11 May 2026: CUET 2026 subject-wise question papers available. Download Here
CUET Biology Syllabus 2026: Unit-Wise Topics, Chapter Weightage, Recommended Resources
Content Strategist | Updated On - Jun 11, 2026
What's New in CUET 2026?
CUET Biology Syllabus 2026 spans 5 units and 13 chapters, drawn entirely from the Class 12 NCERT Biology curriculum. The JEE Main question paper carries 250 marks and 50 compulsory MCQs. The marking scheme for CUET includes +5 for a correct answer and -1 for a wrong answer.
-
CUET Biology 2026 is a 60-minute CBT paper with no optional questions; all 50 must be attempted.
- Genetics and Evolution, combined with Reproduction, account for roughly 25-30 questions, more than half the CUET Biology paper.
- NTA officially excluded topics from the Ecology unit: major abiotic factors, adaptations, and ecological succession are no longer part of the CUET 2026 syllabus
- The biotechnology unit is concise, but high-scoring direct NCERT lines appear as MCQs with minimal analytical demand.
Related Articles:
- CUET 2026 Syllabus: Subject-Wise PDF Download
- CUET UG 2026 Exam Pattern Changes Explained: All 50 Questions Now Compulsory + Marking Scheme
Key Summary:
|
|---|
Table of Contents
- CUET Biology Syllabus 2026: Unit I- Reproduction
- CUET Biology Syllabus 2026: Unit II- Genetics and Evolution
- CUET Biology Syllabus 2026: Unit III- Biology and Human Welfare
- CUET Biology Syllabus 2026: Unit IV- Biotechnology and Its Applications
- CUET Biology Syllabus 2026: Unit V- Ecology and Environment
- CUET Biology 2026 Chapter-Wise Weightage: All Units at a Glance
- CUET Biology 2026 Syllabus Changes: What is Excluded
- CUET Biology 2026: Recommended Books and Resources
- CUET Biology Syllabus 2026 FAQs
CUET Biology Syllabus 2026: Unit I- Reproduction
Reproduction is consistently the highest-weightage unit. Expect 15-18 questions spread across the three chapters. Diagram-based questions on gametogenesis, double fertilisation, and embryo development are standard.
| Chapter | Topics Covered | Expected Questions | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sexual Reproduction in Flowering Plants | Flower structure; development of male and female gametophytes; pollination types and agents; outbreeding devices; pollen-pistil interaction; double fertilization; post-fertilisation events (endosperm, embryo, seed, fruit); apomixis, parthenocarpy, polyembryony | 5-6 | Must-Cover |
| Human Reproduction | Male and female reproductive systems; testis and ovary anatomy; spermatogenesis and oogenesis; menstrual cycle; fertilisation and embryo development up to blastocyst; implantation, pregnancy, placenta, parturition, lactation | 5-6 | Must-Cover |
| Reproductive Health | Importance of reproductive health; STD prevention; contraception methods; Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP); amniocentesis; infertility; ARTs — IVF, ZIFT, GIFT | 4-5 | High |
CUET Biology Syllabus 2026: Unit II- Genetics and Evolution
Genetics and Evolution is the most concept-heavy unit. Mendelian problems, pedigree analysis, and DNA structure diagrams are common question formats. Hardy-Weinberg principle has appeared in multiple years.
| Chapter | Topics Covered | Expected Questions | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Principles of Inheritance and Variation | Mendelian inheritance; incomplete dominance, co-dominance, multiple alleles, blood groups; pleiotropy, polygenic inheritance; chromosome theory; sex determination (humans, birds, honeybee); linkage and crossing over; sex-linked inheritance (haemophilia, colour blindness); Mendelian disorders (thalassemia); chromosomal disorders (Down's, Turner's, Klinefelter's) | 4-5 | Must-Cover |
| Molecular Basis of Inheritance | Genetic material — DNA structure and function; DNA packaging and replication; RNA types; transcription; genetic code and translation; gene regulation (lac operon); Human Genome Project; DNA fingerprinting | 3-4 | Must-Cover |
| Evolution | Origin of life; evidence for evolution (palaeontological, comparative anatomy, embryology, molecular); Darwin's contribution; modern synthetic theory; mechanisms — mutation, recombination, natural selection (types); gene flow, genetic drift; Hardy-Weinberg principle; adaptive radiation; human evolution | 3-4 | High |
CUET Biology Syllabus 2026: Unit III- Biology and Human Welfare
This unit is factual and direct. Diseases, their pathogens, and the role of microbes are standard memory-based MCQs. Most questions here are answerable with NCERT tables and lists.
| Chapter | Topics Covered | Expected Questions | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Human Health and Disease | Pathogens causing diseases (malaria, filariasis, ascariasis, typhoid, pneumonia, common cold, amoebiasis, ringworm); basic immunology and vaccines; cancer; HIV and AIDS; adolescence, drug and alcohol abuse | 4-5 | High |
| Microbes in Human Welfare | Role in household food processing and industrial production; sewage treatment and energy generation; biocontrol agents; biofertilizers; antibiotics — production and safe use | 3-4 | High |
Read More:
CUET Biology Syllabus 2026: Unit IV- Biotechnology and Its Applications
Biotechnology is the smallest unit but one of the easiest to score in. The questions are direct, mostly recall-based, and NCERT lines appear almost verbatim. Ethical issues around GMOs and biopiracy received increased emphasis in the 2026 syllabus update.
| Chapter | Topics Covered | Expected Questions | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biotechnology: Principles and Processes | Genetic engineering basics; recombinant DNA technology; tools — restriction enzymes, plasmid vectors; PCR; gel electrophoresis | 3-4 | High |
| Biotechnology and Its Applications | Applications in health and agriculture; human insulin production; vaccines; stem cell technology; gene therapy; GMOs and Bt crops; transgenic animals; biosafety issues; biopiracy and patent controversies | 3-4 | High |
CUET Biology Syllabus 2026: Unit V- Ecology and Environment
NTA trimmed this unit. Abiotic factors, adaptations, and ecological succession are officially excluded from the 2026 syllabus. What remains include population interactions, energy flow, pyramids, and biodiversity conservation — is scoring and often appears in assertion-reason or case-based formats.
| Chapter | Topics Covered | Expected Questions | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Organisms and Populations | Population interactions (mutualism, predation, parasitism, commensalism, competition); population attributes — growth, birth rate, death rate, age distribution. Excluded: major abiotic factors, responses to abiotic factors, adaptations | 3-4 | High |
| Ecosystem | Components and patterns; productivity and decomposition; energy flow; ecological pyramids (number, biomass, energy). Excluded: ecological succession, nutrient cycles | 3-4 | High |
| Biodiversity and Conservation | Concept, types, importance of biodiversity; biodiversity loss; conservation methods (in-situ, ex-situ); endangered species; extinction; hot spots; Red Data Book; sacred groves; biosphere reserves; national parks; Ramsar sites | 3-4 | High |
CUET Biology 2026 Chapter-Wise Weightage: All Units at a Glance
| Unit | Chapter | Expected Questions | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unit I: Reproduction | Sexual Reproduction in Flowering Plants | 5-6 | Must-Cover |
| Unit I: Reproduction | Human Reproduction | 5-6 | Must-Cover |
| Unit I: Reproduction | Reproductive Health | 4-5 | Must-Cover |
| Unit I Total | 15-18 | Highest Weightage | |
| Unit II: Genetics and Evolution | Principles of Inheritance and Variation | 4-5 | Must-Cover |
| Unit II: Genetics and Evolution | Molecular Basis of Inheritance | 3-4 | Must-Cover |
| Unit II: Genetics and Evolution | Evolution | 3-4 | High |
| Unit II Total | 10-13 | Core Conceptual | |
| Unit III: Biology and Human Welfare | Human Health and Disease | 4-5 | High |
| Unit III: Biology and Human Welfare | Microbes in Human Welfare | 3-4 | High |
| Unit III Total | 7-9 | Factual and Direct | |
| Unit IV: Biotechnology | Principles and Processes | 3-4 | High |
| Unit IV: Biotechnology | Applications | 3-4 | High |
| Unit IV Total | 6-8 | Easy Scoring if NCERT is clear | |
| Unit V: Ecology | Organisms and Populations | 3-4 | High |
| Unit V: Ecology | Ecosystem | 3-4 | High |
| Unit V: Ecology | Biodiversity and Conservation | 3-4 | High |
| Unit V Total | 9-12 | Trimmed — score from what remains |
CUET Biology 2026 Syllabus Changes: What is Excluded
NTA made specific exclusions for the 2026 Biology syllabus. Preparing these removed topics wastes time. The table below lists every confirmed exclusion.
| Unit | Chapter | Excluded Topics |
|---|---|---|
| Unit V | Organisms and Populations | Organism and its environment; major abiotic factors; responses to abiotic factors; adaptations |
| Unit V | Ecosystem | Ecological succession; nutrient cycling (carbon and phosphorus cycles) |
| Unit II | Evolution | No topic exclusions confirmed |
| Unit IV | Biotechnology | No topic exclusions confirmed |
Most exclusions are concentrated in Unit V. For all other units, the NCERT Class 12 chapters remain intact and testable in full.
CUET Biology 2026: Recommended Books and Resources
NCERT is the primary and sufficient resource for CUET Biology. The question paper is designed around NCERT text, diagrams, and tables. Additional references help only for analytical question types.
| Resource Type | Title / Source | Best Used For |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Textbook | NCERT Class 12 Biology (Part I and II) | All units — main preparation source |
| Diagram Practice | NCERT Class 12 Biology diagrams (in-book) | Reproduction, Genetics, Ecosystem units |
| Previous Year Papers | CUET Biology 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 | Pattern recognition and accuracy practice |
| Mock Tests | NTA Official Sample Papers at cuet.nta.nic.in | Speed building for 60-minute format |
| Supplementary Reference | Trueman's Biology (Class 12) | Analytical questions in Genetics and Biotechnology |
Also Check:
CUET Biology Syllabus 2026 FAQs
Ques. How many units are there in CUET Biology Syllabus 2026?
Ans. CUET Biology Syllabus 2026 comprises 5 units and 13 chapters. The units include reproduction, genetics and evolution, biology and human welfare, biotechnology and applications, and ecology and environment, all based on NCERT Class 12th Biology.
Ques. Has NTA made any changes to CUET Biology Syllabus 2026?
Ans. Yes, NTA has made changes to CUET Biology Syllabus 2026. NTA has removed certain topics from Ecology for CUET Biology 2026. The removed topics include major abiotic factors, responses to abiotic factors, adaptations, ecological succession, and nutrient cycling. Another important change is that all 50 questions will be compulsory, and no choice will be given to attempt only 40 out of 50.
Ques. Is NCERT Class 12 Biology enough to score well in CUET Biology 2026?
Ans. Yes, NCERT Class 12th Biology is more than enough for CUET Biology 2026. In CUET Biology, most questions come from NCERT. However, in one topic, i.e., the analytical part of Genetics, it is suggested to study other books apart from NCERT. In this case, referring to Trueman's Biology is suggested.
Ques. Which unit carries the highest weightage in CUET Biology 2026?
Ans. The highest weightage can be expected from Unit I, which consists of 15-18 questions. This unit includes Reproduction. In this unit, Human Reproduction and Sexual Reproduction in Flowering Plants carry maximum weightage.
*The article might have information for the previous academic years, please refer the official website of the exam.
Ask your question
Answered Questions
a
M
Normalised score or normalization of score in CUET refers to a technique to compare applicant scores uniformly across test sessions. This process is necessary to keep CUET(conducted over multiple days and sessions with various sets of questions) fair to all test-takers.
For this purpose, CUET scores are given in percentiles rather than raw scores. A percentile score of 95, for instance, means that 95% of the applicants performed at a level that was lower or equal to that of the candidate.
Also note that CUET UG Retest 2024 was held on July 19, for the candidates who have been affected by the CBT mode issue and lodged a complaint within July 9. You can expect that the final percentiles and results will be normalised to ensure fairness.
...Show More
a
S
Parth, Student at Christ University
Yes, Christ University accepts CUET scores for UG admission into all its campuses in India. The eligibility criteria for CUET UG is that the candidates must pass their 12th in any stream from a recognized board in India or Abroad. The CUET 2024 exam was conducted by NTA from May 15 to May 24 2024, in hybrid mode.
...Show More
a
BP
Priya, student at Fergusson College
No, Fergusson College does not accept CUET scores for admissions. Fergusson College offers various UG, PG, and Doctoral courses in Arts and Science streams like- BA, BSc, BVoc, MA, MSc, and PhD.
The Fergusson College UG admission 2024 was based on merit, and it was completely online. The UG admission 2024 in Fergusson College was based on the academic scores of candidates in class 12th.
Candidates who are willing to take admission must apply online through the official website of Fergusson College. PG admission in Fergusson is based on the results of the entrance test conducted by the college.
Here are the important dates for admission 2024 to various UG courses at Fergusson College-
| Particulars | Important Dates (Admissions Closed) |
|---|---|
| Availability of Online Application Form | May 21, 2024 |
| Last day of Filling Application Form | May 30, 2024 |
| Display of Provisional Merit List | June 1, 2024 |
| Display of Final Merit List | June 4, 2024 |
| Admission dates for Arts subjects | June 7 - June 8, 2024 |
| Admission dates for Science & B.Voc subjects | June 7, 2024 |
*The 2024 UG admissions at Fergusson College have already closed.
The UG admissions 2024 are already closed, but I hope this answer will give you a basic idea of the general UG admission dates and requirements at Fergusson College.
...Show More
a
SS
Dhruv, student at DU
Candidates must check the CUET UG courses list, which is available in PDF form at https://exams.nta.ac.in/CUET-UG/images/public-notice-for-cuet-ug-2024.pdf before applying for this exam. Candidates should also check the CUET eligibility criteria according to each course. After deciding upon their desired course, the candidates can practice for the CUET exam accordingly. The CUET 2024 exam was conducted for various UG courses in Humanities, Science, Engineering, and Commerce.
The CUET 2024 course list is given below:
| Arts | Science & Technology | Commerce | Others |
|---|---|---|---|
| B.A. in Humanities & Social Sciences | BSc in Physics/ Chemistry/ Maths/ Biology | BCom (Honors) | BBA LLB |
| B.A. in Arts (Fine/ Visual/ Performing) | BCA in Computer Science and Technology | BCom (General) | BHM in Hospitality & Travel |
| Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) | BTech CSE/ Mechanical/ Electrical/ Civil | BCom Business Administration. | BCA (IT and Software) |
| BA LLB | BE in ECE/ Electrical/ Mechanical/ Electronics Engineering | BCom Accounting and Taxation/ Statistics/ Management Accounting | BSc in Hospitality & Travel |
| BA in Hospitality & Travel | BCom in International Finance/ Accounting/ Applied Economics/ Banking & Finance | Diploma in Education (DEd) | |
| BA in Animation | BCom Marketing | BDes in Animation | |
| BCom Tourism & Travel Management | BDes in Design | ||
| BSc in Design | |||
| Bachelor of Journalism & Mass Communication (BJMC) | |||
| Bachelor of Journalism (BJ) | |||
| Bachelor of Mass Media (BMM) | |||
| BBA/BMS |
...Show More
a
SC
Bhawna, student at University of Delhi
You can check the CUET cutoff on the official website of each participating college. After the declaration of the CUET result (which was declared on 30th June 2024 for this session), the participating colleges also released their respective CUET cutoff lists online.
The cutoffs of the participating colleges are based on the performance of the students and various other factors. So, you must check the cutoff list 2024 of the participating colleges online. After doing so, you will know the colleges to which you can seek admission.
...Show More
Upcoming exams
top courses
Netaji Subhas University of Technology - [NSUT]
New Delhi, Delhi NCRDelhi Technological University - [DTU]
New Delhi, Delhi NCRIIT Patna - Indian Institute of Technology - [IITP]
Patna, BiharThapar Institute of Engineering and Technology - [Thapar University]
Patiala, PunjabHarcourt Butler Technological University - [HBTU]
Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh
