Odia
Each of those rules names Odia outright — no combination of the other papers reaches them. That is the whole case for spending one of five slots on it.
The paper at a glance
Odia carries the subject code 109. The syllabus described here is the one published for 2026-27.
This is one of the shortest syllabus documents NTA publishes. It is a language paper, so it describes skills rather than chapters, and it fits on a single page after the cover.
How the syllabus is organised
The specification is a numbered list in two skill areas — Reading Comprehension and Verbal Ability. There are no units, no chapter names and no prescribed texts. The PDF is titled "Syllabus for ODIA-109" and the whole specification sits on page 2, under a single introductory line.
The list opens with a deliberate caveat: questions will be from the following topics but are not limited to. Treat the headings below as the guaranteed core, not as the outer boundary.
The document is a topic list only. It does not print question counts, marks, negative marking or timing, and it does not say how many questions come from each skill area. Read it alongside the exam pattern.
Reading Comprehension
Three passages, each under a stated word cap, and the source names the three kinds separately: factual, narrative and literary.
| Skill area | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | three types of passages (maximum 300 words): Factual, Narrative, Literary |
The syllabus does not say what kind of questions follow each passage, only what kind of passage to expect.
Verbal Ability
Four item types, listed without elaboration.
| Skill area | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Verbal Ability | Rearranging the parts, Match the following, Choosing the correct word, Synonyms and Antonyms |
"Rearranging the parts" is the source's own wording; it does not specify whether the parts are words in a sentence or sentences in a paragraph. "Match the following" and "Choosing the correct word" are likewise left undefined.
What this syllabus does not tell you
The document is a skill list and nothing more. From it you cannot learn:
- how many questions come from Reading Comprehension and how many from Verbal Ability, or the marks, negative marking and duration — those are on the exam pattern;
- the weightage of either skill area, so prepare both rather than ranking them;
- the level of the language expected, or whether the passages are drawn from known Odia authors;
- any grammar syllabus — grammar is tested only as far as the four Verbal Ability item types imply;
- which books to use; the syllabus names no textbook or reading list;
- how much weight a university gives this paper once you qualify — the programmes that accept it are listed below, but the marks or ranking rule each one applies sits in its own admission bulletin.
For anything about attempt rules or numbers of questions, go to the NTA information bulletin and the exam pattern rather than to this list.
Where this paper can take you
Programmes whose rule can use Odia, from the 19 universities whose documents we have read. One of them cannot be reached any other way.
- Lovely Professional UniversityB Sc (IT) [2+2 with international credit transfer option] · B. Arch. · B.A. (Fine Arts) · and 89 more92always one route
- University of DelhiB.A. (Hons.) Political Science · B.A. (Programme) · B.A. (Hons.) Psychology · and 68 more71always one route
- Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar UniversityB.A. (Film Theatre & Media Studies) (Hons.) · B.A. (Hons.) — optional History, Sociology and English · B.A. (Hons.) Public Administration · and 24 more27always one route
- Bhattadev UniversityB.Sc. (Hons.) in Chemistry · B.Sc. (Hons.) in Zoology · B.Sc. (Hons.) in Botany · and 18 more21always one route
- North Lakhimpur UniversityB.Sc. Chemistry · B.Sc. Botany · B.A. History · and 18 more21always one route
- National Sanskrit University (previously Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeeth)B.A. (Honours) · B.Sc. Computers (BC) · B.Sc. in Yoga (BY) · and 15 more18always one route
- Nagaon UniversityB.Sc. (Hons.) in Zoology · Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Technician (BMLT) · B.Sc. (Hons.) in Botany · and 13 more16always one route
- RNB Global University, Bikaner ( Rajasthan)Bachelor of Arts (BA) Specilization in Business Studies · Bachelor of Arts (BA) Specilization in Economics / Business Economics · Bachelor of Arts (BA) Specilization in English · and 11 more14always one route
- Dr. B.R. Ambedkar University DelhiBachelor of Arts (Hons.) - Psychology · Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) - Political Science · Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) - Sociology · and 9 more12always one route
- University of JammuB.A. in Islamic Studies · B.A. in Music · B.P.A. in Performing Arts (Kathak) · and 8 more11always one route
- The English and Foreign Languages UniversityB.A. (Hons./Research) Arabic · B.A. (Hons./Research) Chinese · B.A. (Hons./Research) French · and 7 more10always one route
- Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi VishwavidyalayaComparative Literature · Translation Studies2always one route
Questions
- Which programmes require Odia?
- 1 programmes at 1 universities name Odia outright in their CUET requirement. No combination of the other papers reaches them, so a candidate who does not sit Odia cannot apply to any of them.
- Which universities accept Odia?
- 322 programmes across 19 universities can use Odia in their CUET requirement, counted from the admission documents we have read line by line. That figure includes the programmes that merely allow the paper as one option alongside others.
- What is the CUET subject code for Odia?
- Odia carries NTA subject code 109. It is a language paper in the CUET (UG) subject list.
- Which papers are most often taken with Odia?
- Counting the programme rules that accept Odia, the papers those same rules accept most often are Assamese, Bengali, English, Gujarati, Hindi. This is a count of rules, not of what candidates choose.
- Are past answer keys available for Odia?
- NTA has published a final answer key covering Odia for 2026, 2025, 2024. Each link opens NTA's own PDF at the page where this paper starts. NTA does not publish the question paper itself.