NTA’s CUET UG 2026: schedule and scale
NTA’s CUET UG 2026 starts on May 11, 2026 and will run until May 31, 2026 in computer-based test (CBT) mode. The National Testing Agency says 1,568,866 candidates have registered, sitting across 35 shifts over 21 days .
The exam is being held across India and in 14 international cities in 13 countries . Candidates will take tests in two daily shifts: 9 am–12 pm and 3 pm–6 pm . Each shift covers eight subjects and the full schedule includes 12,906 subject combinations , producing 6,756,321 total test instances.
NTA’s CUET Day 1: centres, shifts and what to carry
On Day 1, 124,020 candidates are scheduled across two shifts. Shift 1 has 63,247 candidates at 314 centres ; Shift 2 has 60,773 candidates at 281 centres . The subjects on May 11 include core arts, commerce, science and social-science papers such as English, Accountancy, Business Studies, Economics, History, Political Science, Chemistry, Geography, Computer Science and Sociology.
NTA has told candidates to check their admit card details — exam city, centre, date and shift — and reach centres early. Mandatory items include the printed admit card with a self-declaration form, two passport-size photographs , and original valid photo ID. Allowed items are a transparent ball-point pen and a transparent water bottle. Diabetic candidates may carry sugar tablets or fruits.
Exam logistics and PwD arrangements
The NTA reports 96.6% of candidates were allotted an exam city from their preferences and 79% got their first-choice city. Around 43% of registrations came from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Delhi.
Persons with Disabilities (PwD/PwBD) must bring their disability certificates to avail of scribes and compensatory time. NTA has also advised a simple dress code: light-coloured clothes, avoid complex accessories, and prefer normal footwear like slippers or low heels. Religious items are allowed but candidates should report early for security checks.
Candidates should follow centre instructions and carry only permitted items. NTA’s instructions aim to ensure smooth conduct across the long schedule and the large, diverse candidate pool.