The CUET Physics syllabus 2026 is meant for students who want to take Physics as one of their domain subjects in CUET UG. It is useful for admission to undergraduate programmes where Physics is part of the required subject combination, such as B.Sc. Physics, several science programmes and selected engineering or technology-linked courses offered by participating universities.
For 2026, NTA has listed Physics as subject code 322. The official syllabus is mainly based on Class 12 Physics topics and is divided into nine units. Candidates should not depend only on broad chapter names because the official PDF mentions specific areas such as Gauss theorem applications, Kirchhoff rules, moving coil galvanometer, AC circuits, optical instruments, photoelectric effect, Bohr model, semiconductors and diode applications.
This article gives a clear unit-wise breakdown of the CUET Physics syllabus, the official PDF link, CUET UG Physics exam pattern, marking scheme, eligibility basics and a practical way to prepare the subject without missing official topics.
CUET Physics Syllabus 2026 Overview
CUET Physics 2026 is a domain subject paper under CUET UG. The official subject code is 322. The syllabus is structured around core Class 12 Physics areas and is useful for candidates applying to undergraduate programmes that require Physics in the CUET subject combination.
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam name | CUET UG 2026 |
| Subject name | Physics |
| Subject code | 322 |
| Conducting agency | National Testing Agency |
| Paper category | Domain-specific subject |
| Official syllabus basis | NCERT-based domain subject syllabus |
| Official website | cuet.nta.nic.in |
Candidates should check both the CUET UG 2026 information bulletin and the Physics 322 syllabus PDF before finalising their preparation plan.
CUET Physics Syllabus 2026 PDF Download
The official CUET Physics syllabus PDF is available on the NTA CUET UG syllabus page. The PDF is titled Physics 322 Syllabus for CUET UG for the year 2026.
- Visit the official CUET UG website.
- Open the CUET UG 2026 Syllabus page.
- Find Physics under the domain subjects list.
- Click the Physics link to open or download the official PDF.
- Save the PDF and use it as the final checklist while preparing.
Students should avoid using outdated or unofficial syllabus screenshots because small topic-level differences can affect preparation. The official PDF should be treated as the primary reference.
CUET Physics Exam Pattern 2026
The CUET Physics paper follows the general CUET UG 2026 test pattern for domain subjects. It is a computer-based test with objective questions.
| Exam feature | CUET Physics 2026 details |
|---|---|
| Mode | Computer Based Test |
| Question type | Objective type Multiple Choice Questions |
| Total questions | 50 questions |
| Questions to attempt | All questions are compulsory |
| Duration | 60 minutes |
| Correct answer | 5 marks |
| Incorrect answer | Minus 1 mark |
| Medium | Question paper is available in English and the language opted by the candidate, subject to official rules |
Because all 50 questions are compulsory, candidates should practise time-bound MCQs and avoid spending too much time on lengthy numerical questions during the test.
CUET Physics Unit-Wise Syllabus 2026
The CUET Physics syllabus has nine official units. A quick unit-wise view is given below.
| Unit | Topic |
|---|---|
| Unit 1 | Electrostatics |
| Unit 2 | Current Electricity |
| Unit 3 | Magnetic Effects of Current and Magnetism |
| Unit 4 | Electromagnetic Induction and Alternating Currents |
| Unit 5 | Electromagnetic Waves |
| Unit 6 | Optics |
| Unit 7 | Dual Nature of Matter and Radiation |
| Unit 8 | Atoms and Nuclei |
| Unit 9 | Electronic Devices |
These units should be revised with formulas, definitions, diagrams, graphs, applications and numerical practice wherever applicable.
Unit 1 Electrostatics Syllabus
Electrostatics is one of the most formula-heavy and concept-heavy parts of CUET Physics. Candidates should prepare both theory and direct numerical applications.
- Electric charges and conservation of charge.
- Coulomb law for force between two point charges.
- Forces between multiple charges, superposition principle and continuous charge distribution.
- Electric dipole, electric field, electric field lines and electric field due to a point charge or dipole.
- Torque on a dipole in a uniform electric field.
- Electric potential, potential difference, potential due to a point charge, dipole and system of charges.
- Equipotential surfaces and electrostatic potential energy.
- Electric flux and Gauss theorem with applications to long straight wire, infinite plane sheet and spherical shell.
- Conductors, insulators, free and bound charges, dielectrics and electric polarisation.
- Capacitors, capacitance, series and parallel combinations, parallel plate capacitor and energy stored in a capacitor.
Important preparation areas include field and potential formulas, Gauss law applications, capacitance combinations and energy stored in capacitors.
Unit 2 Current Electricity Syllabus
Current Electricity is usually tested through formula-based MCQs, conceptual questions and circuit-based calculations. The official syllabus includes the following topics.
- Electric current and flow of charges in a metallic conductor.
- Drift velocity, mobility and relation with electric current.
- Ohm law and V-I characteristics for linear and non-linear elements.
- Electrical energy and power.
- Electrical resistivity and conductivity.
- Temperature dependence of resistance.
- Internal resistance of a cell, potential difference and emf of a cell.
- Combination of cells in series and parallel.
- Kirchhoff rules.
- Wheatstone bridge.
Candidates should be comfortable with current, resistance, power, cell combinations, Kirchhoff equations and bridge-balance conditions.
Unit 3 Magnetic Effects of Current and Magnetism Syllabus
This unit combines moving charges, magnetic fields, current-carrying conductors and basic magnetism. It needs both conceptual clarity and formula recall.
- Concept of magnetic field and Oersted experiment.
- Biot-Savart law and its application to current-carrying circular loop.
- Ampere law and its application to infinitely long straight wire.
- Solenoid and force on a moving charge in uniform magnetic and electric fields.
- Force on a current-carrying conductor in a uniform magnetic field.
- Force between two parallel current-carrying conductors and definition of ampere.
- Current loop as a magnetic dipole, magnetic dipole moment and torque on a current loop.
- Moving coil galvanometer, current sensitivity and conversion to ammeter and voltmeter.
- Bar magnet, magnetic field lines and magnetic field intensity due to a magnetic dipole.
- Magnetic properties of materials including para, dia and ferro magnetic substances.
Students should revise standard field formulas, right-hand rules, galvanometer conversion and material magnetism examples.
Unit 4 and Unit 5 Electromagnetic Topics
Units 4 and 5 cover electromagnetic induction, alternating currents and electromagnetic waves. These topics are often tested through formulas, definitions and simple applications.
| Unit | Topics to prepare |
|---|---|
| Unit 4: Electromagnetic Induction and Alternating Currents | Electromagnetic induction, Faraday laws, induced emf and current, Lenz law, self induction, mutual induction, alternating current, peak and rms values, reactance, impedance, LCR series circuit, phasors, resonance, power in AC circuits, power factor, wattless current, AC generator and transformer. |
| Unit 5: Electromagnetic Waves | Displacement current, electromagnetic waves, characteristics of electromagnetic waves, transverse nature of waves, electromagnetic spectrum including radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, X-rays and gamma rays, and elementary uses. |
For AC circuits, candidates should practise impedance, resonance and power factor. For electromagnetic waves, focus on spectrum order, nature and applications.
Unit 6 Optics Syllabus
Optics is a large CUET Physics unit and should be prepared in two parts: ray optics and wave optics.
- Reflection of light and spherical mirrors.
- Mirror formula.
- Refraction of light and total internal reflection.
- Optical fibres.
- Refraction at spherical surfaces.
- Lenses, thin lens formula, lens maker formula and magnification.
- Power of a lens and combination of thin lenses in contact.
- Refraction and dispersion through a prism.
- Optical instruments, microscopes and astronomical telescopes with magnifying powers.
- Wave front and Huygens principle.
- Reflection and refraction of plane waves using wave fronts.
- Proof of laws of reflection and refraction using Huygens principle.
- Coherent sources, interference of light and Young double slit experiment.
- Expression for fringe width.
- Diffraction due to a single slit and width of central maxima.
Formula practice is important in this unit. Students should revise sign conventions, lens and mirror formula applications, prism concepts, YDSE and diffraction basics.
Units 7, 8 and 9 Modern Physics and Electronics
The last three units cover modern physics, nuclear physics and semiconductor electronics. These chapters can be scoring if formulas, definitions and standard results are revised regularly.
| Unit | Detailed topics |
|---|---|
| Unit 7: Dual Nature of Matter and Radiation | Matter waves, wave nature of particles, de-Broglie relation, dual nature of radiation, photoelectric effect, Hertz and Lenard observations, Einstein photoelectric equation, particle nature of light and experimental study of photoelectric effect. |
| Unit 8: Atoms and Nuclei | Alpha-particle scattering experiment, Rutherford model of atom, Bohr model of hydrogen atom, radius of orbit, velocity and energy of electron in orbit, hydrogen line spectra, composition and size of nucleus, atomic number, mass number, isotopes, isobars, isotones, nuclear force, mass-energy relation, mass defect, binding energy per nucleon, nuclear fission and nuclear fusion. |
| Unit 9: Electronic Devices | Energy bands in conductors, semiconductors and insulators, intrinsic and extrinsic semiconductors, p-type and n-type semiconductors, p-n junction diode, I-V characteristics in forward and reverse bias, and diode as a rectifier. |
Students should revise graphs, photoelectric effect relations, Bohr model formulas, binding energy concepts and diode characteristics carefully.
CUET Physics Eligibility and Subject Selection
For appearing in CUET UG 2026, candidates who have passed Class 12 or equivalent examination, or are appearing in 2026, can apply. NTA does not prescribe a general age limit for appearing in CUET UG, but candidates must satisfy the age, subject combination and admission rules of the university or programme they are applying to.
For Physics-based programmes, universities may require Physics along with other subjects such as Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology or a language, depending on the course. Candidates should check the programme-specific eligibility on the concerned university website before choosing CUET subjects.
- Choose Physics only if it is required or useful for your target programme.
- Check the subject combination of each university separately.
- Do not assume that CUET appearance alone guarantees admission.
- Participating universities prepare their own admission lists and apply their own programme rules.
How to Prepare CUET Physics Syllabus 2026
CUET Physics preparation should be syllabus-first. Start with the official PDF, mark all nine units and then revise each topic with NCERT-based theory, formulas and MCQ practice.
- Make a formula sheet for Electrostatics, Current Electricity, Magnetism, AC, Optics and Modern Physics.
- Revise NCERT definitions, diagrams, graphs and standard examples.
- Practise MCQs unit-wise before moving to mixed tests.
- Give more time to Optics, Electrostatics, Current Electricity and Magnetism because these units have many formulas and concepts.
- For Modern Physics and Electronics, revise standard graphs, laws, equations and semiconductor basics.
- Practise 50-question mock tests in 60 minutes to build exam speed.
- Use negative marking carefully; avoid guessing when you cannot eliminate options.
A good preparation plan should cover the official syllabus fully before attempting repeated mock tests. Leaving small listed topics such as diode rectifier, displacement current, Wheatstone bridge or galvanometer conversion can cost easy marks.
Official Links
Frequently Asked Questions
The CUET UG 2026 subject code for Physics is 322.
The official CUET Physics 2026 syllabus has nine units covering Electrostatics, Current Electricity, Magnetism, EMI and AC, Electromagnetic Waves, Optics, Dual Nature, Atoms and Nuclei, and Electronic Devices.
You can download it from the official CUET UG 2026 syllabus page on cuet.nta.nic.in by selecting Physics under domain subjects.
CUET Physics has 50 compulsory multiple-choice questions for the test paper.
The duration of the CUET Physics test paper is 60 minutes.
Yes. As per the CUET UG 2026 marking scheme, 1 mark is deducted for each incorrect answer, while 5 marks are awarded for each correct answer.
Yes. CUET UG domain subjects, including Physics, are based on the NCERT syllabus as stated in the official information bulletin.
Yes. Candidates who have passed Class 12 or equivalent, or are appearing in 2026, can appear in CUET UG 2026, subject to the eligibility rules of the university and programme they choose.