CUET PG 2027: complete guide to exam date, eligibility, syllabus and cutoff
If you are a graduate planning to apply for a master’s programme at a central university, a state university or one of the private institutions that now accept this score, you have probably searched “CUET PG 2027” more than once this month. This guide covers what the exam is, who can sit for it, which documents you will need on hand, how the paper is structured, where to find real previous year questions, when the 2027 cycle is likely to open, and what marks actually got students into Delhi University in 2026.
Everything here is checked against the official NTA CUET PG portal and its syllabus pages, along with the CUET PG 2026 result and cutoff data published this year. The four official NTA pages referenced throughout are:
Main CUET PG portal: exams.nta.nic.in/CUET-PG
Full syllabus index: exams.nta.nic.in/cuet-pg/syllabus
Humanities syllabus: exams.nta.nic.in/cuet-pg/syllabus/humanities
Common test paper syllabus: exams.nta.nic.in/cuet-pg/syllabus/common
What is CUET PG
CUET PG stands for Common University Entrance Test for Postgraduate Programmes. The National Testing Agency, an autonomous body working under the Ministry of Education, Government of India, conducts it once a year. The test gives graduates a single entrance exam to apply for master’s level courses such as MA, MSc, MCom, MBA, MCA, LLM and BEd at central universities, several state universities and a growing number of deemed and private universities that join the list each year.
Instead of writing a separate entrance test for every institution, a candidate appears once for CUET PG and uses that score across every participating university and course they qualify for. The official source for every update on this exam is the NTA CUET PG portal, and that page should be your first stop for notifications, admit cards, answer keys and results rather than any aggregator site.
| Event | CUET PG 2026 date (actual) | Projected CUET PG 2027 date |
|---|---|---|
| Notification release | 14 December 2025 | Mid December 2026 |
| Application form opens | 14 December 2025 | Mid December 2026 |
| Application form closes | 14 January 2026, extended to 23 January 2026 | Mid to late January 2027 |
| Fee payment last date | 25 January 2026 | Late January 2027 |
| Correction window | Late January 2026 | Last week of January or first week of February 2027 |
| Admit card release | From 3 March 2026, shift wise | Early March 2027 |
| Exam dates | 6 March to 27 March 2026 | Spread across March 2027 |
| Result declaration | 24 April 2026 | Late April 2027 |
Note: the 2027 column is a projection based on the CUET PG 2026 timeline, not an official announcement. NTA has not released the CUET PG 2027 notification yet. Confirm final dates on the official NTA CUET PG portal once the bulletin is published.
CUET PG 2027 expected exam date
NTA has not opened the CUET PG 2027 cycle yet. But the last two years give a reasonably reliable pattern to plan around.
For CUET PG 2026, the notification came out on 14 December 2025, the application form opened the same day and ran till 14 January 2026, then got extended to 23 January 2026 with fee payment allowed till 25 January. The exam itself ran across scattered dates between 6 March and 27 March 2026 in computer based mode, admit cards went out shift wise from early March, and the result was declared on 24 April 2026.
Based on this cycle, here is a realistic projection for CUET PG 2027.
Expected CUET PG 2027 notification and form dates
Notification and application form opening: mid December 2026, most likely the second or third week, matching the pattern kept for two straight years.
Application closing date: mid to late January 2027, with a short extension being fairly common in past cycles.
Correction window: last week of January or first week of February 2027.
Expected CUET PG 2027 exam and result dates
Admit card release: early March 2027.
Exam dates: spread across March 2027 in computer based mode, in multiple shifts, across cities in India and a handful abroad.
Result declaration: late April 2027, roughly six to seven weeks after the exam window ends.
These are projected dates drawn from past patterns, not an official announcement. NTA confirms the real CUET PG 2027 date only through its information bulletin on the official portal, so check that page directly once December 2026 arrives rather than trusting a third party calendar.
CUET PG 2027 eligibility criteria
Eligibility for CUET PG works on two levels: what NTA asks for to let you sit the exam, and what the specific university asks for later during admission. Mixing these two up is the most common mistake applicants make.
General exam eligibility set by NTA
A bachelor’s degree or an equivalent qualification from a university recognised by the UGC or an equivalent statutory body.
Final year graduation students in 2027 can also apply and appear provisionally, though proof of having passed is needed by the time of admission.
There is no upper or lower age limit for CUET PG.
Indian nationals form the primary applicant pool. NRI and foreign national candidates are generally considered by individual universities through separate admission routes rather than the main CUET PG application.
Minimum marks needed in graduation
NTA itself does not fix one percentage for appearing in the exam, but nearly every participating university applies its own minimum at the time of admission. As a working rule that has held for the last few cycles, general and EWS category candidates are usually expected to have around 50 percent aggregate marks in their bachelor’s degree, while SC, ST, OBC and PwD category candidates typically need around 45 percent, in line with UGC relaxation norms. Always check the admission page of the university you are targeting, since some professional programmes such as MBA or LLM at particular institutes set a higher bar.
Course specific eligibility
Each test paper, for example MA Political Science or MA Economics, may ask for a related subject background at the graduation level, though many universities also admit students from unrelated backgrounds for arts and social science programmes. This detail changes from university to university, so the final word sits with the admission brochure of your target institute, not with the CUET PG application form.
| Category | Minimum graduation marks | Age limit | Final year students |
|---|---|---|---|
| General / EWS | Around 50% aggregate (university specific) | No upper or lower limit | Eligible, provisionally |
| OBC (non-creamy layer) | Around 45% aggregate (university specific) | No upper or lower limit | Eligible, provisionally |
| SC | Around 45% aggregate (university specific) | No upper or lower limit | Eligible, provisionally |
| ST | Around 45% aggregate (university specific) | No upper or lower limit | Eligible, provisionally |
| PwD | Around 45% aggregate (university specific) | No upper or lower limit | Eligible, provisionally |
Note: NTA does not fix one universal percentage for appearing in CUET PG. The figures above reflect the common practice followed by most participating universities at the time of admission. Always confirm the exact requirement on the admission page of your target university.
| Document name | Category | Format / purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Passport size photograph | Identity | Recent colour photo, scanned in the specified size and format |
| Signature | Identity | Scanned signature, usually black ink on white paper |
| Government photo ID | Identity | Aadhaar, PAN, voter ID or passport, used for identity verification |
| Active email and mobile number | Identity | Used to send login credentials and important updates |
| Class 10 mark sheet and certificate | Academic | Proof of basic educational record |
| Class 12 mark sheet and certificate | Academic | Proof of basic educational record |
| Bachelor's degree mark sheet | Academic | Proof of graduation, required for final eligibility check |
| Provisional or bonafide certificate | Academic | For final year students, confirms they are appearing for graduation exams in 2027 |
| Caste certificate | Reservation | Required for SC, ST or OBC category applicants, issued by a competent authority |
| EWS certificate | Reservation | Required for candidates applying under the economically weaker section category |
| PwD certificate | Reservation | Required for candidates seeking benefits under the persons with disabilities category |
| Bank account or card details | Other | Needed to pay the CUET PG application fee online |
| Migration certificate | Other | Usually asked at the admission stage rather than the application stage |
| Transfer certificate | Other | Usually asked at the admission stage rather than the application stage |
Note: exact file formats and size limits can shift slightly between cycles. Always confirm the final list against the information bulletin on the official NTA CUET PG portal once the 2027 notification is live.
Documents required for CUET PG 2027
Getting your documents ready before the application window opens saves you from last minute rejection, which is one of the most common reasons forms get stuck every year. Based on how NTA has structured the CUET PG application in recent cycles, keep scanned copies of the following ready well before the CUET PG 2027 form is expected to open in December 2026.
Identity and personal documents
A recent colour passport size photograph, scanned in the specified format and size.
A scanned signature, usually required in black ink on white paper.
A government issued photo identity proof such as Aadhaar, PAN card, voter ID or passport.
An active personal email address and mobile number, since login credentials and important updates are sent there.
Academic documents
Class 10 mark sheet and certificate.
Class 12 mark sheet and certificate.
Bachelor’s degree mark sheet or, for final year students, a bonafide or provisional certificate confirming you are appearing for your final year exams in 2027.
Provisional degree certificate or final transcript, once available, for students who have already completed graduation.
Category and reservation documents
Caste certificate for SC, ST or OBC candidates, issued by a competent authority in the format prescribed by the government.
EWS certificate for candidates applying under the economically weaker section category.
PwD certificate for candidates seeking benefits under the persons with disabilities category.
Other requirements
Bank account or card details for paying the CUET PG application fee online.
Migration certificate and transfer certificate, which some universities ask for at the admission stage rather than at the application stage itself.
Since exact file formats, size limits and the precise list can shift slightly between cycles, always cross check the final requirement list against the information bulletin published on the NTA CUET PG portal once the 2027 notification is live.
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Mode of exam | Computer based test, conducted in multiple shifts across the exam window |
| Duration | 90 minutes per shift for most test papers |
| Number of questions | 75 questions for most test papers |
| Total marks | 300 marks for most test papers |
| Marking scheme | Plus 4 marks for every correct answer, minus 1 mark for every wrong answer, zero for unattempted questions |
| Medium of exam | Generally English and Hindi, with a few test papers also offered in additional regional languages |
| Question type | Multiple choice questions, drawn from the syllabus prescribed for each subject |
Note: this reflects the CUET PG 2026 pattern. NTA has not announced any change for 2027 so far. Confirm the final pattern in the official information bulletin once the CUET PG 2027 notification is released.
CUET PG 2027 exam pattern
The exam pattern has stayed consistent for the last few cycles, with no official indication of a structural change for 2027 so far. Based on the CUET PG 2026 pattern, here is what candidates should expect.
Exam format
Mode of exam: computer based test, run in multiple shifts across the exam window.
Duration: 90 minutes per shift for most test papers.
Number of questions: most test papers carry 75 questions.
Total marks: 300 marks for most papers.
Medium of exam: generally offered in English and Hindi, with a few test papers also available in additional regional languages depending on the subject.
Question type: multiple choice questions drawn from the syllabus prescribed separately for each subject.
Marking scheme
Four marks are awarded for every correct answer, one mark is deducted for every wrong answer, and unattempted questions carry zero marks. This detail matters a great deal for how aggressively you should guess during the exam.
If NTA brings any change for the 2027 cycle, whether to question count, subject list or marking scheme, it will show up first in the official information bulletin on the NTA CUET PG portal at the time of notification. Treat the pattern above as the safest reference point until that bulletin is out.
CUET PG syllabus 2027
The CUET PG syllabus is subject specific and published directly by NTA on its syllabus index page. Subjects are grouped broadly under humanities, sciences, commerce, and a common category that covers general test papers such as general aptitude, teaching and research aptitude, and comparative literature.
The humanities syllabus page alone lists papers including Ancient Indian History Culture and Architecture, Anthropology, Applied Arts, Art and Aesthetics, Dance, Development and Labour Studies, Fine Arts, Geography, History, History of Art, Home Science, Hindustani and Karnatak Music, Museology, Painting, Philosophy, Plastic Arts, Political Science, Pottery and Ceramic, Psychology, Social Work, Sociology, Textile Design, Theatre and a few more. Each subject has its own downloadable PDF syllabus on that page. The common test paper syllabus page covers subjects that cut across disciplines rather than sitting under one stream.
Here is a closer look at the subjects students search for most, since these draw the highest number of applicants every year.
CUET PG Political Science syllabus
The Political Science paper generally covers Indian political thought and Western political theory, Indian government and politics, comparative politics, international relations, public administration, and political thinkers from classical to contemporary. Standard graduation level political science textbooks form a good base, and the exact unit wise breakup sits in the PDF on the humanities syllabus page, since the weight given to each topic can shift slightly between cycles.
CUET PG Economics syllabus
Economics is one of the most competitive papers in CUET PG. Its syllabus generally spans microeconomics, macroeconomics, Indian economy and economic development, basics of statistics and econometrics, international economics and public finance. Since Economics questions often test applied numerical understanding alongside theory, combining standard graduation textbooks with regular question practice works better than relying on memorisation alone.
CUET PG for mass communication and other arts courses
Mass communication is offered as a test paper option at several participating universities, and its content usually draws from media theory, journalism ethics, media laws, communication models, and current affairs in media and technology. Along with Political Science, History, Economics, Sociology, Psychology and English, this is one of the papers with consistently high application numbers because so many state and central universities run a master’s programme in the subject.
CUET PG for commerce and science courses
On the commerce side, papers like Commerce and Accountancy and Business Economics draw large numbers of applicants because they feed directly into MCom and MBA admissions at central universities. On the science side, subjects such as Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Life Sciences, Environmental Science and Computer Science stay in constant demand, particularly among students aiming for MSc programmes at institutions like Banaras Hindu University, Jawaharlal Nehru University and Delhi University. Each subject has a dedicated syllabus PDF listed on the NTA syllabus index, categorised under sciences rather than humanities.
For any subject not covered here, the complete list with subject codes and syllabus PDFs sits on the NTA syllabus index, split further into humanities, sciences, commerce and common categories. That page is the only source to treat as final for exact topics and weightage in your paper.
Where to find CUET PG previous year question papers
Many students end up on unreliable third party pages that recycle old or wrongly labelled papers. The genuinely reliable route to real, exam accurate previous year questions works like this.
During the answer key challenge window after every CUET PG exam, NTA displays the actual question paper for each shift, along with candidates’ recorded responses and the provisional answer key, on the official CUET PG portal. This window is announced as a public notice on the same portal and is the single most authentic source of real CUET PG questions, since it comes directly from the exam conducting body rather than a coaching website’s memory based reconstruction.
For structured practice beyond that window, NTA also runs the National Testing Abhyas app and portal at nta.ac.in/abhyas, which offers official mock tests and practice material for several NTA conducted exams, CUET PG included in past cycles.
If you use a third party website for previous year papers, cross check the questions against what NTA actually displayed during its answer key challenge window for that year rather than trusting the file as is.
How to prepare for CUET PG 2027
There is no single best platform that suits every subject, since a Political Science aspirant and a Physics aspirant need very different resources. That said, a preparation approach that has worked consistently for CUET PG candidates looks like this.
Start from the exact syllabus PDF for your subject on the NTA syllabus page rather than a summarised version from a blog, since NTA’s own document is the one your questions are drawn from.
Build your base with standard graduation level textbooks and NCERT material where applicable, especially for Political Science, History, Economics and Sociology.
Practice with the real previous year questions released during NTA’s answer key challenge window, since these show the actual difficulty level and question framing used in past cycles.
Take timed mock tests close to the real exam format, 75 questions in 90 minutes with the same four mark and one mark negative scheme, so your pace and guessing strategy are already tested before exam day.
Track the official NTA CUET PG portal directly for any change to pattern or syllabus rather than depending only on aggregator sites, since only NTA’s own bulletin is binding.
| Course | General | OBC | SC | ST | EWS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MA Sociology | 280 to 282 | 275 | 260 to 269 | 261 to 263 | 279 to 280 |
| MA Economics | 251 to 253 | 233 to 235 | 216 to 221 | Up to 183 | Not separately confirmed |
| MA Applied Psychology | 245 to 253 | Around 206 | Around 204 | Around 226 | 214 to 253 |
| MA Political Science | 255 to 276 | Not separately confirmed | Not separately confirmed | Not separately confirmed | Not separately confirmed |
| MA English | 205 to 225 | 165 to 205 | 155 to 185 | 155 to 185 | Not separately confirmed |
Note: figures reflect Delhi University’s CUET PG 2026 round wise cutoffs and can vary further by individual college. SC and ST figures for MA English are combined where a separate breakdown was not available. Always cross check the current year’s exact cutoff on the DU CSAS admission portal, since colleges within DU can differ from these overall figures.
How to prepare for CUET PG 2027
There is no single best platform that suits every subject, since a Political Science aspirant and a Physics aspirant need very different resources. That said, a preparation approach that has worked consistently for CUET PG candidates looks like this.
Start from the exact syllabus PDF for your subject on the NTA syllabus page rather than a summarised version from a blog, since NTA’s own document is the one your questions are drawn from.
Build your base with standard graduation level textbooks and NCERT material where applicable, especially for Political Science, History, Economics and Sociology.
Practice with the real previous year questions released during NTA’s answer key challenge window, since these show the actual difficulty level and question framing used in past cycles.
Take timed mock tests close to the real exam format, 75 questions in 90 minutes with the same four mark and one mark negative scheme, so your pace and guessing strategy are already tested before exam day.
Track the official NTA CUET PG portal directly for any change to pattern or syllabus rather than depending only on aggregator sites, since only NTA’s own bulletin is binding.
CUET PG 2026 cutoff, what marks actually got students admission
CUET PG cutoffs are not released centrally by NTA. Each participating university decides its own cutoff independently after results, so the number that matters to you depends heavily on which university and course you are targeting. Here is what the 2026 admission cycle actually looked like at Delhi University, one of the most watched destinations for CUET PG candidates.
At Delhi University, the general category cutoff for round one spread widely across programmes, roughly between 190 and 282 marks out of a maximum of 300, depending on the course. MA Sociology was the toughest programme to enter in the general category, closing at 282 in round one. MA Applied Psychology and MA Economics both closed close to 253 for general category candidates. MA Political Science saw a wider swing, closing near 276 in the early rounds at some colleges, with Hindu College and Lady Shri Ram College among the toughest individual colleges for the subject.
For reserved categories at DU in 2026, OBC cutoffs generally ran a little below general category numbers, for example MA Economics closing near 235 for OBC candidates against 253 for general. SC and ST cutoffs were lower again, with MA Economics closing around 216 to 221 for SC candidates and lower still for ST in several courses, reflecting the standard reservation based relaxation applied across counselling rounds.
If you want one number to plan around for a general category seat at a competitive DU arts programme, treating 250 to 280 marks out of 300 as your target range for round one is a reasonable benchmark based on the 2026 cycle. Less competitive programmes and later counselling rounds saw seats go to students well below 200 as well.
Outside Delhi University, other central universities such as Banaras Hindu University and Jawaharlal Nehru University generally kept their general category cutoffs a notch lower than DU for equivalent courses in 2026, though the exact figure again depended entirely on the specific programme and college.
Since the CUET PG 2027 exam has not happened yet, no cutoff figure for that year exists anywhere, official or unofficial. Anyone offering an exact CUET PG 2027 cutoff number this early is guessing. Use the 2026 range above as a working benchmark while you prepare, and wait for the official round wise cutoff lists that each university publishes on its own admission portal once the CUET PG 2027 result is out.
Will the CUET PG 2027 exam pattern change
There is no official confirmation from NTA of any change to the exam pattern for 2027 as of now. The pattern has stayed stable across the last two cycles, with 75 questions, 300 marks, 90 minutes per shift and the same four mark plus one mark negative marking scheme. If NTA introduces any change to question count, subject list or marking scheme, it will appear first in the official information bulletin on the NTA CUET PG portal alongside the 2027 notification. Prepare against the existing pattern rather than an assumed one until then.
Frequently asked questions on CUET PG 2027
What is the full form of CUET PG
CUET PG stands for Common University Entrance Test for Postgraduate Programmes, conducted by the National Testing Agency.
What is the expected exam date for CUET PG 2027
Based on the 2026 cycle, the exam is expected in March 2027, with the notification and form likely opening in December 2026. NTA has not confirmed this date yet.
What is the expected date of the CUET PG 2027 form release
Going by the pattern of the last two years, the application form is likely to open around mid December 2026 and close around mid to late January 2027, subject to official confirmation.
What documents are required for CUET PG 2027
A passport size photograph, signature, government photo ID, Class 10 and 12 mark sheets, bachelor’s degree mark sheet or provisional certificate, category or EWS or PwD certificate where applicable, and an active email and phone number for registration and fee payment.
Where can I find real CUET PG previous year questions
The most reliable source is the answer key challenge window on the official NTA CUET PG portal, where the actual shift wise question paper and recorded responses get displayed. The National Testing Abhyas app at nta.ac.in/abhyas is another official practice resource.
What was the minimum marks or percentage needed for admission in CUET PG 2026
At Delhi University, general category cutoffs for round one ranged roughly from 190 to 282 out of 300 depending on the course, with popular arts programmes like Sociology, Political Science, Economics and Applied Psychology closing between 250 and 282. Reserved category cutoffs were lower, generally following the standard relaxation applied during counselling.
What is the minimum percentage required to get admission in Delhi University through CUET PG
There is no single fixed percentage, since DU’s cutoff is expressed in raw marks out of 300 and varies by course, category and college. As a working benchmark from the 2026 cycle, general category candidates aiming at competitive arts programmes should target 250 marks and above, while several other programmes and later rounds admitted students well below that.
Will there be any change in the CUET PG 2027 exam pattern
No official change has been announced. The current pattern of 75 questions, 300 marks and negative marking is expected to continue unless NTA states otherwise in its 2027 information bulletin.
Which is the best platform to prepare for CUET PG 2027
No single platform fits every subject. The NTA official syllabus and its answer key challenge previous questions should form your base for any subject, supplemented by standard textbooks relevant to your specific paper, whether that is Political Science, Economics, Mass Communication, Commerce or a science subject.
What can be the expected cutoff of CUET PG 2027
No genuine cutoff exists yet since the exam has not been conducted. The 2026 range for Delhi University, roughly 190 to 282 marks for general category depending on course, is the closest working reference available right now.
Official NTA sources used in this guide
Main CUET PG portal, for notifications, admit cards, results and answer key challenges: exams.nta.nic.in/CUET-PG
Full CUET PG syllabus index: exams.nta.nic.in/cuet-pg/syllabus
Humanities syllabus, including Political Science, History, Sociology and Psychology: exams.nta.nic.in/cuet-pg/syllabus/humanities
Common test paper syllabus: exams.nta.nic.in/cuet-pg/syllabus/common