CUET UG 2026 begins tomorrow: Over 15.6 lakh students set to appear; things to carry, dress code

The National Testing Agency (NTA) will begin the Common University Entrance Test–Undergraduate (CUET UG) 2026 from tomorrow, May 11, 2026. The CUET UG exam will be conducted in computer-based test (CBT) mode and will continue until May 31, 2026, in multiple shifts. CUET UG 2026 May 11 Paper LIVE

The CUET UG 2026 entrance exam will be conducted in two shifts—9 am to 12 pm and 3 pm to 6 pm—across India and in 14 international cities across 13 countries.

On Day 1 of CUET UG 2026, a total of 1,24,020 candidates will appear for the exam across two shifts. The first shift will be conducted at 314 centres for 63,247 candidates, while the second shift will be held at 281 centres for 60,773 candidates. Each shift will cover eight subjects.

Also read 'Regressive turn': JNUTA opposes 5% ward quota for JNU staff, flags governance concerns

The subjects scheduled for the first day of CUET UG 2026 on May 11 include English, Accountancy or Book Keeping, Business Studies, Economics or Business Economics, History, Political Science, Chemistry, Geography or Geology, Computer Science or Informatics Practices, and Sociology.

CUET UG 2026: Registration statistics

This year, a total of 15,68,866 candidates have registered for the CUET UG 2026 exam. The test will be conducted across 12,906 subject combinations, resulting in 67,56,321 test instances. The examination will be held in 35 shifts over a 21-day schedule.

According to official NTA data, 96.6% of candidates have been allotted an examination city from their preferred choices, while 79% have received their first-choice city. Around 43% of registrations are from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Delhi.

CUET Exam 2026: Things to carry

In its X posts, the NTA has advised candidates to carefully check the details on their CUET UG admit cards, including the exam city, centre, date, and shift, and to reach the examination centre well in advance of the reporting time.

The authority also asked students to carry mandatory items, including the printed admit card with a self-declaration form, two passport-size photographs, an original, valid photo ID proof, a transparent ball-point pen, and a transparent water bottle. Candidates with medical requirements may carry diabetic-related items such as sugar tablets or fruits, while PwD or PwBD candidates must also carry their certificates.

Also read JNU, TISS Mumbai, BHU: Student unions vanish from universities with elections scrapped, councils taking over

CUET UG 2026 dress code

As per the CUET UG dress code guidelines issued by NTA, a simple dress code has been recommended. Candidates are advised to wear light-coloured clothes and avoid complex accessories. Normal footwear, such as slippers or low heels, is preferred.

Religious items, including faith-based threads, are allowed; however, candidates must report early for security checks and frisking.

Special arrangements have been made for Persons with Disabilities (PwD) and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD), including provision for scribes and compensatory time during the examination, as stated in NTA’s X posts.