CUET 2025 Reservation Criteria is available at cuet.nta.nic.in. Aspirants who appeared in the CUET 2025 Exam can access the reservation policy in PDF format. Every year, a significant share of CUET applicants belong to categories like Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Other Backward Classes (OBC–Non-Creamy Layer), Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), and Persons with Disabilities (PwD). As per data from the National Testing Agency (NTA), 15% seats are reserved for SC candidates, while 7.5% are reserved for ST candidates. Central universities follow the Government of India’s reservation norms, while state and private universities may implement their criteria based on local regulations or institutional policy.
CUET 2025 Reservation Policy: Highlights
The reservation policy followed in CUET UG 2025 is based on the guidelines issued by the Government of India for all centrally funded universities and institutions. This framework is aimed at improving access to higher education for students from socially and economically disadvantaged backgrounds. As per the current structure, 59.5% of the total seats are set aside for candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Other Backward Classes (OBC–Non-Creamy Layer), and General-EWS categories. In addition, a 5% horizontal reservation is applicable across all categories for students identified as Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD).
Read: CUET 2025 Cutoff
CUET 2025 Reservation: Category-Wise Analysis
The CUET UG 2025 reservation policy assigns fixed seat shares to different categories based on constitutional and economic criteria. Scheduled Caste (SC) candidates are allotted 15% of seats, provided they belong to communities listed in the central SC list. Scheduled Tribe (ST) applicants have a 7.5% reservation, limited to groups included in the central ST list. The OBC–Non-Creamy Layer category receives 27% of seats for candidates listed in the central OBC list, with an annual family income below INR 8 lakh. For General-EWS students, 10% of seats are reserved, applicable to families earning under INR 8 lakh annually and not covered under any other category. Additionally, a 5% horizontal reservation is granted across all categories for candidates with at least 40% disability, as per the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, offering both seat reservation and exam-related support.
CUET Reservation Criteria 2025: Special Categories & Relaxations
Apart from the constitutionally recognised reservation categories, CUET UG 2025 also extends certain relaxations to candidates under special categories. While these do not involve fixed seat quotas, they may include benefits such as lower cut-offs, extended application deadlines, or exam-related support. These relaxations are typically offered on an administrative or merit basis and are implemented at the discretion of individual universities, following the broader guidelines issued by the UGC and the Ministry of Education.
Check: CUET 2025 Seat Matrix
CUET Reservation Criteria 2025: Category-Specific Benefits
Reserved category students appearing for CUET UG 2025 enjoy several advantages such as relaxed cut-offs, reserved seats, and fee concessions. SC/ST candidates typically get 10–20% lower cut-off marks and have 15% and 7.5% reservation, respectively. OBC-NCL students benefit from a 27% seat quota and moderate relaxation in marks. The EWS category gets 10% reservation, while PwD candidates receive horizontal reservation (5%) along with exam-related accommodations. Some universities also offer special preferences to Kashmiri migrants and defence quota applicants. These benefits help create equitable access to central and state universities under CUET.
Application Fee Concessions
Students from reserved categories like SC, ST, PwD, and third gender get a reduced application fee of INR 800 for up to 3 subjects, while OBC-NCL and EWS candidates pay INR 900. In contrast, General category applicants pay INR 1,000. Additional subjects cost extra for all, but the base fee is significantly lower for reserved categories, making the exam more affordable and inclusive.
CUET 2025: PwD Support & Exam Facilities
The CUET UG 2025 ensures that candidates with benchmark disabilities receive fair and equal opportunities during the examination. The National Testing Agency (NTA) has laid out specific provisions and support systems for Persons with Disabilities (PwD), in line with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. These candidates are entitled to both pre-exam and in-exam facilities, including extra time, scribes, and accessible centres, provided valid documents are submitted at the time of application.
CUET Documents Required
- CUET Admit Card
- CUET Scorecard / Result
- Class 10th Marksheet and Certificate
- Class 12th Marksheet and Certificate
- Category Certificate (SC/ST/OBC-NCL/EWS) – if applicable
- Domicile Certificate – if required by the university
- PwD Certificate – if applicable
- Migration Certificate
- Transfer Certificate (TC)
- Character Certificate
- Passport-size Photographs (8–10 copies)
- Valid Photo Identity Proof (Aadhaar/Voter ID/PAN/Passport)
- Gap Year Affidavit – if applicable
Final Words
The CUET 2025 reservation policy offers 15% seats for SC, 7.5% for ST, 27% for OBC-NCL, and 10% for GEN-EWS. Additionally, 5% horizontal reservation is provided for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) with 40% or more disability. CUET 2025 Result is going to be released soon. After the release of the results, shortlisted candidates will be called for counselling. Before appearing for CUET 2025 Counselling, candidates must review the reservation criteria to predict their chances of getting admission as per their category.
