The NTA has announced that the CUET UG examination will commence in May. Additionally, provisions have been made for students facing mismatches in identity documents.
The Common University Entrance Test for Undergraduate programmes (CUET UG) 2026 exam is scheduled to be conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) from 11 May 2026 to 31 May 2026. Following this exam, admissions to undergraduate programmes at Delhi University are also expected to begin shortly after. CUET–UG 2026 application forms were available between 3 January and 4 February, with a correction window open from 23 February to 26 February.
As in the past four years, the University will carry out the admission process through its Common Seat Allocation System (CSAS) portal, which operates in multiple phases, the first one being student registration. Students’ admission largely depends on CUET results. Once the results are declared, students can apply for courses and colleges they prefer and are eligible for, based on subject mapping.
The Dean of Admissions, Haneet Gandhi, stated that the CSAS portal is likely to open around the third week of May, which is also when the CUET examination will take place. While the final details are still being worked out, the University aims to complete admissions promptly this time so that classes can begin at the earliest. Efforts will also be made to shorten the allocation periods, even if it requires adjusting each round by a day or two. Students have also been advised to choose those CUET subjects that they have studied in Class 12, as at least 50 per cent similarity is required for subject mapping, which is an essential part of the admission process.
In recent years, faculty members have raised concerns about delays in the admission process, following DU’s adoption of the CUET-based admission system and its impact on the academic calendar. To address this, the University is already working to make the CSAS portal more user-friendly by adding prompts and guidance to help students avoid mistakes during the application process.
In its latest notice dated 7 April, the NTA has also introduced a special verification window from 7 April to 10 April 2026, for candidates facing issues such as mismatched photographs or identity documents. Candidates facing such discrepancies are required to verify their identity by submitting a signed and attested certificate along with a recent photograph, having it attested by their school/college principal or a Gazetted Officer, and uploading it to the NTA website by 10 April.
The CUET, in its current form, was introduced in March 2022 for the academic year of 2022-23. Implemented by the NTA, it aimed to create a level playing field for admissions across all central universities (not just Delhi University), reducing the high cut-offs and over-reliance on board examination marks. It was a key reform under the NEP 2020, which also allowed students to appear for a single common entrance exam, instead of multiple university-specific exams. CUET is one of India’s largest entrance examinations, with more than 14 lakh applicants this year.
Image Source: Devesh for DU Beat
Read Also: DU UG Admissions 2026–27: CUET UG Mandatory, No Change in Subject Eligibility Rules
Nasheta Zaidi
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