
Private Open Boards Subject to equivalence
Regular Boards Fully eligible

Ques. Will foreign board Class 12 certificates be accepted for CUET admissions?

Ans. Yes, foreign board class 12 certificates will be accepted, but the candidates have to provide the required certificates during the admission.

The Eligibility of foreign board:

Requirement Status
CUET Application Allowed
Foreign Board Certificate Accepted
Equivalence Proof Often required
Final Approval University-level

Ques. How do I know which CUET subjects are required for my target course?

Ans. In CUET, the required subject as per the courses, are mentioned in the official admission brochure of each university, under the course-based eligibility criteria.

  • You should check the course-wise requirements to know about it.
  • The Required CUET Subjects, should be same as Class 12 Subjects.

Ques. Is reservation applicable at the CUET exam level or only during admission?

Ans. In CUET, the reservation, will not be applied at the exam or score level. It will be implement only during the admission process by the participating universities.

Stage Reservation Applied?
CUET Registration Category declared only
CUET Exam No
CUET Score No
Admission/Counselling Yes