Bhubaneswar: The Common PG Entrance Test (CPET) 2026 is scheduled to begin on May 5, the Higher Education Department announced on Wednesday. The examination will continue until May 18, 2026, covering various postgraduate courses across the state.
For the 2026–27 academic session, a total of 58,708 candidates have applied for 31,915 PG seats in different universities and colleges, highlighting a strong demand for postgraduate education.
The application process was conducted through the SAMS portal from February 27 to March 22, 2026. The department said the candidate data will be handed over to the State Selection Board (SSB) on March 26.
Admit cards for CPET 2026 will be made available from April 30, and candidates can download them from the official SSB website. The department urged students to ensure all details are correct before the examination.
The selection of candidates for postgraduate courses will be based solely on the marks secured in the CPET examination. Successful candidates will then proceed to counselling and seat allocation as per merit.
The Higher Education Department has also set a target to commence PG classes by July 10, 2026, across all universities and colleges in the state, ensuring minimal delay in the academic calendar.
