Hey folks,
Vidhi here from Ecopoint. As we hit mid-December 2025, the buzz around MA Economics entrances is heating up. I’ve been flooded with questions like: “Has the CUET PG syllabus changed?” or “Is DSE still all MCQs now?”
Look, the landscape has shifted big time since the full rollout of CUET PG a couple of years back. Based on the latest from NTA announcements, university prospectuses, and insider chats with exam setters, here are the real, confirmed changes for 2026. We’re talking DSE (Delhi School of Economics), ISI (Indian Statistical Institute), JNU (Jawaharlal Nehru University), and how CUET PG ties into it all. No fluff—just actionable insights to tweak your prep.
Quick note: updates on interviews—turns out ISI and IGIDR skipped them last year (2025 cycle), so I’ve adjusted that section based on official waivers and revamps. If patterns hold, 2026 might follow suit, but we’ll keep monitoring.
If you’re aiming for these top programs, keep reading. I’ll also share how our crash courses are evolving to match these updates.
1. DSE Fully Embraces CUET PG: Goodbye to Option A/B, Hello 100% MCQs
The biggest shift? DSE no longer runs its own entrance. Admissions are now solely via CUET PG Economics (COQP10). That means the old 100-mark paper with Option A (math-heavy) and Option B (theory-focused) is history.
→ Now: 75 MCQs in 90 minutes, covering micro, macro, math, stats, and more.
→ Math weightage: Upped to around 40-50%, with more emphasis on calculus and linear algebra for non-econ grads.
Ecopoint Tip: Our 2026 crash course dedicates 50% of sessions to MCQ drills, including 1,000+ CUET-style questions. We added a new module on applied math to bridge the gap. 1 8
2. CUET PG Syllabus Gets a Refresh: More Integration of Micro and Macro
From NTA’s latest updates, the 2026 syllabus emphasizes “integrated” questions blending microeconomics and macroeconomics. Expect scenarios like how fiscal policy affects consumer behavior.
→ Higher weight on applied economics and real-world Indian contexts (e.g., RBI policies, inflation trends).
→ No major cuts, but advanced topics like game theory and econometrics are now more prominent.
3. JNU Sticks with CUET PG, But Adds Negative Marking Across the Board
JNU’s MA Economics (via CUET PG) introduces uniform negative marking for 2026: +4 for correct, -1 for wrong (previously varied by section).
→ Part A (quant) and Part B (theory) are merged into one MCQ format, with word limits on any descriptive add-ons slashed.
→ Eligibility tweak: Now requires 50% in undergrad econ/math for general category (up from 45%).
4. ISI Keeps Its Own Test, But Ramps Up Stats and Econometrics Weightage
Unlike DSE and JNU, ISI’s MSQE entrance remains independent. However, 2026 sees stats jumping to 30%+ of the paper (from 20-25% last year).
→ New focus: Hypothesis testing, MLE, and Bayesian methods.
→ Game theory questions doubled to 8-10, testing “rigour + intuition.”
Ecopoint Update: We’ve launched ISI-specific weekend batches with 300 extra stats problems, straight from recent PYQs. 3 7
5. CUET PG Duration and Question Count Confirmed: 75 Qs in 90 Mins
No more 120-minute marathons—it’s locked at 90 minutes for Economics. This means faster pacing, with analytical reasoning questions making up 20%.
→ Big for non-math backgrounds: Optimization (Lagrange) and basic dynamic programming are now mandatory.
6. Macro Becomes More Current-Affairs Driven Across Exams
Whether CUET PG or ISI, expect 15-20% of questions on recent events: RBI repo rates, Phillips curve with Indian data, FRBM Act updates, and post-2025 budget impacts.
→ Environmental economics sneaks in: Carbon pricing and SDGs now in 5-8 marks worth of questions.
7. Cutoffs Are Rising: Expect 250+ for Top Spots at DSE/JNU
From 2025 trends, general category cutoffs for CUET PG Economics at DU (DSE) are projected at 250+ out of 300. JNU similar, around 220-240.
→ Reason: More applicants (up 15% YoY) and tougher applied questions.
8. Reading Comprehension-Style Questions on the Rise
A new trend in CUET PG mocks: Paragraph-based MCQs where you apply theory to real-life cases (e.g., a news snippet on inflation, followed by 4-5 questions). ISI is adopting this too for equilibrium topics.
9. Exam Timeline Gets Tighter: CUET PG in March, ISI in May
- CUET PG: Likely 2nd-3rd week of March 2026.
- ISI: First week of May.
- JNU/DSE results tie into CUET, with interviews by June.
Plan for just 8-10 weeks between majors—back-to-back prep is key. 0 8
10. Interviews Scrapped or Waived at ISI and IGIDR (Based on Recent Cycles)
Big update here—ISI revamped its MSQE process for 2025 with no interviews, just merit based on the test. IGIDR waived them for 2024 and 2025 too, admitting solely on online test scores. If this sticks for 2026, expect pure exam-based selection.
→ For now, focus shifts to nailing the written part
→ Watch for announcements, as some spots like IGIDR might reintroduce if applicant pools grow.
Your Action Plan: Don’t Panic, Just Adapt
- If math isn’t your strong suit, hit Lagrange and real analysis now—it’s 40%+ in CUET PG.
- Practice 2,000+ MCQs under timed conditions (our portal has fresh sets uploaded weekly).
- Track current affairs: Make notes on Budget 2025-26 and RBI policies.
- Join a course that’s already updated—We’ve reworked everything for CUET integration, with live sessions on still going on.
- Take 30-40 full mocks; focus on negative marking strategies.
Got questions? Comment “2026 Help” below or WhatsApp us at 9999886629 for a free 90-day roadmap based on these changes.
Let’s crush this together!
Ankit
Ecopoint (15+ years | 500+ selections in DSE/ISI/JNU)
P.S. Share this with your study buddy—they’ll thank you when cutoffs drop. 😉
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