CUET-UG 2027 may shrink to a one-day exam: 4 subjects, 200-minute papers on the table

By TUF News Desk · Published 16 October 2026 · 3 min read

Fact-checked against 2+ independent sources · Editorial policy

A student taking five subjects in CUET-UG 2027 could finish the entire entrance exam in about three hours, on a single day. That is the direction the National Testing Agency is heading, with the Ministry of Education and the UGC weighing a revamp of the undergraduate entrance test.

Three changes are under discussion. Individual papers could get shorter, so even five-subject candidates finish within roughly 180 to 200 minutes. The maximum number of subjects may drop from five to four. And subjects that students commonly take together could be grouped into the same exam window, cutting the repeated centre visits the current cycle demands.

Today, candidates can appear for up to five subjects, with each paper running 60 minutes. The exam cycle stretches across multiple days. For outstation candidates that means travel, accommodation and missed school or college days, sometimes for papers that last an hour each.

The Ministry of Education, the UGC and the NTA are working through the proposals together. Officials are looking at ways to compress the schedule without changing the subject requirements universities use for admission. A final decision will follow consultations with universities and the testing agency.

What students were told

Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar, who chairs the review committee for NEP 2020 and earlier led the UGC and Jawaharlal Nehru University, told The Hindu the overhaul is part of CUET-UG’s continued improvement. Changes for 2027 may be considered, he said, but “only after giving sufficient time for students to prepare.”

What this means for 2027 aspirants

That promise of preparation time is the most important line in this story. Class 12 students planning for 2027 do not need to change their subject choices yet, but they should watch the official announcements. Any pattern change would affect every university that admits undergraduates through CUET-UG, including the University of Delhi, where admission runs on CUET scores through the CSAS portal.

For now, the safest plan is to prepare for the current format: up to five subjects, 60 minutes each. If the single-day format arrives, shorter papers will reward speed and accuracy over endurance. Students still shortlisting colleges can use our guide on how to choose a university in India to weigh fees, location and courses before the application season begins.

Track the NTA website and the UGC website for the final notification. The information bulletin and exam calendar, when released, will carry the confirmed pattern, dates and syllabus.

Frequently asked questions

Is the CUET-UG 2027 pattern change confirmed?

No. Fewer subjects, shorter papers and a single-day schedule are proposals under discussion between the education ministry, UGC and NTA. A final decision will follow consultations with universities.

How many subjects can candidates take in CUET-UG right now?

Up to five subjects, with each paper running 60 minutes. One proposal would reduce the maximum to four subjects.

What would the single-day CUET-UG format look like?

Shorter individual papers so even five-subject candidates finish in about 180 to 200 minutes, with commonly paired subjects grouped into the same exam window.

Where will the final CUET-UG 2027 pattern be announced?

On the NTA website at nta.ac.in, through the official information bulletin and exam calendar. Students should rely on official announcements rather than third-party summaries.

Frequently asked questions

Sources: The Hindu, Times Now, News18