CUET UG topper's 4 perfect scores raise a larger question: How are students compared?
The NTA has declared the CUET UG 2026 results, with Devina Gehlot securing AIR 1. The scores will now be used by more than 280 universities for undergraduate admissions. But how are students compared?
CUET UG 2026 results are out, opening the next stage of admissions for undergraduate courses across more than 280 central and other participating universities/institutions/Organisations for the Academic session 2026-2027.
This year, over 11 lakh students appeared for the entrance examination, which remains one of the biggest gateways to higher education in the country.
Among them, Devina Gehlot secured All India Rank (AIR) 1. She is the daughter of BJP MLA and former Delhi minister Kailash Gehlot.
According to details released by the National Testing Agency (NTA), only one candidate scored the 100 percentile in four out of the five subjects.
The NTA also shared a broader picture of the top scores this year. As many as 22 candidates scored 100 percentile in three subjects, 180 candidates secured 100 percentile in two subjects, and 3,214 candidates scored 100 percentile in one subject.
A similar pattern was visible last year as well: in CUET UG 2025, 2,679 candidates got 100 percentile in one subject, 150 in two subjects, 17 in three subjects, and one candidate in four subjects.
In CUET UG 2022, scoring 100 percentile in multiple subjects was not uncommon at the very top end of the exam.
According to the NTA, 12 candidates secured 100 percentile in five subjects, while 104 candidates scored 100 percentile in four subjects.
The result also revives a question that has followed CUET since its launch: can there really be an “AIR 1” in an exam where students do not write the same papers?
Unlike JEE, NEET or CAT, CUET allows candidates to choose different subject combinations based on their Class 12 background and university requirements.
As a result, a science student may appear for Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Biology, while another candidate may take subjects such as Business Studies, History, Political Science, Geography or Hindi.
Since candidates are not competing through a single common paper, the idea of a national topper in CUET is not as straightforward as it is in other entrance examinations.
The CUET UG exam helps students secure admission to central and other participating universities, but it does not guarantee a seat in the college of their choice. That ultimately depends on the cut-offs for the subjects they have opted for.
In that sense, ranks in CUET become less important. Yet, questions around ranking in the exam have persisted for a long time, after all, in India, a rank is still seen as a rank.
CUET UG EXAM 2026: TECHNICAL GLITCHES, NEW DATES AND RESCHEDULING
The examination was conducted in computer-based mode, with candidates allowed to choose up to five subjects depending on the admission requirements of their preferred colleges and universities.
Originally, a part of the examination scheduled in the last week of May had to be cancelled amid technical glitches.
The affected exams were later rescheduled for the first week of June.
Overall, the CUET UG 2026 examination was held between May 13 and May 31, and again on June 6 and June 7.
In all, 15,68,867 candidates registered for CUET UG 2026, out of which 11,64,098 candidates appeared for the examination.
Among female candidates, 7,74,607 had registered and 5,85,596 appeared. Among male candidates, 7,94,257 had registered and 5,78,500 appeared. Of the three registered third-gender candidates, two appeared for the exam.
The NTA also said that out of 5,033 registered Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD)/Persons with Disabilities candidates, 3,894 appeared for the test.
The agency noted that CUET UG 2026 saw a rise in participation this year.
According to the NTA, the total number of registered candidates increased by over 15 per cent, while the number of female candidates registered saw a rise of around 20 per cent.
A total of 67,859 EWS candidates, 4,98,652 General candidates, 4,01,471 OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) candidates, 1,28,871 SC candidates and 67,245 ST candidates appeared for the test. Most candidates took the examination in English, followed by Hindi.
The NTA said the results had been prepared on the basis of final answer keys vetted by subject experts. It added that the scores would now be shared with participating universities, which will use them for admissions to undergraduate programmes.
CUET UG 2026 results are out, opening the next stage of admissions for undergraduate courses across more than 280 central and other participating universities/institutions/Organisations for the Academic session 2026-2027.
This year, over 11 lakh students appeared for the entrance examination, which remains one of the biggest gateways to higher education in the country.
Among them, Devina Gehlot secured All India Rank (AIR) 1. She is the daughter of BJP MLA and former Delhi minister Kailash Gehlot.
According to details released by the National Testing Agency (NTA), only one candidate scored the 100 percentile in four out of the five subjects.
The NTA also shared a broader picture of the top scores this year. As many as 22 candidates scored 100 percentile in three subjects, 180 candidates secured 100 percentile in two subjects, and 3,214 candidates scored 100 percentile in one subject.
A similar pattern was visible last year as well: in CUET UG 2025, 2,679 candidates got 100 percentile in one subject, 150 in two subjects, 17 in three subjects, and one candidate in four subjects.
In CUET UG 2022, scoring 100 percentile in multiple subjects was not uncommon at the very top end of the exam.
According to the NTA, 12 candidates secured 100 percentile in five subjects, while 104 candidates scored 100 percentile in four subjects.
The result also revives a question that has followed CUET since its launch: can there really be an “AIR 1” in an exam where students do not write the same papers?
Unlike JEE, NEET or CAT, CUET allows candidates to choose different subject combinations based on their Class 12 background and university requirements.
As a result, a science student may appear for Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Biology, while another candidate may take subjects such as Business Studies, History, Political Science, Geography or Hindi.
Since candidates are not competing through a single common paper, the idea of a national topper in CUET is not as straightforward as it is in other entrance examinations.
The CUET UG exam helps students secure admission to central and other participating universities, but it does not guarantee a seat in the college of their choice. That ultimately depends on the cut-offs for the subjects they have opted for.
In that sense, ranks in CUET become less important. Yet, questions around ranking in the exam have persisted for a long time, after all, in India, a rank is still seen as a rank.
CUET UG EXAM 2026: TECHNICAL GLITCHES, NEW DATES AND RESCHEDULING
The examination was conducted in computer-based mode, with candidates allowed to choose up to five subjects depending on the admission requirements of their preferred colleges and universities.
Originally, a part of the examination scheduled in the last week of May had to be cancelled amid technical glitches.
The affected exams were later rescheduled for the first week of June.
Overall, the CUET UG 2026 examination was held between May 13 and May 31, and again on June 6 and June 7.
In all, 15,68,867 candidates registered for CUET UG 2026, out of which 11,64,098 candidates appeared for the examination.
Among female candidates, 7,74,607 had registered and 5,85,596 appeared. Among male candidates, 7,94,257 had registered and 5,78,500 appeared. Of the three registered third-gender candidates, two appeared for the exam.
The NTA also said that out of 5,033 registered Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD)/Persons with Disabilities candidates, 3,894 appeared for the test.
The agency noted that CUET UG 2026 saw a rise in participation this year.
According to the NTA, the total number of registered candidates increased by over 15 per cent, while the number of female candidates registered saw a rise of around 20 per cent.
A total of 67,859 EWS candidates, 4,98,652 General candidates, 4,01,471 OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) candidates, 1,28,871 SC candidates and 67,245 ST candidates appeared for the test. Most candidates took the examination in English, followed by Hindi.
The NTA said the results had been prepared on the basis of final answer keys vetted by subject experts. It added that the scores would now be shared with participating universities, which will use them for admissions to undergraduate programmes.
