11 May 2026: CUET 2026 subject-wise question papers available. Download Here
CUET Physics Syllabus 2026: Check Topics, Chapter Wise Weightage, Books and Preparation Strategy
Content Writer | Updated On - Jun 11, 2026
What's New in CUET 2026?
The CUET Physics 2026 syllabus covers 9 units taken entirely from the Class 12 NCERT curriculum. Chapters included in CUET Physics syllabus are Electrostatics, Current Electricity, Optics, Electromagnetic Induction, Magnetism, Atoms and Nuclei, Dual Nature of Radiation, Electromagnetic Waves, and Electronic Devices
Units like Electrostatics and Current Electricity carry the highest question frequency, with numericals from both appearing in every CUET Physics paper.
- Electrostatics, Current Electricity, and Optics are the three highest-weightage units together expected to contribute 15-18 questions out of 50 in CUET.
- Class 11 topics Kinematics, Laws of Motion, Thermodynamics, and Gravitation are not part of the 2026 official syllabus.
- Optics is one of the most question-dense units, with both ray optics and wave optics tested regularly in CUET.
- Electronic Devices has the narrowest scope in the paper, limited to p-n junction diode characteristics and rectifier applications only.
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CUET Physics 2026 Syllabus
NTA has structured the Physics syllabus into 9 units for 2026. Each unit maps directly to Class 12 NCERT chapters. The unit-wise breakdown is given below.
CUET Physics Syllabus 2026-Unit 1: Electrostatics
| Topic | Sub-Topics Covered |
|---|---|
| Electric Charges and Fields | Conservation of charge, Coulomb's law, superposition principle, continuous charge distribution, electric dipole, electric field lines, torque on dipole |
| Electric Potential | Potential difference, potential due to point charge, dipole and system of charges, equipotential surfaces, potential energy of two-point charges and dipole |
| Gauss's Theorem | Electric flux, Gauss's theorem and applications — infinitely long wire, infinite plane sheet, uniformly charged thin spherical shell |
| Capacitance | Conductors and insulators, dielectrics and electric polarisation, capacitors in series and parallel, parallel plate capacitor with and without dielectric, energy stored |
This is consistently the highest-weightage unit in CUET Physics. Numericals on electric field, capacitance, and Coulomb's law appear in almost every paper.
CUET Physics Syllabus 2026-Unit 2: Current Electricity
| Topic | Sub-Topics Covered |
|---|---|
| Electric Current | Flow of charges, drift velocity, mobility, relation with current |
| Ohm's Law | V-I characteristics (linear and non-linear), electrical energy and power |
| Resistance | Electrical resistivity and conductivity, temperature dependence of resistance |
| Cell and Circuits | Internal resistance, EMF, potential difference, combination of cells in series and parallel |
| Circuit Analysis | Kirchhoff's rules, Wheatstone bridge |
Note that the Potentiometer and Meter Bridge detailed applications are not explicitly listed in the 2026 official syllabus PDF. Focus on Kirchhoff's laws and Wheatstone bridge — these are tested directly.
CUET Physics Syllabus 2026 Unit 3: Magnetic Effects of Current and Magnetism
| Topic | Sub-Topics Covered |
|---|---|
| Magnetic Field Concept | Oersted's experiment, Biot-Savart law, application to current-carrying circular loop |
| Ampere's Law | Application to infinitely long straight wire, solenoid |
| Force on Charges and Conductors | Force on moving charge in magnetic and electric fields, force on current-carrying conductor, force between two parallel conductors, definition of ampere |
| Current Loop | Current loop as magnetic dipole, magnetic dipole moment, torque on current loop |
| Galvanometer | Moving coil galvanometer, current sensitivity, conversion to ammeter and voltmeter |
| Bar Magnet | Bar magnet as equivalent solenoid, magnetic field lines, dipole field along axis and perpendicular axis, torque on magnetic dipole |
| Magnetic Properties | Para-, dia-, and ferromagnetic substances, magnetisation of materials, temperature effect on magnetic properties |
The Cyclotron has been removed from this unit in 2026. Do not prepare it.
CUET Physics Syllabus 2026 Unit 4: Electromagnetic Induction and Alternating Currents
| Topic | Sub-Topics Covered |
|---|---|
| Electromagnetic Induction | Faraday's laws, induced EMF and current, Lenz's Law |
| Self and Mutual Induction | Definitions and applications |
| Alternating Currents | Peak and RMS values, reactance and impedance |
| LCR Circuit | Series LCR circuit, phasors, resonance, power in AC circuits, power factor, wattless current |
| Devices | AC generator, Transformer |
LCR circuits and the transformer are among the most tested topics from this unit. Phasor diagrams are frequently used in MCQ options — practice drawing them.
CUET Physics Syllabus 2026 Unit 5: Electromagnetic Waves
| Topic | Sub-Topics Covered |
|---|---|
| Displacement Current | Concept and significance |
| EM Waves | Characteristics, transverse nature |
| EM Spectrum | Radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visible, ultraviolet, X-rays, gamma rays — elementary facts and uses |
This is the shortest unit in the syllabus. Most questions here are direct and factual — ideal for quick marks. Memorise the spectrum order and applications of each type.
CUET Physics Syllabus 2026 Unit 6: Optics
| Topic | Sub-Topics Covered |
|---|---|
| Ray Optics | Reflection, spherical mirrors, mirror formula, refraction, total internal reflection, optical fibres, refraction at spherical surfaces, lenses, thin lens formula, lens maker's formula, magnification, power of lens, combination of lenses, dispersion through prism |
| Optical Instruments | Microscopes and astronomical telescopes (reflecting and refracting), magnifying powers |
| Wave Optics | Wavefront, Huygens' principle, reflection and refraction of plane waves |
| Interference | Coherent sources, Young's double slit experiment, expression for fringe width |
| Diffraction | Single slit diffraction, width of central maxima |
Optics is one of the most question-dense units in CUET Physics. Ray optics alone can contribute 3-4 questions. The lens formula, mirror formula, and fringe width formula must be at the tip of the fingers.
CUET Physics Syllabus 2026 Unit 7: Dual Nature of Matter and Radiation
| Topic | Sub-Topics Covered |
|---|---|
| Photoelectric Effect | Hertz and Lenard's observations, Einstein's photoelectric equation, particle nature of light, experimental study of photoelectric effect |
| Matter Waves | Wave nature of particles, de Broglie relation |
The Davisson-Germer experiment has been removed from the 2026 syllabus. Questions on this unit will focus entirely on the photoelectric effect and de Broglie hypothesis. That is a narrow but high-yield scope — prepare it thoroughly.
CUET Physics Syllabus 2026 Unit 8: Atoms and Nuclei
| Topic | Sub-Topics Covered |
|---|---|
| Atomic Models | Alpha-particle scattering experiment, Rutherford's model, Bohr model of hydrogen atom |
| Bohr Model | Expression for radius, velocity and energy of electron in orbit, hydrogen line spectra (qualitative) |
| Nuclear Structure | Composition and size of nucleus, atomic number, atomic mass number, isotopes, isobars, isotones |
| Nuclear Forces and Energy | Nuclear force, mass-energy relation, mass defect, binding energy per nucleon, variation with mass number |
| Nuclear Reactions | Nuclear fission, nuclear fusion |
Binding energy per nucleon graph is a frequently tested concept. Know it visually. Questions on mass defect and nuclear reactions are standard numericals.
CUET Physics Syllabus 2026 Unit 9: Electronic Devices
| Topic | Sub-Topics Covered |
|---|---|
| Energy Bands | Conductors, semiconductors, and insulators — qualitative ideas only |
| Semiconductors | Intrinsic and extrinsic, p-type and n-type |
| p-n Junction Diode | I-V characteristics in forward and reverse bias |
| Diode Application | Diode as a rectifier |
The scope here is deliberately narrow for 2026. Transistor amplifier configurations and detailed transistor characteristics have been removed. Focus only on what is listed above — this unit rewards specific preparation.
Read More:
CUET Physics 2026 Chapter-Wise Weightage
Based on question distribution trends from CUET 2022, 2023, and 2024, the expected question count per unit for 2026 is given below.
| Unit | Topic | Expected Questions | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unit 1 | Electrostatics | 6-7 | Must-Cover |
| Unit 2 | Current Electricity | 5-6 | Must-Cover |
| Unit 6 | Optics | 5-6 | Must-Cover |
| Unit 4 | Electromagnetic Induction and AC | 4-5 | Must-Cover |
| Unit 3 | Magnetic Effects of Current and Magnetism | 4-5 | High |
| Unit 8 | Atoms and Nuclei | 3-4 | High |
| Unit 7 | Dual Nature of Matter and Radiation | 3-4 | High |
| Unit 9 | Electronic Devices | 2-3 | Medium |
| Unit 5 | Electromagnetic Waves | 2-3 | Medium — factual only |
Best Books for CUET Physics 2026
These books cover the 9-unit CUET Physics 2026 syllabus effectively.
| Book | Author / Publisher | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| NCERT Physics Class 12 (Part 1 and 2) | NCERT | Primary reference — covers all 9 units |
| Concepts of Physics Vol. 1 and 2 | H.C. Verma | Deep conceptual understanding and numericals |
| Objective Physics | D.C. Pandey (Arihant) | MCQ practice and CUET-style questions |
| 40 Days Crash Course for CUET Physics | Arihant | Last-month revision and mock tests |
NCERT is the non-negotiable starting point. Every single topic in the official CUET Physics syllabus traces back to Class 12 NCERT chapters. Build on it — not around it.
Also Check:
For official syllabus PDF, exam dates, and information bulletin: cuet.nta.nic.in
CUET Physics Syllabus 2026 FAQs
Ques. How many units are there in CUET Physics 2026?
Ans. The official CUET Physics 2026 syllabus (Subject Code 322) has 9 units — Electrostatics, Current Electricity, Magnetic Effects of Current and Magnetism, Electromagnetic Induction and Alternating Currents, Electromagnetic Waves, Optics, Dual Nature of Matter and Radiation, Atoms and Nuclei, and Electronic Devices. All units are from Class 12 NCERT. Class 11 topics are not part of the 2026 official syllabus.
Ques. What is the marking scheme for CUET Physics 2026?
Ans. CUET Physics 2026 carries +5 marks for every correct answer and -1 mark for every incorrect answer. There are 50 compulsory MCQs to be completed in 60 minutes. Maximum marks are 250. Unanswered questions carry no penalty.
Ques. Which topics have been removed from CUET Physics 2026 compared to previous years?
Ans. Four topics have been dropped from the CUET Physics 2026 syllabus: the Cyclotron (from Unit 3 — Magnetism), the Van de Graaff Generator (from Unit 1 — Electrostatics), the Davisson-Germer Experiment (from Unit 7 — Dual Nature), and detailed transistor characteristics with amplifier configurations (from Unit 9 — Electronic Devices).
Ques. Is the CUET Physics syllabus similar to the Class 12 board syllabus?
Ans. The CUET Physics 2026 syllabus is similar but not the same as the Class 12 NCERT board syllabus. It has included only specific topics from the Class 12 Physics syllabus within the 9 specific units. Some of the board syllabus topics like Potentiometer, semiconductor devices, and Communication Systems are missing in the official syllabus. Always check the official syllabus available on cuet.nta.nic.in.
*The article might have information for the previous academic years, please refer the official website of the exam.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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 |
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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.
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