Hey, if you’re in Ludhiana flipping through your phone around 4:24 pm on this last day of January 2026, I get it—the pressure is real. PSEB board exams are already eating up your days, practicals are ongoing or just finished, and now CUET is staring you down like another mountain to climb. The one bright spot right now: CUET registration started in 2026 on January 3, and the National Testing Agency heard the complaints loud and clear. They’ve stretched the deadline to February 4 at 11:50 pm IST. That means you’ve still got a few days to get your form in without the world ending. Fee payment runs till February 7, and if you notice a small slip-up after submitting—like a wrong photo or typo—you can fix it during the correction window from February 9 to 11.
Every single year I see the same thing happen with students here in Punjab. The early birds finish the form, breathe, and go back to their notes. The last-minute crowd ends up refreshing a frozen page at 11:47 pm, heart racing, because the upload failed or the payment didn’t go through. I’ve heard the stories, helped fix a few panicked calls. Let’s make sure you’re not part of that second group. Below is the plain, practical walkthrough—everything you actually need, pulled straight from NTA’s own notice and what tends to work on the ground.
The Real Story Behind the Extension
NTA posted the update on January 30: too many candidates were getting blocked by technical glitches—payments bouncing back, OTPs vanishing into thin air, site crawling when everyone logs in at once. Requests poured in, so they added a few extra days. For Punjab students especially, this timing is gold. We’re usually knee-deep in board files, viva schedules, and family “beta padh le” reminders. Original deadline was January 30 or 31 (depending on the exact hour), now it’s February 4. They’ve been pretty firm that this is the last stretch—no more breathing room after this.
Here’s the timeline in one glance so you’re not flipping tabs:
| Event | Date (2026) | What It Means for You in Ludhiana/Punjab |
|---|---|---|
| Registration started | January 3 | Already thousands in catch up quick |
| Last day to submit the form | February 4, 11:50 pm IST | Finish by Feb 2 or 3 if you can last night is chaos |
| Final fee payment deadline | February 7, 11:50 pm IST | UPI almost always goes smooth |
| Correction window | February 9 – 11 | Small edits only no rewriting your whole form |
| CUET exam window (tentative) | May 11 – May 31 | Computer test; Ludhiana & Chandigarh centres expected |
How to Actually Fill and Submit the Form
- Open cuet.nta.nic.in and bookmark it immediately. Laptop beats phone every time; if you’re on mobile, make sure you’ve got strong Wi-Fi data in some Ludhiana areas gets iffy in the evenings.
- Find the CUET(UG)-2026 registration button and start. Put your name exactly as it appears on your Class 10 marksheet, your regular Punjab number, a reliable email, and date of birth. OTP arrives fast copy the application number they send by text or email. Lose it and you’re in trouble later.
- Log in and work through the sections. Personal info first, then academics board name (PSEB or CBSE), roll numbers if you’ve got them, passed or appearing status for 2026.
- Exam cities list Ludhiana first, Chandigarh second. Local centre means you save travel time and stress on exam day.
- Subjects: this part trips people up the most. You’re allowed five. Sit down and think what course are you really chasing? B.Com at Punjab University? Go Accountancy, Business Studies, English, General Test. Science? Physics, Chemistry, Maths or Biology + language. Check what your target university actually needs.
- Universities add the ones that matter: Panjab University Chandigarh (huge here), Central University of Punjab in Bathinda (easy drive), maybe Delhi University or BHU if you’re aiming far.
- Uploads have these files ready before you even log in: • Passport photo: recent, white background, face taking up most of the frame, 10–200 KB • Signature: black pen on white paper, scanned clean, 4–30 KB • Class 10 marksheet • Category certificate (SC/ST/OBC/EWS/PwD) if it applies • Aadhaar or any photo ID nearby
- Fee comes at the end: General category usually around ₹1000 for three subjects, reserved categories pay less. Each extra subject bumps it up ₹350–400 or so. UPI is normally the least headache.
- Read every page carefully, submit, download the confirmation page right away and save/print it. Grab a screenshot of the payment success too.
Do this in the morning or early afternoon way less traffic, way less frustration.
Eligibility, Costs, Documents—Short and Clear
You’re eligible if you’ve passed Class 12 or you’re appearing for it in 2026 from any recognized board—PSEB is completely valid. NTA doesn’t put an age cap. Some universities set their own minimum percentage rules later (50% general, 45% reserved is common) that’s for counselling, not now.
Rough fee picture (check the site yourself):
- Up to 3 subjects: General ≈ ₹1000, reserved lower
- Extra subjects add a few hundred each
Keep your original certificates safe counselling at places like Punjab University will want to see them.
After You Submit + Realistic Prep Advice
You’ll get a confirmation message don’t delete it. Admit card should show up around April or May. Exam is all on computer, mostly multiple-choice, +5 for correct answers, -1 for wrong. Syllabus sticks very close to NCERT Class 11 & 12, which is a massive advantage for PSEB students because so much is the same.
Quick Ludhiana routine that works: mornings for CUET General Test practice (reasoning, current affairs), rest of the day on board chapters. NTA’s free mocks on their portal are actually useful do one every few days to get comfortable with the format.
Mistakes That Keep Happening Here (Skip Them)
- Waiting till late evening on February 4 page freezes, payment times out
- Picking subjects that don’t line up with the course or university you want
- Blurry photo or signature automatic rejection
- Filling the form but skipping the fee payment step
- Typing the wrong phone number or email recovery is painful
Questions I Keep Hearing
Is CUET date extended in 2026?
Yes registration now ends February 4, 11:50 pm IST. Fee till February 7.
Is CUET UG registration open for 2026?
Yes, it opened January 3 and is still open till the new date.
Who is eligible for CUET 2026?
Passed or appearing in Class 12 (2026) from a recognized board. No age limit from NTA.
How to crack CUET UG 2026?
NCERT is the core. Read it properly, do mocks regularly, work on timing and accuracy. Your Punjab board prep already covers a lot of the domain stuff.
CUET UG 2026 registration last date
February 4, 2026, 11:50 pm IST.
Final Thought
This extension is honestly a gift for students across Punjab right now. CUET registration started in 2026 and the door is still cracked open but February 4 will be here before you know it. Open cuet.nta.nic.in tomorrow morning, work through the steps, submit, and cross it off your list. Then you can throw everything into boards and CUET prep without that nagging “did I do the form?” voice in your head.
