The NTA has advised all candidates to keep in mind that certain procedures — including biometric verification, security frisking, and attendance marking — will be carried out before the exam begins. To avoid any last-minute inconvenience, students are strongly recommended to arrive at the examination centre at the reporting time mentioned on their admit card.
CUET PG 2026 Exam Begins March 6: The National Testing Agency (NTA) has started conducting the Common University Entrance Test (CUET PG) 2026 from today, March 6. According to the official schedule, the postgraduate entrance examination will be held from March 6 to March 27 in computer-based mode at various designated centres across the country.
Ahead of the exam, NTA has released important guidelines for candidates. These instructions include details about the documents students must carry, reporting time at the exam centre, biometric verification procedures, and other important exam-day rules that candidates need to follow.
The agency has also advised students appearing for CUET PG to carefully check their admit cards in advance and confirm that all the details — including the exam date, shift timing, and exam centre location — are accurate to avoid any confusion on the day of the examination.
In the notice, the NTA stated:
“The National Testing Agency (NTA) is conducting the Common University Entrance Test, CUET (PG) 2026, from March 6 to March 27, 2026. Candidates are advised to download their admit cards in advance and make sure they are fully prepared to appear for the examination.
Students should carefully check the details mentioned on the admit card, including the exam date, shift timing, course, and the address of the allotted test centre, and plan accordingly for the day of the examination.”
The testing agency has advised candidates to carefully review all the details mentioned on their admit card, including the exam date, shift timing, test centre venue, reporting time, and gate closing time. Students are also encouraged to visit the exam centre location at least a day before the examination so that they can avoid any last-minute confusion or delays on the exam day.“Candidates are advised to verify the location of their test venue at least one day in advance to avoid any inconvenience on the day of the examination,”
The notice further stated that candidates belonging to the Persons with Disabilities (PwD/PwBD) category are strongly advised to visit their exam centre in advance. If they face any centre-related issues, they should immediately inform the NTA so that the matter can be addressed on time.
The agency also clarified that candidates who did not register using Aadhaar or selected any other method of identity verification must report to the examination centre earlier than the usual reporting time. Such candidates are required to reach the centre at least one hour before the gate closing time to complete the additional verification formalities.
In addition, the NTA has strictly warned candidates against using any unfair means during the examination. The agency stated that all exam centres will be monitored through live CCTV surveillance and are equipped with jammers to prevent malpractice. Any candidate found violating the rules may face strict disciplinary action, including being barred from appearing in future examinations.
CUET PG 2026: Important documents to carry
Candidates appearing for the examination must bring the following documents to the test centre:
Admit card downloaded from the official NTA website (preferably a clear colour printout on A4 paper).
Two passport-size photographs — one will be pasted on the attendance sheet at the exam centre.
One original valid photo ID proof issued by the government. Accepted IDs include:
–PAN card
–Driving licence
–Voter ID
–Passport
–Aadhaar card (with photograph)
–e-Aadhaar
–Ration card
–Aadhaar enrolment number with photo
The NTA has clearly mentioned that photocopies, scanned copies of ID cards stored on mobile phones, or attested copies will not be accepted for verification purposes.
Candidates whose Aadhaar authentication did not match during the application process should carry a valid original ID proof and arrive at the centre early to complete the verification process smoothly. The agency also advised students to make sure their Aadhaar biometric authentication is not locked on the exam day to avoid any entry-related problems.
CUET PG 2026: List of Prohibited Items
Electronic devices and personal belongings are not allowed inside the examination centre. Candidates must not carry mobile phones, smartwatches, calculators, earphones, or any other electronic gadgets. The NTA has clearly stated that the exam authorities will not be responsible for keeping or storing any personal items brought by candidates.
However, diabetic candidates are given special permission to carry certain eatables such as sugar tablets or fruits like bananas, apples, or oranges. They are also allowed to bring a transparent water bottle for drinking water during the exam.
Please note that packed or processed food items, including chocolates, biscuits, or sandwiches, are strictly not allowed inside the exam centre.
Other Key Instructions for Candidates
The NTA has advised candidates that several procedures will be completed before the exam begins, including biometric verification, security frisking, and attendance marking. To complete these formalities smoothly, students should make sure to arrive at the examination centre at the reporting time mentioned on their admit card.
The agency has also clearly stated that candidates who arrive after the gate closing time will not be allowed to enter the exam centre under any circumstances. Therefore, reaching the venue early is strongly recommended.
As CUET PG 2026 will be conducted in computer-based mode, candidates are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the online test interface in advance. Before starting the exam, students should also carefully check that the subject and exam medium displayed on the screen match the details mentioned on their admit card.