India Opens Undergraduate Entrance Exam Applications, Setting the Pace for 2026 Admissions Season

India on Sunday opened applications for its national undergraduate entrance examination, formally launching the annual competition for university seats and reinforcing the country’s shift toward centralized admissions.

The National Testing Agency began registrations for the Common University Entrance Test for Undergraduates, or CUET-UG, which has become the primary gateway for admission to a growing number of public universities. The examinations are scheduled to begin in mid-May.

Introduced to standardize admissions across India’s fragmented school board system, CUET has steadily reduced the influence of board exam scores while elevating the role of a single nationwide test. Government officials argue the framework improves comparability and access. Critics say it concentrates pressure on one exam and intensifies stress for students in an already high-stakes system.

For universities, the test offers a uniform benchmark across applicants from different regions and curricula. For families, it marks the start of another admissions cycle shaped by coaching centers, compressed timelines, and centralized oversight under the National Testing Agency.