CUET Performing Arts Syllabus 2026 PDF Download [Unit Wise]

Overview: If you are looking for important topics, exam pattern, and preparation tips for the Performing Arts test in CUET, the downloadable CUET Performing Arts Syllabus PDF is attached to the article.

In this article, you will get a detailed CUET Performing Arts syllabus 2026 for the following sections: 

• Section A- Vocal & Instrumental Melodic Hindustani & Karnataka Music
• Section B- Dance
• Section C- Percussion Music Hindustani & Karnataka
• Section D- Drama/Theatre

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CUET Performing Arts Syllabus 2026 

For the CUET exam, in the Performing Arts subject, there are a total of four sections: Dance, Drama-Theatre, and Music. You can check the detailed CUET syllabus for Performing Arts 2026 in the table below:

This paper shall have two parts:

• Part I is compulsory for all and will have 20 Questions.
• Part II shall have four sections- A, B, C, and D. Each Section will have 25 Questions. You can choose any one section according to your choice.

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Section-Wise CUET Performing Arts Syllabus PDF 

In the list of CUET domain subjects, Performing Arts is one of the important subjects to pursue UG courses like BPA, BA etc. The downloadable CUET UG Performing Arts syllabus PDF is given below for the following sections:

• Section A- Vocal & Instrumental Melodic Hindustani & Karnataka Music
• Section B- Dance
• Section C- Percussion Music Hindustani & Karnataka
• Section D- Drama/Theatre

CUET Performing Arts Syllabus PDF

CUET Performing Arts Syllabus: Section A- Vocal & Instrumental Melodic Hindustani & Karnataka Music

This section is divided into 7 sub-topics as mentioned below: 

UNIT I- Definition of the following:

• Sangeet, Nad, Shruti, Swara- Shuddha, Komal, Teevra
• Pitch-Intensity – Timbre, GramMurcchana, Varna, Alankar, Raga, Alap Tana, Gamak, Meend, Kan

UNIT II- Basic knowledge of the following concepts:

• Vadi, Samvadi, Anuvadi, Vivadi, Uttarang, Puravang, Aroh
• Avroh, Pakad, Thata(Mela) JatiAudav, Shadav, Sampurna and its varieties

UNIT III- Laya & Tala Laya

• Vilambit,Madhya, Drut Layakari- Dagun, Tigun, Chaugun, Chegun, Tala, Matra, Tali, Khali, Sam, Vibhag, Avartan
• Knowledge of prominent Talas: Teental, Ektala, Dadra, Keharwa, Jhaptala, Rupak, Adi, Saptala, Chaputala, Rupakam

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UNIT IV- Knowledge of Musical Forms:

• Prabandh, Drupad, Khayal, Thumri, Tarana
• Maseet Khani-Razakhani Gat, Kriti, Pallavi, Padam, Tillana

UNIT V- Contribution of musicians & composers:

• V.N Bhatkhande, Omkar Nath thakur, Allaudin Khan
• Mushtaq Ali Khan, Tyagraja, Purandardas, Ravindra Nath Tagore, Kazi narrul Islam

UNIT VI- Musical Instruments & its Classification

• String (Tatta)- Sitar, Tanpura, Saraswati Veena, Sarod, sarangi Violon percussion (Avnadha) Tabla, Pakhawaj, Mrindangam, Khatam, Khanjira,
• Dholak Wind (Sushir) – Flute, Shehnai, Nagaswaram, Harmonium Metallic (Ghan)- Chimta, Cymbal, Ghungaroo, Khadtala, Chipla, Morchung

UNIT-VII- Knowledge of Salient features of the following ragas:

• Yaman/Kalyani
• Bhairav/ Mayamalavgaula
• Alhaiya Bilwal/Shankra bharnam
• Malkaun/Hindolam
• Bageshree/Shri Ranjani
• Bhupali/Mohnam

CUET Performing Arts Syllabus: Section B- Dance

This section of the CUET Performing Arts syllabus 2026 is divided into 6 sub-topics as mentioned below: 

UNIT I- Brief knowledge of classical dances of India. (Kathak, Bharatnatyam, Manipuri, Kathakali, Odissi, Kuchipudi, Mohiniattam, Sattriya)

• History
• Dance repertoire
• Music, both vocal and instrumental
• Costume and makeup

UNIT II- Life sketches of chief exponents and contributors of different dance forms, past and present.

UNIT III- Knowledge of the following terms:

• Sangeet, Natan Bheda ( Natya, Nritta, Nritya)
• Tandav, Lasya
• Lokdharmi, Natyadharmi

UNIT IV- Basic knowledge of the following:

• Texts: Abhinaya Darpan, Natya Shastra, Abhinaya Chandrika, Hasta Lakshana Deepika.
• Major folk dances of India

UNIT V- Basic knowledge of Abhinaya and Rasa theory

• Aangika, Vachika, Aaharya, Satwika
• Nav rasa and sthayi bhaav
• Bhaav, Vibhaav, Anubhaav, Sanchari

UNIT VI- Survey of classical dance practice:

• Elementary information and knowledge of premier classical dance gharanas/ organisations/ institutions/university departments.
• Major dance festivals

CUET Performing Arts syllabus 2026: Section-C: Percussion Music- Hindustani & Karnataka

This section of the CUET UG Performing Arts syllabus is divided into 7 sub-topics as mentioned below: 

UNIT I- Basic knowledge of the structure of Tabla, Pakhawaj & Mridangam

UNIT II- Varnas of Tabla, Pakhawaj and Mridangam

UNIT III- Knowledge of the following terms:

• Tala, Matra,Tali, Khali, Vibhag, Tihai, Sam
• Theka, Kayada,Rela, Tukda, Paran, Peshkar, Uthan, Chakradar & Farmaishi chakradar
• Sarvlaghu, Gati, Koraipu, Korvai, Pharan, Mohra, Chapu, Muktayipu
• Study of Laya,Laykari & Jati

UNIT IV- Elementary knowledge of Bhatkhande Tala Notation System & Karnatak Tala Notation System.

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UNIT V- In this unit of CUET Performing Arts exam syllabus, you must do a brief study of:

• Origin of Tabla, Pakhawaj and Mridangam
• Gharana of Tabla and Pakhawaj

UNIT VI- Knowledge of prescribes Talas:

• Teentala, Jhaptala,Ektala, Rupak, Keharwa & Dadra
• Chautala, Sooltala,Khemtas, Dhamar
• Dhurva,Mathya Rupak,Jhampa,Triput,Ata,Eka

UNIT VII- Biographies:

• Pt. Kishan Maharaj, Ustad Zakir Hussain
• Raja Chatrapati Singh,Guru Purushotam Das
• Palani Subramanya Pillai, Palghat Mani Iyer

CUET Performing Arts syllabus 2026: Section-D: Drama Theatre 

This section of the CUET Performing Arts course syllabus is divided into 6 sub-topics as mentioned below: 

UNIT I- Introduction to Indian Classical and Traditional Theatre

• Leading Sanskrit Playwrights
• Bhasa, Kalidasa, Sudraka, Bhavabhuti [ study one text (one play)]
• Major Traditional Theatre forms

UNIT II- Modern/ Contemporary Indian Theatre

• Survey of major modern and contemporary styles and works in Hindi/ English
• Rabindranath Tagore, Bhartendu Harishchandra, Vijay Tendulkar, Mohan Rakesh, Dharamveer Bharti, Badal Sarcar, Shankar Shesh, Girish Karnad, Chandrasekhar Kambar, Madhu Rye.
• Partitioners of modern Indian Theatre Shambhu Mitra, B.V.Karanth, Habib Tanvir, K.N.Panikkar, Ratan Thiyam, Utapal Dutt, Rajender Nath, Jabbar Patel, Vijya Mehta, Satyadev Dubey, E.Alkazi, Pravin Joshi

UNIT III- Introduction to Western Classical and Medieval Drama

• Leading Greek Playwrights
• Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripedese
• Shakesperean Dramas 

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UNIT IV- Modern/Contemporary Western Theatre

• Survey of major contemporary styles and works in English or English Translation
• Any One: Chekov, Ibsen, Strindberg, Shaw, O’Neil, Miller, Ionesco, Beckett, Pinter Stoppard, Pirandello
• Practitioners of Modern Western Drama a. Stanislavsky, Lee Strasberg, Bertolt Brecht, Meyerhold, Peter Brook b. Marlin Brando, Lawrence Olivier, John Grilgood

UNIT V- Theatre Production/Architecture/ Design

• Types of Theatres: Proscenium, Arena, Theatre in Round, Thrust
• Elements of play production: Set, Light, Costume, Makeup, Sound- Music

UNIT VI- In this unit of CUET Performing Arts syllabus, you must: 

• Review of Indian Theatre Organizations-NSD, University Theatre Deptts, Sangeet Natak Academy, Zonal Cultural Centres
• Developing and documenting the research project – Examples of research projects in different aspects of theatre, such as using media and sources for the project

CUET Performing Arts Exam Pattern 2026

Now that you know the CUET Performing Arts syllabus, you must know the CUET exam pattern mentioned below: 

Particulars	Details
Medium	English & 13 languages opted by the Candidates
Total number of questions	50
Total Questions to be Attempted in Exam	50
Total marks	250
Type of question	Multiple Choice Questions
Exam Duration	60 Minutes
Exam Frequency	Once a year
Marking Scheme	+5 marks for correct answer
	-1 mark for an incorrect answer
	0 for unattempted Questions

Key Takeaways 

• CUET Performing Arts syllabus 2026 includes music, dance, and theatre, divided across 4 sections. 
• Review the exam pattern to understand the test format and marks better.
• Refer to the previous years' Performing Arts question papers and sample papers to enhance your preparation.
• Understand the exam pattern, total marks, chapter-wise weightage, and the type of questions asked in the exam clearly.
• Attempt CUET mock tests to improve your time management skills and confidence.