CUET-PG Life Sciences 2027 (SCQP17)
Complete guide to CUET-PG Life Sciences (SCQP17): 75-question pattern, domain-wise syllabus, university eligibility matrix, decentralised counselling, and preparation strategy.
WRITTEN BYShabab Anwar and Sabiha Parveen75 subject questions, no general aptitude section
In CUET PG 2026, SCQP17 had 75 compulsory questions, all on Life Sciences subject knowledge, in 90 minutes (+4 for a correct answer, -1 for a wrong one). NTA's exam calendar proposes CUET PG 2027 in March 2027 (tentative). The 2027 information bulletin is not out yet.
What is CUET-PG Life Sciences (SCQP17)?
CUET PG is a national entrance examination conducted by the National Testing Agency for postgraduate admission at participating universities. Life Sciences is paper code SCQP17.
An SCQP17 score can be considered only for programmes that map to SCQP17 in the relevant admission cycle. The paper code alone does not establish programme eligibility, reserve a seat or submit a university application.
Four checks before calling a programme an opportunity
1 Paper Check
Does the current university mapping accept SCQP17 for this exact programme?
2 Programme Check
Is the course title and campus the one the candidate intends to join?
3 Eligibility Check
Does the candidate's exact degree, subjects, credits, marks and category meet the programme rule?
4 Admission Check
Has the candidate completed the university's separate registration, preferences, documents and deadlines?
Latest official baseline
| Field | CUET PG 2026 Official Baseline |
|---|---|
| Conducting body | National Testing Agency (NTA) |
| Life Sciences paper code | SCQP17 |
| Purpose | Entrance examination used for mapped postgraduate admissions at participating universities |
| Mode | Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
| Duration | 90 minutes |
| Questions | 75 compulsory subject-specific questions |
| Maximum marks | 300 |
| Medium | English and Hindi for the Science paper; English prevailed if the versions differed |
| Test papers selectable in the application | Up to four in 2026, based on programme mappings |
| Score validity | Academic year 2026-27 only |
| Counselling | Conducted by participating universities, not by NTA |
Programme Selection Decision Rule
Choose programmes before choosing paper codes. One university can accept SCQP17 for one programme and require another paper or another examination for a different programme.
CUET-PG Eligibility: Who can apply for SCQP17?
NTA examination eligibility and university admission eligibility are separate checks.
NTA examination eligibility (Latest official baseline)
| Question | CUET PG 2026 Rule |
|---|---|
| Qualifying status | Candidates who had passed a bachelor's degree or were appearing in the final year in 2026 could appear |
| Age limit for the examination | No age limit for appearing in the examination |
| Number of attempts | No attempt limit stated by NTA |
| Admission entitlement | Appearing in CUET PG did not create a right to admission |
University admission eligibility
Each university controlled the degree, subject combination, credits, marks, category relaxation, age rule and document conditions for its programmes. A broad label such as BSc Zoology, BSc Biotechnology or BSc Life Sciences is not enough to confirm admission eligibility.
Candidate Action Checklist: Verification Workflow
- 1 List the exact university, campus and programme names you want.
- 2 Open the current official programme-to-paper mapping.
- 3 Confirm that the programme accepts SCQP17.
- 4 Read the programme-specific degree, subject, credit and marks rule.
- 5 Check whether the university requires a separate application, preference form or counselling registration.
- 6 Save the deadline and documents in an admission tracker.
- 7 Repeat the check when the 2027 documents are released.
Critical Eligibility Caution
Do not rely on a universal 50% for General and 45% for SC/ST/PwD rule. That is not an NTA-wide admission rule for every SCQP17 programme. Each participating university sets its own specific minimum percentage and subject requirements.
CUET-PG Exam Pattern: Question format and marking scheme
The examination is conducted as a 90-minute Computer-Based Test containing 75 compulsory subject-specific questions.
SCQP17 Structure and Marking Scheme
| Field | CUET PG 2026 Baseline |
|---|---|
| Mode | Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
| Duration | 90 minutes |
| Questions | 75 |
| Questions to attempt | All 75 were compulsory |
| Correct answer | +4 marks |
| Wrong answer | -1 mark |
| Unanswered or marked for review without an answer | 0 marks |
| Maximum marks | 300 |
| Content | Subject-specific SCQP17 syllabus |
| Medium | English and Hindi; English controlled in case of a discrepancy |
Pattern Notes
- The current official SCQP17 syllabus says all 75 questions are based on subject-specific knowledge.
- The 2026 bulletin allowed up to four test papers in the application, subject to programme mappings.
- NTA did not publish a fixed number of questions for each SCQP17 syllabus domain.
- Average time is 72 seconds per question, but questions do not require identical time. Use mocks to build a personal skip-and-return rule.
- The old Part A general aptitude section has been discontinued.
What Not to Assume
- Do not assume fixed unit-wise question counts exist.
- Do not assume SCQP17 is universally easier or more recall-based than JAM, GAT-B or GATE.
- Do not follow a simplified instruction to guess after eliminating one option; negative marking requires calibrated threshold rules.
- Do not rely on predicted 2027 patterns before the official bulletin appears.
CUET-PG Life Sciences Syllabus: Key subject domains
The following eight domains reproduce the latest official NTA SCQP17 syllabus available on 13 September 2026. Use this as the 2027 preparation baseline until NTA publishes a new syllabus.
CUET PG Life Sciences syllabus PDF
All 8 units of the SCQP17 syllabus, word for word from NTA, with tick boxes. Free, no sign-up.
Principles and applications of chromatography
Principles and applications of spectroscopy
Principles and applications of microscopy
Principles and applications of electrophoresis
Principles and applications of centrifugation
Principles and applications of blotting
Principles and applications of PCR
Principles and applications of radioisotope techniques
Organisation of chromosomes in prokaryotes and eukaryotes
Chromatin types
Centromere
Telomere
Concept of gene
Structure and functions of proteins, DNA, carbohydrates, lipids and vitamins
Bioenergetics
Glycolysis
TCA cycle
Electron Transport System and ATP synthesis
Oxidation and synthesis of fatty acids
Membrane structure and function
Recombinant DNA technology
Principles of gene cloning
Applications of biotechnology in medicine, industry and agriculture
Animal and plant cell culture
Environmental biotechnology
Diversity of microbes
Bacterial reproduction
Antimicrobial agents
Significance of microbes in industry and agriculture
Antigen, antibody and complement systems
Immunity
Vaccines
Plant viruses
Animal viruses
Environmental microbiology
Principles of inheritance
Linkage and crossing over
Chromosomal aberrations
Extrachromosomal inheritance
Replication
Transcription
Translation
DNA repair
Population genetics
Bryophytes
Pteridophytes
Gymnosperms
Angiosperms
Vascular system in plants
Economically important plants
Photosynthesis
Photoperiodism
Vernalisation
Biogeochemical cycles
Characteristics of invertebrates and vertebrates
Anatomy and physiology of human systems
Nerve impulse transmission
Endocrinology
Human diseases
Apoptosis and cancer
Inherited diseases
Animal cell culture
Syllabus Boundary Note
Use the official wording for the syllabus. Study expansions, textbook chapters and diagnostic subtopics belong inside preparation guidance. Cell Biology, Molecular Biology or Ecology and Evolution are not official SCQP17 unit headings in the current NTA PDF. For instance, biogeochemical cycles appear under Plant Sciences in the official taxonomy.
CUET PG Life Sciences previous year papers
6 papers from 2021 to 2025, each retyped from the official paper and checked question by question against the official answer key. Fill one short form once, and every paper is yours.
| Paper | Practice | |
|---|---|---|
| 2025Newest | Get the PDF | Free mock test → |
| 2024 | Get the PDF | Free mock test → |
| 2023 Shift 2 | Get the PDF | Free mock test → |
Participating Universities: Where can you apply with SCQP17?
The opportunity is a mapped programme, not a university name by itself. The examples below were verified for the 2026 admission cycle. They show how differently universities use the same paper code. They are not a confirmed CUET PG 2027 list.
Verified 2026 Programme Mappings
| University & Programme | Paper Route | Eligibility Note | Separate Admission Step |
|---|---|---|---|
Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU)2026 example M.Sc. Life Sciences (2-year) | SCQP17 | B.Sc., B.Tech or equivalent in specified Biological, Physical, Agricultural Sciences or Biotechnology backgrounds with the stated marks rule | JNU required a separate application portal submission after the CUET PG result |
Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU)2026 example M.Sc. Molecular Medicine (2-year) | SCQP17, SCQP05 or SCQP28 | Bachelor's in specified Basic or Applied Sciences, including listed professional degrees, with the stated marks rule | Separate JNU online application |
University of Delhi (DU)2026 example M.Sc. Biomedical Sciences | SCQP17 | DU listed detailed accepted degrees and subjects in biological/biomedical disciplines | Separate DU CSAS(PG) portal registration and preference selection |
University of Delhi (DU)2026 example M.Sc. Biophysics and Bioinformatics | SCQP17 | DU accepted specified Physical, Biological, Agricultural, Veterinary, Fishery, Pharmacy, Engineering, Technology and medical backgrounds | Separate DU CSAS(PG) portal registration and preference selection |
University of Delhi (DU)2026 example M.Sc. Genetics | SCQP05 or SCQP17 | DU listed eligible Life, Biological, Physical, Chemical, Medical Sciences and Pharmacology backgrounds | Separate DU CSAS(PG) portal registration and preference selection |
University of Delhi (DU)2026 example M.Sc. Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology | SCQP17 or SCQP07 (separate seats also shown for DBT GAT-B) | Bachelor's degree from a recognised university in relevant biological disciplines | Separate DU CSAS(PG) portal registration and preference selection |
University of Hyderabad (UoH)2026 example M.Sc. Animal Biology and Biotechnology | SCQP17 | Natural and allied Sciences graduates or B.Tech Biotechnology with the stated 60% science-subject condition | Follow the separate UoH admission application process |
Banaras Hindu University (BHU)2026 example M.Sc. Life Sciences (Special Course of Study) | SCQP17, SCQP01 or SCQP23 | NEP and non-NEP degree conditions listed separately with relevant biological and allied disciplines | Separate BHU Samarth portal registration was required |
Two Useful Counterexamples
- JNU M.Sc. Biotechnology & Computational Biology: Used GAT-B for admissions, not CUET PG SCQP17.
- University of Hyderabad M.Sc. Plant Biology: Mapped to SCQP25 in 2026, not SCQP17. SCQP17 was used for Animal Biology and Biotechnology.
Opportunity Claim Warning
Do not rely on statements claiming SCQP17 is accepted by JNU, DU, BHU and UoH without checking exact programme names. A university-level statement hides the paper and degree conditions that decide actual eligibility.
Admission Process: From CUET-PG scorecard to university counselling
NTA conducts the examination, publishes the answer-key process, declares the result and issues the scorecard. Participating universities create their own merit lists and run admission.
Step 1 Before NTA Application
Step 1: Shortlist Programmes and Paper Codes
Identify target universities and specific programmes. Verify which test papers (e.g. SCQP17, SCQP05, SCQP28) they accept in the current cycle.
Step 2 During NTA Application
Step 2: Select Papers and Register on NTA Portal
Choose SCQP17 and any additional mapped papers (up to 4 in 2026), upload documents in prescribed formats, and complete fee payment.
Step 3 Before the Exam
Step 3: City Slip and Admit Card
Download the advance city intimation and admit card once released on the official NTA portal. Verify test centre, shift timing and reporting rules.
Step 4 After the Exam
Step 4: Provisional Keys and Challenges
Review your recorded responses and official provisional answer keys during the challenge window. Submit challenges if discrepancy evidence exists.
Step 5 Score Declaration
Step 5: Download NTA Scorecard
Download the final NTA scorecard. Note that NTA provides only your score; it does not assign seats or conduct centralised university counselling.
Step 6 University Registration
Step 6: Apply on University Portals
Register separately on each target university admission portal (e.g., DU CSAS, BHU Samarth, JNU portal). Upload scorecard, degree proof, and fill programme preferences.
Step 7 Merit and Counselling
Step 7: Track Allocation Lists and Upgrades
Monitor university-wise merit lists, seat allocations, waitlists, document verification schedules, and spot admission rounds.
Step 8 Final Admission
Step 8: Seat Acceptance and Fee Payment
Accept the allocated seat, submit physical or online document verification, and pay admission fees before individual university deadlines expire.
Recommended Admission Tracker Fields
Maintain an active tracker to prevent missing post-exam university deadlines.
| Field | What the Student Records |
|---|---|
| University | Exact institution name and campus |
| Programme | Exact degree and department |
| Accepted paper | SCQP17 or another listed test paper |
| Degree eligibility | Exact degree, subjects or credits, marks and category rule |
| Registration portal | University admission URL |
| Registration deadline | Date, time and timezone if given |
| Preference step | Programme selection or preference-lock deadline |
| Documents | Degree proof, marksheets, category certificate and other required files |
| Current status | Not opened, applied, correction needed, merit list, offered, waitlisted or closed |
| Next action | The next dated task to complete |
Post-Exam Deadline Caution
Missing a university registration or counselling deadline can end that admission route even when the candidate has a valid CUET PG score. NTA does not automatically send your application to individual universities without your separate registration.
CUET-PG Cutoffs: Marks needed for top central universities
SCQP17 is scored out of 300, but admission outcomes are published by universities for specific programmes. A useful cutoff needs at least the programme, category, admission pool and round. A number without those fields is not a reliable target.
Official National Result Context (CUET PG 2026)
In the CUET PG 2026 result notice, the five highest reported SCQP17 marks were:
Rank 1 Mark
254
/ 300
Rank 2 Mark
249
/ 300
Rank 3 Mark
247
/ 300
Rank 4 Mark
247
/ 300
Rank 5 Mark
247
/ 300
These marks describe the top of that national paper's result distribution. They are not JNU, DU, BHU or UoH admission cutoffs.
Required Fields to Accurately Label an Admission Cutoff
| Required Field | Example of the Label Structure |
|---|---|
| Cycle | CUET PG 2026 |
| University | Exact university name |
| Programme | Exact programme and campus |
| Admission pool | CUET, institutional, C1/C2 or another official pool where applicable |
| Category | UR, OBC-NCL, EWS, SC, ST, PwBD or the university's label |
| Round | First list, allocation round, spot round or closing round |
| Metric | Raw NTA marks, normalised score, merit rank or composite score |
| Source | Official university list or notice URL |
Context for Evaluating Previous Cutoffs
Cutoffs can change by programme, category, admission pool and round. Use the official list for the exact programme you are applying to. A previous cutoff is context, not a guaranteed safe score.
Unsupported metrics to avoid:
No universal “240+ for top universities” No “150+ qualifies” claim No category-neutral “safe score” No grouped bands for unrelated universities
Important Dates and Application Checklist
Review latest completed milestones, application fee structures, and the registration checklist.
| Event | Official date |
|---|---|
| Examination (NTA exam calendar) | 2 to 5, 8 to 9, 12, 15 to 19, 24 to 25 and 29 to 31 March 2027 (tentative) |
2027 Schedule Status
NTA has not announced the CUET PG 2027 application dates or fee. Its exam calendar (26 October 2026) gives tentative examination dates of 2 to 5, 8 to 9, 12, 15 to 19, 24 to 25 and 29 to 31 March 2027. Check the official portal and do not rely on predicted dates.
CUET PG 2026 Milestones (Latest Completed Reference)
| CUET PG 2026 Milestone | Official Date or Window |
|---|---|
| Information bulletin release & registration opens | 14 December 2025 |
| Registration window closes | 23 January 2026 (extended; fee by 25 January 2026) |
| Application correction window | 28 to 30 January 2026 |
| Advance city intimation slip | From 26 February 2026 |
| Admit card download | From 3 March 2026 |
| Examination window | 6 to 27 March 2026 (rescheduled sittings on 29 and 30 March 2026) |
| Answer key challenge window | 11 to 14 April 2026 |
| NTA scorecard declaration | 24 April 2026 |
CUET PG 2026 Application Fee (Latest Completed Baseline)
NTA Application Fee
| Category | Up to Two Test Papers | Each Additional Test Paper |
|---|---|---|
| General | ₹1,400 | ₹700 |
| General-EWS or OBC-NCL | ₹1,200 | ₹600 |
| SC, ST or Third Gender | ₹1,100 | ₹600 |
| PwD or PwBD | ₹1,000 | ₹600 |
| Outside Bharat | ₹7,000 | ₹3,500 |
These are CUET PG 2026 NTA fees, not confirmed CUET PG 2027 fees. Processing charges and applicable taxes could be additional under the bulletin.
Application Checklist
- 1. Open the official NTA CUET PG portal.
- 2. Read the current bulletin and programme mappings before selecting test papers.
- 3. Register and complete the personal and academic details.
- 4. Select SCQP17 only where it serves a verified programme route. Add other relevant papers within the current cycle's limit.
- 5. Upload the documents in the current prescribed format.
- 6. Pay the fee and save the confirmation page.
- 7. Use the correction window if a permitted field needs repair.
- 8. Download the city intimation and admit card when NTA releases them.
- 9. After the result, register separately with every target university.
Common Application Failures
- Selecting a paper because its name sounds relevant without checking the specific programme mapping.
- Assuming SCQP17 makes every life-science degree eligible for every university programme.
- Missing a university's separate post-result registration portal and deadlines.
- Using an expired or wrong-format category certificate (e.g. OBC-NCL issued outside the valid financial year).
- Confusing the NTA scorecard with a university admission offer.
- Waiting for one university's list while another university's admission deadline closes.
Frequently asked questions
Verified answers to common candidate queries regarding CUET PG Life Sciences (SCQP17).
No. As of 15 October 2026, the official NTA portal showed CUET PG 2026 as the latest cycle. Use the latest official pattern and SCQP17 syllabus for preparation, and recheck dates, fees and mappings when the 2027 bulletin appears. NTA's exam calendar (26 October 2026) gives tentative CUET PG 2027 examination dates of 2 to 5, 8 to 9, 12, 15 to 19, 24 to 25 and 29 to 31 March 2027, but the information bulletin and registration dates are not out yet.
The paper code is SCQP17. Select it only after confirming that your target programme accepts SCQP17 in the current university mapping.
CUET PG 2026 used a 90-minute computer-based paper with 75 compulsory subject-specific questions. A correct answer earned 4 marks, a wrong answer lost 1 mark and an unanswered question received 0 marks.
The latest official SCQP17 syllabus says all 75 questions are based on subject-specific knowledge. Recheck the CUET PG 2027 bulletin before the examination.
The 2026 application allowed up to four test papers. Choose them from the programme mappings that match your admission plans. The 2027 limit is not yet confirmed.
No. Your degree may satisfy some programmes and not others. Check the exact programme's accepted paper code, degree, subjects or credits, marks and category rules in the current university notice.
No. The NTA application registers you for the examination. Participating universities run their own admission systems, and candidates usually need to register separately after the result.
There is no universal safe score. Admission depends on the university, exact programme, category, admission pool and round. Use official programme-wise lists and treat past figures as context, not a promise.
There is no stable official difficulty ranking. The papers differ in syllabus, question structure, time and admission purpose. Choose and prepare for each examination according to the programmes it serves.
NTA displayed question papers and recorded responses during the 2026 answer-key challenge window, but the current public portal does not show a stable SCQP17 paper archive. Treat third-party or memory-based papers as reconstructed unless NTA is the source.
The CUET PG 2026 score was valid only for admission in academic year 2026-27. Do not carry it forward to another cycle.
No. Universities apply their own programme eligibility, merit, category, seat, document and admission-round rules. A scorecard is not an admission offer.
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