Last updated on: February 27, 2026
Yuvika Rathi
College Student
The National Testing Agency (NTA) just released the CUET 2026 information brochure, and buried inside the official notifications is a seismic shift that's flying under the radar: NTA reduced the number of subjects from 63 to 37 fundaspring. That's a 41% reduction in available subjects — the single largest structural change to CUET since its inception.
But here's what makes this confusing: General Aptitude Test (GAT) scores will be used for the dropped subjects fundaspring. Translation? If your dream course at DU or BHU previously required a subject that's now deleted — like Entrepreneurship, Teaching Aptitude, or Legal Studies — you'll be evaluated using your GAT score instead. Nobody's explaining what this means for cut-offs or competitiveness.
The number of domain subjects has been reduced to 23 (from 27), meaning some subjects like Entrepreneurship, Home Science, etc., are removed IBEF. Performing Arts, Teaching Aptitude, and Legal Studies are also gone. For students who spent months preparing specialized content in these areas, this is a gut punch.
The rationale from NTA is "streamlining." But the practical effect is that thousands of students now face a narrower pathway into niche programs, with admissions defaulting to the General Test — a broader, less specialized assessment that may not accurately reflect domain readiness.
Even more significant than deletions are the revisions. 15 out of 37 subjects have seen changes in the CUET UG 2026 syllabus Avanse, including core subjects like Accountancy, Business Studies, Computer Science, Economics, Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics, and Biology.
Chemistry generally shows the most significant difference between the CUET UG 2026 Syllabus and the rationalized Class 12 board syllabus. For CUET UG 2026, the NTA has kept the Chemistry Syllabus with a detailed 16-unit structure. Here's the catch: six chapters which have been removed from the CBSE curriculum are quite integral to the CUET assessment Karangupta.
Students relying solely on their CBSE board exam preparation are walking into a trap. CUET Chemistry now tests content that's not even in the rationalized NCERT curriculum anymore.
Students appearing for the CUET 2026 exam can choose up to 5 subjects— down from previous years' flexibility. The exam structure remains three sections, but the emphasis has shifted. Each section will consist of 50 questions. The total duration of the CUET 2026 exam is 180 minutes (3 hours) fundaspring.
Critically, students must answer all the 50 questions in 60 minutes per section. That's 1.2 minutes per question with zero room for extended deliberation. Speed is now as important as accuracy.
Most students are treating CUET 2026 prep like CUET 2025 with minor tweaks. That's a mistake. The CUET 2026 journey is not about fear. It is about learning, understanding and growing step by step— but it's also about recognizing that the goalposts moved.
If you're preparing Chemistry, Physics, or Biology, don't assume your school syllabus covers CUET requirements. If your target program previously required a now-deleted subject, find out immediately how GAT scoring will be weighted. If you registered before January 2026 assuming the old subject list, verify your selections align with the new framework.
CUET 2026 isn't just an updated version of last year's exam — it's a fundamentally restructured assessment with 41% fewer subjects, 15 revised syllabuses, and a faster testing format. Students who adapt early will have an advantage. Those who assume continuity will be caught off-guard in May.