CUET Registration: Step-by-Step Application Guide

CUET (Common University Entrance Test) is a national-level entrance exam conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for admissions to undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) programmes in Central Universities and other participating institutions across India. This guide covers the complete CUET registration process, eligibility, subject selection, and exam pattern.

What is CUET?

CUET was introduced to provide a single-window entrance exam for admissions to Central Universities like JNU, DU, BHU, JMI, and 200+ other universities. It replaced the individual entrance exams and cut-off based admissions at these institutions.

• CUET (UG): For undergraduate admissions (after Class 12)
• CUET (PG): For postgraduate admissions (after graduation)

The exam is conducted in Computer Based Test (CBT) mode.

Who is Eligible?

CUET (UG) Eligibility

• Educational Qualification: Must have passed or appearing in Class 12 from any recognised board (CBSE, ICSE, State Board, etc.)
• Minimum Marks: As per the participating university's requirement (no minimum specified by NTA)
• Age Limit: No age limit imposed by NTA (individual universities may have their own criteria)
• Nationality: Indian nationals, OCI, NRI, and foreign nationals can apply

CUET (PG) Eligibility

• Must have completed or appearing in graduation from a recognised university
• Specific eligibility varies by programme

Documents Required for Registration

• Class 10 mark sheet (for date of birth proof)
• Class 12 mark sheet (or appearing certificate)
• Aadhaar card or other valid ID
• Passport-size photograph (JPG, 10-200 KB)
• Signature scan (JPG, 4-30 KB)
• Category certificate (SC/ST/OBC/EWS, if applicable)
• PwD certificate (if applicable)
• Email address and mobile number

CUET Registration: Step-by-Step Process

Step 1: Visit the NTA Portal

1. Go to cuet.nta.nic.in
2. Click "Registration" or "Apply Online"

Step 2: Create Account

1. Click "New Registration"
2. Enter your name, date of birth, email, and mobile number
3. Create a password
4. Verify via OTP sent to your mobile and email
5. Note down your Application Number — you'll need it throughout

Step 3: Fill Application Form

1. Log in with your Application Number and password
2. Fill in personal details:
   • Name (as per Class 10 mark sheet)
   • Father's/Mother's name
   • Gender, nationality, category
   • Address and contact details
3. Fill in educational details:
   • Board of Class 12
   • Year of passing or expected year
   • Marks/percentage (if already passed)

Step 4: Select Universities and Programmes

1. Choose participating universities (up to the maximum allowed)
2. Select programmes you wish to apply for at each university
3. Ensure the subjects you choose in the next step match programme requirements

Step 5: Select Subjects and Languages

CUET has multiple sections:

• Choose subjects based on the requirements of your selected universities/programmes
• Maximum subjects: You can choose up to 6 subjects from Section II
• Language: Select at least one language from Section IA or IB

Step 6: Select Exam Centre Cities

1. Choose up to 4 exam centre cities in order of preference
2. NTA allocates centres based on availability

Step 7: Upload Documents

1. Upload passport-size photograph (JPG, 10-200 KB, white background)
2. Upload signature (JPG, 4-30 KB)
3. Upload category/PwD certificate (if applicable)

Step 8: Pay Application Fee

Note: Fee increases for additional subject combinations. Check the official notification for exact fee structure.

Payment modes: UPI, debit card, credit card, net banking, or e-challan.

Step 9: Submit and Print Confirmation

1. Review all details carefully before final submission
2. Click "Submit"
3. Download the confirmation page — print and keep for records
4. You will receive a confirmation SMS and email

CUET Exam Pattern

CUET (UG) Pattern

• Question type: MCQs (Multiple Choice Questions)
• Marking: +5 for correct, -1 for wrong, 0 for unattempted
• Medium: 13 languages including English, Hindi, and regional languages

Correction Window

NTA provides a correction window after the registration deadline:

1. Duration: Typically 2-3 days (dates announced by NTA)
2. What you can correct:
   • Personal details (name, date of birth, etc.)
   • Subject selection
   • University/programme selection
   • Exam centre city preferences
   • Uploaded photograph and signature
   • Category details
3. How to use:
   • Log in to cuet.nta.nic.in
   • Go to "Correction Window"
   • Make necessary changes
   • Pay additional fee if applicable (e.g., adding subjects)
   • Submit corrections

Important: No corrections are allowed after the correction window closes. Double-check all details during registration itself.

Important Dates (General Timeline)

Note: Exact dates are announced by NTA each year. Check cuet.nta.nic.in for current cycle dates.

Important Tips

1. Register early — don't wait for the last date, as the portal may slow down
2. Match subjects with university requirements — check each university's programme-specific subject requirements before selecting
3. Use the correction window wisely — this is your last chance to fix errors
4. Keep multiple printouts of your confirmation page and admit card
5. Choose exam centre cities strategically — pick cities where you can travel easily

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: Is CUET mandatory for all Central University admissions?

Yes, CUET scores are mandatory for admissions to all Central Universities for UG and PG programmes. Some state and private universities also accept CUET scores.

Q2: Can I change my subject selection after submitting the form?

Only during the correction window. After that, no changes are permitted.

Q3: How many universities can I apply to through CUET?

You can apply to multiple participating universities through a single CUET application. There is no fixed limit on the number of universities.

Q4: Is there any age limit for CUET?

NTA does not impose an age limit. However, individual universities may have age criteria for specific programmes.

Q5: Can I take CUET in my regional language?

Yes, CUET is offered in 13 languages including Hindi, English, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Bengali, Assamese, Odia, Punjabi, and Urdu.

Q6: What if I fail to download my admit card?

Contact the NTA helpline or visit nta.ac.in for support. You can also try downloading from your CUET login dashboard.

Q7: Is CUET score valid for one year only?

Yes, CUET scores are valid only for the admission cycle of that particular year. You need to retake CUET for the next year's admissions.

Disclaimer: This guide is published by CitizenNest for informational purposes only. We are not affiliated with NTA, UGC, or any Central University. Always verify details on the official CUET portal.