CUET-UG 2026: Exam to be held from May 11 to 31; exemptions granted for wearing specific items...

The CUET-UG 2026 examination will be conducted in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode from May 11 to May 31, 2026. This examination will be held across the country, as well as in 15 cities abroad. According to the National Testing Agency (NTA)—the body conducting the exam—candidates are permitted to arrive at the examination center wearing items associated with their religious beliefs. However, they must arrive at the center ahead of schedule to undergo frisking and security checks.

The NTA has clarified that wearing religious threads, such as the *Kalava* (sacred thread), will be permitted. Candidates have been advised to wear light-colored clothing, specifically white or pastel shades. Given the weather conditions, candidates may also wear woolen clothing to the examination center if necessary; however, arriving ahead of the scheduled time remains mandatory in such cases as well.

**1.5 Million Candidates Have Registered**
According to data released by the National Testing Agency (NTA), approximately 1.569 million candidates have registered for the examination scheduled to begin next week. As per NTA statistics, this represents a significant increase compared to previous years; for instance, 1.355 million candidates registered in 2025, and 1.348 million in 2024. Last year, 79 percent of those who registered for the computer-based examination actually appeared for the test.

**Registrations Exceed JEE Figures**
Based on these figures, the CUET-UG examination has attracted a higher number of registered candidates compared to the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main. In contrast, the January session of JEE (Main) recorded 1.355 million registrations, while the April session this year saw 1.111 million registrations.

Despite an increase of approximately 210,000 in the number of candidates compared to the previous year, the testing infrastructure has not expanded at a commensurate pace. According to NTA sources, the existing Computer-Based Testing (CBT) infrastructure is sufficient to accommodate approximately 150,000 candidates per shift.

**Why Were Centers Allotted in Different Cities?**

This disparity between the number of registrations and the per-shift capacity is the primary reason why some students have been allotted exam centers in cities other than their preferred choices or those located closer to them. To mitigate this issue, the NTA has opened a window for candidates, enabling them to submit a formal request to change their designated exam state or city.

The popularity of this examination is also evident from the number of participating institutions. While only 90 universities were involved in its inaugural year, 2022, this figure rose to 239 in 2025; this year—encompassing central, state, and private universities—the number is expected to reach 243 institutions.

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