The National Testing Agency has released the CUET Performing Arts Syllabus 2026 on the official website. Candidates planning to appear for the CUET UG 2026 exam for admission to Performing Arts courses must prepare strictly as per the prescribed syllabus. The Common University Entrance Test is conducted for admission to undergraduate programmes offered by central, state, private, and deemed universities across India.
CUET UG 2026 is scheduled to be conducted between May 11 and May 31, 2026. While filling the application form, candidates must select Performing Arts as a domain subject to appear for the subject-specific test.
CUET Performing Arts Syllabus 2026 Highlights
The Performing Arts paper is conducted in computer-based mode. All questions are compulsory and follow a negative marking scheme.
- Exam Conducting Body: National Testing Agency
- Exam Mode: Computer-Based Test
- Language Options: 13 languages
- Question Type: Multiple Choice Questions
- Total Questions: 50
- Exam Duration: 60 minutes
- Maximum Marks: 250
- Marking Scheme: +5 for each correct answer, -1 for each incorrect answer
CUET Performing Arts Syllabus 2026 Section-Wise
The CUET Performing Arts syllabus is divided into four major sections. Candidates must study all topics included in the selected section.
Music Syllabus (Section A)
This section covers basic concepts of Indian classical music. Topics include definitions such as Sangeet, Nad, Shruti, Swara, Raga, Tala, Laya, and Alankar. Candidates must also study musical forms like Dhrupad, Khayal, Thumri, Kriti, and Tillana. Contributions of renowned musicians, classification of musical instruments, and salient features of prescribed ragas are also included.
Dance Syllabus (Section B)
The Dance section focuses on Indian classical dance forms such as Kathak, Bharatanatyam, Odissi, Kathakali, Manipuri, Kuchipudi, Mohiniattam, and Sattriya. It includes history, repertoire, costumes, life sketches of exponents, important texts, Abhinaya theory, Rasa theory, folk dances, and major dance festivals.
Percussion Music Syllabus (Section C)
This section includes structure and origin of Tabla, Pakhawaj, and Mridangam. Topics cover tala terminology, compositions, notation systems, gharanas, prescribed talas, and biographies of famous percussion artists. Both Hindustani and Carnatic traditions are part of the syllabus.
Drama and Theatre Syllabus (Section D)
Drama and Theatre includes Indian classical theatre, modern Indian theatre, Western classical and modern drama, theatre production, stage design, lighting, costume, sound, and major theatre organisations in India.
CUET Performing Arts Exam Pattern 2026
Candidates must attempt all 50 questions within 60 minutes. The paper is objective in nature and based on domain-specific knowledge. Accuracy is important due to negative marking.
Courses Offered Through CUET Performing Arts
CUET Performing Arts scores are accepted for courses such as Bachelor of Performing Arts (BPA) and Bachelor in Performing Arts in Music Production. Candidates are advised to complete the full syllabus, revise theory regularly, and practise previous years’ question papers to score well in CUET Performing Arts 2026.
