CUET UG 2023: 16.85 lakh students to appear, 41% increase in registration, says UGC chairman

NEW DELHI: The University Grants Commission (UGC) chairman M Jagadesh Kumar today informed that a total of 16.85 lakh students registered for Common University Entrance Test (CUET UG 2023); 41 percent increase compared to the last year.

The National Testing Agency (NTA) conducted the debut-edition of CUET UG 2023 exam last year for undergraduate, postgraduate admission to central universities and other participating colleges. 242 universities have opted for the CUET 2023 for UG admission this year.

“In 2022, UGC's debut year of CUET-UG introduction, 12.50 lakh students registered, and 9.9 lakh students submitted their applications. In 2023 CUET-UG, a total of 16.85 lakh students registered,” the UGC chairman said.

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“Out of 16.85 lakhs, 13.995 lakhs paid the application fee and submitted the application form—an increase of 4.0 lakh students. In 2023, there is a 41% increase in the total number of students who will sit for CUET-UG,” he added.

The UGC today requested universities and colleges to support the commission and the NTA in holding CUET UG 2023 examination. It said it may require to utilise university facilities to conduct the exam.

CUET UG 2023 exam became the second largest entrance examination in India by pushing Joint Entrance Examination-Main (JEE Main 2023) to third position. This year, the CUET UG 2023 exam will be conducted from May 21 to May 31 in computer-based test mode. The NTA allowed candidates to edit the CUET 2023 application form till April 3 on the official website cuet.samarth.ac.in 2023.

CUET 2023: Maximum application for DU

The maximum number of applications for CUET-UG have been received for Delhi University, followed by Banaras Hindu University, Allahabad University, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University and Jamia Millia Islamia. Among the applicants, the maximum are from Uttar Pradesh, followed by Delhi and Bihar.

There is a considerable jump in the number of applicants from Jammu and Kashmir. "In 2022, a total of 13,021 students took CUET-UG from this region. But in 2023, this number is 82,655 representing an increase of 6.3 times," he said.

"Last year students from 59 countries submitted their applications for CUET-UG. In 2023, this number increased to 74 countries with 1,000 students spread across Europe, Asia, America, and Gulf countries," he said.

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From the northeastern states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Sikkim, the number of students who will take CUET-UG has increased by 31 per cent as compared to 2022. While 59,208 students from these states took CUET-UG in 2022, it is 77,365 in 2023.

There is a substantial growth in the number of submitted applications by ST category students. "In 2022, it was 58,881. In 2023, it is 95,119, indicating a rise of 61.5 per cent. A similar increase is observed in other categories too. For SC category students, the submitted applications in 2023 are 1,40,307, an increase of 35.5 per cent compared to 2022," Kumar said.

"The number of submitted applications in 2023 for OBC-NCL (OBC-Non Creamy Layer), General-unreserved, and EWS category students is 4,61,022; 6,42,443; and 60,611, respectively. This indicates a rise of 45.2 per cent, 39.6 per cent and 20.5 per cent in the OBC-NCL, General-unreserved and EWS category applications compared to 2022," he added.

(With inputs from PTI)