CUET PG 2026 exam cities reduced to 292; applicants get only two choices

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has reduced the number of exam cities for the Common University Entrance Test for postgraduate (CUET PG 2026) courses, even as the number of subjects and exam pattern remain unchanged. The CUET PG registration for the computer-based test (CBT) has begun on the official website, exams.nta.nic.in/cuet-pg/.

The CUET PG exam 2026 will be conducted across 292 cities in total, including 276 cities in India and 16 abroad. However, the NTA conducted the entrance exam in 312 cities last year, wherein around 285 were set up in India and 27 international locations.

Despite the cut in the number of exam cities, the NTA has announced that it will conduct the CUET PG CBT exam for 157 subjects, with exam duration fixed at 90 minutes per paper.

The number of exam city choices has also been reduced from four to two. Candidates have been allowed to choose a maximum of two exam cities as options based on the present and permanent address.

“Though every effort will be made to allot a Centre in one of the cities selected by the candidate, the NTA reserves the right to allot a city to the candidate other than the options opted by the candidates due to administrative reasons,” the NTA said. Notably, applicants were permitted to select for four cities of choice during last year’s registration process.

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CUET PG 2026: Number of subject papers

The NTA will conduct the CUET PG 2026 exam for 157 subject papers.

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CUET PG 2026: International exam cities

The CUET PG exam will be conducted in 16 cities abroad in:

• Bahrain,
• Qatar,
• UAE
• Nepal
• Oman
• Saudi Arabia
• Singapore
• Kuwait
• Malaysia
• Nigeria
• Indonesia
• USA
• Germany
• Canada.

General category candidates will have to pay Rs 700, and OBC-NCL, SC, and ST candidates will have to deposit Rs 600 as application fee. Those who wish to apply for two papers are required to pay double the amount. The registration fee for candidates appearing outside India for one subject paper is Rs 3,500.