NTA introduces changes in CUET-UG 2025 to offer greater flexibility for students

The application process for the Common University Entrance Test (CUET-UG) 2025 has begun, with the National Testing Agency (NTA) introducing several changes to the exam format this year.

CUET-UG serves as the entrance test for various undergraduate programs in central and participating universities across India.

The exam is scheduled to be held from May 8 to June 1. The application window opened on March 1 and will remain open until March 22, though officials have stated that the dates are tentative and a detailed exam schedule will be released later.

This year, CUET-UG will be conducted entirely in online mode, unlike the previous year when it included offline components. The exam will be available in 13 languages: English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu.

A significant change in the exam format is the reduction in the number of subjects students can choose. While last year students could select six subjects, this year they can opt for only five. Additionally, NTA has allowed students to choose any subject for their undergraduate studies, regardless of the stream they studied in Class 12.

The duration of the exam will be 60 minutes for all subjects. The test will primarily assess general aptitude, and the number of available subjects has been reduced from 63 to 37. Another key change is the removal of optional questions as students will now be required to attempt all questions in the paper.

CUET-UG was introduced in 2022 to standardize admission process across central, state, and select private universities in India.
It replaced multiple entrance exams format to provide a uniform assessment platform.

The exam assesses candidates on language skills, domain-specific subjects, and general aptitude, in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which aims to promote inclusivity and equal opportunities.

In 2024, around 13.47 lakh (1.347 million) candidates registered for CUET-UG, marking a slight decrease from 14.99 lakh (1.499 million) in 2023. The exam was conducted between May 15 and 29, introducing a hybrid format that allowed students to take the test in both online and offline modes.

Among the test takers, 7.17 lakh were male, 6.30 lakh were female, and seven identified as transgender, highlighting the exam’s broad reach and diversity.