CUET 2026 Complete Syllabus - Subject-Wise PDFs & Details

The CUET UG 2026 is a national-level entrance examination conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for undergraduate admissions across universities in India. As one of the most competitive UG entrance exams in the country, CUET is now the single gateway to hundreds of top universities including Delhi University, JNU, BHU, and many more.

For students appearing in 2026, understanding the CUET syllabus in full is the first step to effective preparation. The syllabus covers everything from language and domain-specific subjects to general aptitude and since it is largely aligned with the Class 12 syllabus, students who have already prepared for board exams have a strong head start.

Key Highlights of CUET UG Syllabus 2026

• Conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA)
• Entirely based on Class 12 NCERT textbooks for all domain-specific subjects
• Divided into three main sections: Languages (Section I), Domain Subjects (Section II), and General Test (Section III)
• Students can select a maximum of 6 subjects across all three sections
• All questions are MCQ-based with +5 marks for correct answers and -1 for incorrect ones
• The exam is conducted in Computer-Based Test mode at designated centres.
• CUET 2025 removed certain subjects including Entrepreneurship, Legal Studies, Fashion Studies, Tourism, and Engineering Graphics - these may remain excluded in 2026 as well.

Download CUET 2026 Syllabus

Below are the links to the subject-wise CUET UG 2026 syllabus available for direct download.

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CUET UG Exam Pattern 2026

Before starting to study for CUET 2026, it is important to know the CUET exam pattern. The exam pattern tell you how many questions you need to attempt and how marks are calculated.

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Points to remember about the CUET 2026 exam pattern:

• All questions are compulsory within each paper - no internal choice other than the 50-attempt-40 flexibility
• A student can select up to 2 languages, up to 4 domain subjects, and 1 General Test (6 subjects maximum)
• The General Test is optional and depends on the university and course requirements
• Unattempted questions carry zero marks - there is no penalty for leaving a question blank.

CUET Syllabus Sections Explained

The CUET UG 2026 syllabus is officially divided into three distinct sections. Understanding the structure of these sections helps you make smarter subject choices.

a) Section I - Languages

Section I is further divided into Section IA (13 scheduled Indian languages) and Section IB (additional languages including foreign languages).

• Section IA languages: English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu.
• Section IB: languages include foreign and classical languages such as French, Spanish, German, Nepali, Persian, Italian, Arabic, Sindhi, Kashmiri, Konkani, Bodo, Dogri, Maithili, Manipuri, Santhali, Tibetan, Japanese, Russian, and Chinese.

b) Section II - Domain Subjects

Section II contains 26 domain-specific subjects. These subjects are entirely based on the Class 12 NCERT.

CUET 2026 Subjects include:

• Science: Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology, Mathematics, Computer Science, Environmental Studies, Agriculture, Home Science
• Commerce: Accountancy, Business Studies, Economics/Business Economics
• Humanities: History, Political Science, Geography/Geology, Sociology, Psychology, Sanskrit, Fine Arts, Performing Arts, Mass Media/Mass Communication, Anthropology, Knowledge Tradition and Practices in India

Students choose up to 4 domain subjects. The choice should align with the course and university they are targeting.

c) Section III - General Test

Section III is a single paper - the General Aptitude Test (GAT) that tests reasoning, general awareness, and numerical ability. It is optional and required only for certain courses and universities.

The CUET GAT syllabus 2026 covers:

• General Knowledge and Current Affairs
• General Mental Ability
• Numerical Ability
• Quantitative Reasoning - simple application of basic mathematical concepts (arithmetic, algebra, geometry, mensuration, statistics)
• Logical and Analytical Reasoning
• General Science and Environment Literacy

CUET UG Subject-wise Syllabus Overview

The CUET UG 2026 syllabus is divided into language proficiency, domain-specific academic knowledge, and general aptitude. Here is an overview of what each section covers:

a) CUET Language Test Syllabus

The Language Test (Section I) is designed to evaluate a student's proficiency in reading, comprehension, and verbal reasoning.

Key topics covered in the Language section:

• Reading Comprehension - Factual, Literary, and Narrative passages
• Verbal Ability - Sentence Rearrangement, Choosing the correct word
• Vocabulary - Synonyms and Antonyms
• Match the Following - Rearranging and matching related items

b) CUET Domain Subjects Syllabus

Domain Subjects (Section II) form the core of the CUET exam. These are directly based on the Class 12 NCERT syllabus. With 26 domain subjects available, students choose up to 4 based on their stream and target university course.

Major domain subjects include:

• Physics - Electrostatics, Current Electricity, Optics, Atoms & Nuclei, Electronic Devices, Communication Systems
• Chemistry - Solutions, Electrochemistry, Coordination Compounds, Organic Chemistry, Biomolecules
• Biology - Reproduction, Genetics & Evolution, Human Welfare, Biotechnology, Ecology
• Mathematics - Relations & Functions, Calculus, Algebra, Vectors, Probability, Linear Programming
• Economics - Consumer Behaviour, Market Determination, National Income, Money & Banking, Indian Economic Development
• Accountancy - Partnership Accounts, Financial Statements, Computerised Accounting
• Business Studies - Management Principles, Business Finance, Marketing, Consumer Protection
• History - Harappan Archaeology to the Making of the Constitution (12 themes)
• Political Science - Post-independence Indian Politics and Contemporary World Politics
• Geography - Human Geography, People, Transport, Indian Economy
• Sociology - Indian Society, Social Inequality, Social Movements
• Psychology - Personality, Mental Health, Therapeutic Approaches, Social Cognition

c) CUET General Test Syllabus

The General Test (Section III), unlike domain subjects, is not stream-specific, it is the same for all students.

Topics covered in the General Test:

• General Knowledge - Indian history, culture, geography, polity, and constitution
• Current Affairs - National and international events, government schemes, awards, books & authors
• General Mental Ability - Analogies, series, coding-decoding, pattern recognition, puzzles
• Numerical Ability - Percentages, ratios, profit & loss, time & work, mensuration
• Quantitative Reasoning - Simple application of basic mathematical concepts (arithmetic, algebra, geometry, mensuration, statistics)
• Logical and Analytical Reasoning - Syllogism, seating arrangement, critical reasoning, assumption & conclusion
• General Science and Environment Literacy - Basic science concepts, environmental awareness

CUET Syllabus Topic-wise (Detailed)

This section provides a subject-by-subject breakdown of the most important topics in each section of the CUET UG 2026 syllabus. Use this as your preparation checklist.

a) Language Topics

i) Reading Comprehension:

• Factual passages
• Narrative passages
• Literary passages

ii) Verbal Ability:

• Rearranging the parts / Sentence rearrangement
• Match the following
• Choosing the correct word
• Synonyms and Antonyms

b) Domain Subject Topics

i) Physics (Class 12 NCERT):

• Electrostatics - charges, Coulomb's law, electric field, Gauss's theorem, capacitance
• Current Electricity - Ohm's law, drift velocity, Kirchhoff's rules, Wheatstone bridge
• Magnetic Effects of Current and Magnetism - Biot-Savart law, Ampere's law, moving coil galvanometer, magnetic properties of materials
• Electromagnetic Induction and Alternating Currents - Faraday's laws, Lenz's law, LCR circuit, AC generator, transformer
• Electromagnetic Waves - displacement current, EM spectrum and their uses
• Optics - reflection, refraction, total internal reflection, lenses, microscopes, telescopes, Huygens' principle, Young's double slit experiment, diffraction
• Dual Nature of Matter and Radiation - photoelectric effect, de-Broglie relation
• Atoms and Nuclei - Rutherford's and Bohr's models, nuclear fission and fusion, binding energy
• Electronic Devices - semiconductors, p-n junction diode, rectifier
• Communication Systems - elements of communication system, bandwidth, propagation of EM waves, modulation

ii) Chemistry (Class 12 NCERT):

• Solutions - concentration, Raoult's law, colligative properties, Van't Hoff factor
• Electrochemistry - galvanic cells, Nernst equation, conductance, Faraday's laws, batteries, corrosion
• Chemical Kinetics - rate laws, order and molecularity, Arrhenius equation, activation energy
• d and f Block Elements - transition elements, properties and trends, K₂Cr₂O₇ and KMnO₄, lanthanoids and actinoids
• Coordination Compounds - Werner's theory, IUPAC nomenclature, isomerism, VBT, crystal field theory
• Haloalkanes and Haloarenes - nomenclature, preparation, properties, SN reactions, polyhalogen compounds
• Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers - classification, preparation, physical and chemical properties
• Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids - preparation, properties, uses
• Amines - classification, preparation, basic character, diazonium salts
• Biomolecules - carbohydrates, proteins, enzymes, vitamins, nucleic acids, hormones

iii) Biology (Class 12 NCERT):

• Sexual Reproduction in Flowering Plants - microsporogenesis, megasporogenesis, pollination, double fertilisation, seed and fruit formation, apomixis
• Human Reproduction - male/female reproductive system, gametogenesis, menstrual cycle, embryonic development, parturition
• Reproductive Health - contraception, MTP, STIs, assisted reproductive technologies
• Principles of Inheritance and Variation - Mendel's laws, incomplete dominance, blood groups, chromosomal theory, mutation, genetic disorders
• Molecular Basis of Inheritance - DNA structure, replication, transcription, translation, Lac operon, Human Genome Project, DNA fingerprinting
• Evolution - origin of life, Darwin's theory, natural selection, Hardy-Weinberg principle, origin and evolution of man
• Human Health and Disease - common diseases, immunity, AIDS, cancer, drug and alcohol abuse
• Microbes in Human Welfare - household products, industrial products, sewage treatment, biogas, biofertilisers
• Biotechnology: Principles and Processes - recombinant DNA technology, PCR, bioreactors
• Biotechnology and its Applications - Bt cotton, gene therapy, insulin, transgenic animals, biopiracy
• Organisms and Populations - population growth, population interactions
• Ecosystem - productivity, decomposition, energy flow, ecological pyramids
• Biodiversity and Conservation - biodiversity patterns, causes of loss, in situ and ex situ conservation

iv) Mathematics (Class 12 NCERT):

Section B1 - Mathematics:

• Relations and Functions - types of relations, one-to-one and onto functions
• Inverse Trigonometric Functions - domain, range, principal value branches
• Matrices - types, operations, invertible matrices
• Determinants - up to 3x3, minors, cofactors, solving system of linear equations
• Continuity and Differentiability - chain rule, implicit functions, logarithmic differentiation, second-order derivatives
• Applications of Derivatives - rate of change, increasing/decreasing functions, maxima and minima
• Integrals - indefinite and definite integrals, integration by substitution, partial fractions, and by parts
• Applications of Integrals - area under curves (lines, circles, parabolas, ellipses)
• Differential Equations - order, degree, variable separable, homogeneous, linear differential equations
• Vectors - dot product, cross product, direction cosines
• Three-Dimensional Geometry - equation of a line, skew lines, shortest distance, angle between lines
• Linear Programming - graphical method, feasible/infeasible regions, optimal feasible solution
• Probability - conditional probability, Bayes' theorem, independent events

Section B2 - Applied Mathematics (if applicable):

• Numbers and Numerical Applications - modular arithmetic, allegation and mixture, boats and streams, pipes and cisterns
• Algebra - matrices, determinants, solving simultaneous equations
• Calculus - derivatives, integration, differential equations, marginal cost and revenue
• Probability Distributions - binomial, Poisson, normal distribution
• Time-Based Data - time series, components, secular trend
• Inferential Statistics - population and sample, t-test, central limit theorem
• Financial Mathematics - EMI, rate of return, compound annual growth rate, depreciation, bond valuation
• Linear Programming - mathematical formulation, graphical method

v) Economics (Class 12 NCERT):

Introductory Microeconomics:

• Consumer Behaviour - utility approach, demand, price elasticity of demand
• Production and Costs - production function, TP/MP/AP curves, short-run cost curves, producer's equilibrium
• Theory of the Firm under Perfect Competition - profit maximisation, price determination, price elasticity of supply
• Market Equilibrium - excess demand/supply, price ceiling and price floor

Introductory Macroeconomics:

• National Income Accounting - circular flow of income, value added method, expenditure method, income method, GDP and welfare
• Money and Banking - money creation, money multiplier, functions of central bank, policy tools
• Determination of Income and Employment - aggregate demand, two-sector model, multiplier mechanism
• Government Budget - revenue and capital receipts/expenditure, measures of government deficit
• Open Economy Macroeconomics - balance of payments, foreign exchange rate, managed floating

Indian Economic Development:

• Development Policies and Experience (1947-90) - Five Year Plans, agriculture, industry (IPR 1956), foreign trade
• Economic Reforms since 1991 - liberalisation, globalisation and privatisation (LPG policy)
• Current Challenges - human capital formation, rural development, employment, environment and sustainable development
• Development Experiences - comparison with neighbours (China, Pakistan) on growth, population, HDI

vi) Accountancy (Class 12 NCERT):

• Accounting for Partnership - partnership deed, fixed vs. fluctuating capital, profit and loss appropriation
• Reconstitution of a Partnership Firm - changes in profit-sharing ratio, goodwill valuation, admission of partner, retirement/death of partner
• Dissolution of Partnership Firm - realisation account and related accounts
• Company Accounts: Share and Debenture Capital - issue, allotment, forfeiture and re-issue of shares; issue and redemption of debentures
• Analysis of Financial Statements - comparative statements, common size statements, accounting ratios (liquidity, solvency, activity, profitability)
• Cash Flow Statement - preparation, adjustments for depreciation, dividend, tax, purchase/sale of non-current assets
• Computerised Accounting System (optional alternative to Analysis of Financial Statements) - features, structure, accounting information system, electronic spreadsheets

vii) History (Class 12 NCERT - Themes in Indian History):

Part I:

• Theme I - Harappan Civilisation and Archaeology
• Theme II - Political and Economic Systems in Early States: Inscriptional Evidences
• Theme III - Social Histories of Early Societies: Mahabharata
• Theme IV - History of Buddhism and Jainism: Cultural Developments

Part II:

• Theme V - Medieval Society through Travellers' Accounts
• Theme VI - Religious History: Bhakti-Sufi Traditions
• Theme VII - Vijayanagara Empire: Politics, Economy and Architecture
• Theme VIII - The Mughal Empire and Agrarian Society

Part III:

• Theme IX - Colonialism and Rural Society: Evidence from Official Reports
• Theme X - Revolt of 1857: Patterns and Representations
• Theme XI - Mahatma Gandhi and National Movements
• Theme XII - The Making of the Constitution

c) General Test Topics

The following reflects the five official areas with commonly tested concepts under each.)

i) General Knowledge and Current Affairs:

• Major national and international events
• Government schemes, policies, and flagship programs
• Awards, appointments, and sports achievements
• Indian history, geography, culture, polity, and economy
• Books and authors, science and technology developments

ii) General Mental Ability:

• Number and letter series, analogies
• Coding-decoding, direction sense, blood relations
• Puzzles, calendar, clocks, ranking

iii) Numerical Ability:

• Number system, percentages, ratios and proportions
• Profit and loss, simple and compound interest, time and work, time and distance
• Mensuration - area, volume, perimeter
• Basic algebra and geometry concepts
• Data interpretation - bar graphs, pie charts, tables, line graphs

iv) Logical and Analytical Reasoning:

• Syllogisms (statements and conclusions)
• Seating arrangements (linear and circular)
• Statement-assumption, statement-inference, cause-effect
• Critical reasoning

v) General Science and Environment Literacy:

• Basic concepts from Physics, Chemistry, and Biology
• Environmental issues and ecology
• Science and technology developments

CUET Syllabus vs Board Syllabus

One of the most common questions among students preparing for both Class 12 syllabus and CUET is: how different are the two syllabuses? The answer is - not very different at all, which is great news for students preparing for both.

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Why Is the CUET Syllabus Important?

CUET is a highly competitive exam with over 13 lakh+ students appearing for it. Knowing the syllabus well and preparing for it accordingly can make a vast difference in the race:

• Guides Your Study Plan: The CUET syllabus helps you focus on the exact topics so you can create a clear and effective study schedule.
• Highlights Important Topics: Some chapters are more important (e.g. Organic Chemistry, Calculus), so you can prioritize what matters most.
• Improves Strategy: Since you attempt only 40 out of 50 questions, knowing the syllabus helps you skip weak areas and focus on strengths.
• Saves Time: Prevents studying irrelevant topics, keeping your preparation efficient and focused.

How to Prepare Using CUET Syllabus?

Having the syllabus is step one using it strategically is where the real preparation begins. Here is a proven approach recommended by top scorers and educators:

• Focus on NCERT: Study NCERT Class 12 books thoroughly. All concepts, definitions, diagrams, and all questions are important. Avoid skipping them for shortcuts.
• Choose Subjects Smartly: Pick domain subjects based on both your strengths and university requirements.
• Practice Mock Tests: CUET Mock papers helps identify weak areas, improve time management, and get comfortable with MCQs and negative marking. Aim to solve at least one full mock test per week in the final 2 months before the exam, followed by a detailed review of every incorrect answer. 

How to Use the CUET Syllabus Effectively?

Follow these steps to get the maximum value from the CUET UG 2026 syllabus:

• Create a Study Plan: List subjects, break them into chapters, and assign study days based on difficulty. Include time for revision and mock tests.
• Track Progress: Use the syllabus as a checklist to mark completed topics and stay organized.
• Focus on Weak Areas: Identify weak topics and spend extra time improving them to avoid mistakes in MCQs.
• Revise Regularly: Revisit topics every 2-3 weeks, and increase revision in the final month to retain everything.

More CUET Preparation Resources

Beyond the syllabus, here are key resources to support your complete CUET UG 2026 preparation:

• CUET Previous Year Question Papers
• CUET Mock Test Papers
• CUET Supplementary Books
• NCERT Class 12 Textbooks
• All CUET UG 2026 Latest Updates
• CUET UG 2026 Important Details

FAQs

1. What is the CUET UG syllabus for 2026?

It is divided into three parts: Section 1 (Languages), Section 2 (Domain Subjects), and Section 3 (General Test). Section 1 tests reading and vocabulary; Section 2 covers specific Class 12 subjects; Section 3 covers GK, Current Affairs, and Logic.

2. Which subjects are included in the CUET syllabus?

There are 33 languages and 27 domain subjects. Domains include everything from core sciences (Physics, Biology) and commerce (Accountancy, Economics) to humanities (History, Geography) and vocational subjects (Yoga, Agriculture).

3. Is the 2026 CUET syllabus based on NCERT books?

Yes. For Domain subjects, it is strictly mapped to the Class 12 NCERT curriculum. Unlike NEET, Class 11 chapters are generally excluded from the Domain-specific sections.

4. How many sections are there in the CUET exam?

Three sections. Section IA & IB (Languages), Section II (Domain Subjects), and Section III (General Test). Candidates select a combination based on the specific requirements of their target university and course.

5. Where can I download the CUET syllabus PDF?

The official PDFs are available on the National Testing Agency (NTA) CUET portal. Each subject has a dedicated downloadable file detailing the exact units and sub-topics.

6. Has the CUET syllabus changed for 2026?

The core topics remain the same as the NCERT Class 12 syllabus, but the question pattern has evolved. There is a higher frequency of case-study based questions and assertion-reasoning types compared to direct factual questions.