Last Updated: April 2026
CUET 2027 will continue to include Mass Media and Communication as a domain subject (subject code 322 in the NTA list), and the seat pool — across IIMC’s PG-aligned programmes, Jamia Millia Islamia AJK MCRC’s UG, BHU’s Department of Journalism, and the new media tracks at central universities — has grown by 14% between 2024 and 2026. This guide is a complete cuet mass media communication 2027 playbook covering the syllabus, theory pillars, important topics, and 30 practice MCQs with explanations.
About the Subject
CUET Mass Media and Communication tests Class XII NCERT/NIOS-equivalent material on print, broadcast, digital media, advertising, public relations, communication theory, media laws, and ethics. The paper has 50 questions; aspirants attempt 40 in 45 minutes, +5/-1 marking. NTA scaling is applied across shifts — raw scores are normalised to percentile.
Exam Pattern Snapshot
| Particular | Detail |
|---|---|
| Total questions | 50 |
| Questions to attempt | 40 |
| Duration | 45 minutes |
| Marking scheme | +5 correct, -1 wrong |
| Mode | CBT (NTA testing centres) |
| Question type | MCQ + matching + assertion-reason |
| Language | 13 languages including English/Hindi |
Complete Syllabus — Unit-wise Weightage
| Unit | Topics | Approx Qs | Weightage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Introduction to Mass Communication | Definition, functions, models (Lasswell, Shannon-Weaver, Osgood-Schramm), elements, barriers, types | 6-7 | 13% |
| 2. Print Media | History of Indian press, James Augustus Hicky, Raja Ram Mohan Roy, news agencies (PTI, UNI, ANI), newspaper organisation, editorial structure | 5-6 | 11% |
| 3. Radio | AIR/Akashvani, FM Rainbow, FM Gold, community radio, podcast, types of programmes, radio jockey skills | 4-5 | 9% |
| 4. Television | Doordarshan history, satellite TV, cable, DTH, OTT, INSAT, news production cycle | 5-6 | 11% |
| 5. Cinema | Dadasaheb Phalke, parallel cinema, Satyajit Ray, FTII, NFDC, film classification (CBFC), regional cinema | 4-5 | 9% |
| 6. New Media / Digital | Internet, blog, social media, convergence, citizen journalism, fake news, AI in media | 5-6 | 11% |
| 7. Advertising | Types, AIDA model, copywriting, agency structure, ASCI, creative process | 4-5 | 9% |
| 8. Public Relations | PRSI, internal/external PR, corporate communication, crisis management | 3-4 | 7% |
| 9. Communication Theory | Hypodermic needle, two-step flow, agenda setting (McCombs & Shaw), uses & gratifications, cultivation theory (Gerbner), framing | 5-6 | 11% |
| 10. Media Laws & Ethics | Press Council Act 1978, RTI 2005, Cinematograph Act 1952, IT Rules 2021, defamation, Article 19(1)(a) & 19(2), DPDP 2023 | 4-5 | 9% |
Theory Pillars Every Aspirant Must Master
1. Communication Models
- Lasswell (1948): Who? Says what? In which channel? To whom? With what effect?
- Shannon-Weaver (1949): Source → Encoder → Channel → Decoder → Receiver, with Noise
- Osgood-Schramm (1954): Circular, both parties encode/decode — first interactive model
- Berlo’s SMCR (1960): Source-Message-Channel-Receiver
- Westley & MacLean: Mass communication with gatekeeping
2. Effects Theories
- Hypodermic Needle / Magic Bullet (1920s-30s): media injects ideas; later disproved
- Two-Step Flow (Lazarsfeld, 1944): opinion leaders mediate
- Agenda Setting (McCombs & Shaw, 1972): media tells us what to think about
- Cultivation Theory (Gerbner, 1976): heavy TV viewers see “scary world”
- Uses & Gratifications (Katz et al., 1973): active audience selects media for needs
- Spiral of Silence (Noelle-Neumann, 1974): minority opinions silenced by majority
- Framing Theory (Goffman, Entman): media frames decide interpretation
3. Indian Press History — Key Dates
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1780 | Hicky’s Bengal Gazette — first Indian newspaper |
| 1816 | Bengal Gazetti by Gangadhar Bhattacharya — first Indian-edited paper |
| 1822 | Mumbai Samachar (Gujarati) — oldest still in publication |
| 1875 | The Statesman |
| 1878 | The Hindu founded; Vernacular Press Act |
| 1947 | AIR officially after Independence |
| 1959 | Doordarshan started |
| 1976 | DD separated from AIR |
| 1991 | Liberalisation; private satellite TV |
| 2002 | Community radio policy |
| 2008 | Phase III FM expansion |
| 2021 | IT (Intermediary Guidelines) Rules |
| 2023 | Digital Personal Data Protection Act |
High-Yield Topics for CUET 2027
- Lasswell, Shannon-Weaver, Berlo SMCR — model questions appear every year
- James Augustus Hicky and Bengal Gazette
- Press Council of India — composition (28 members), functions
- Cinematograph Act 1952 — CBFC categories U / U-A / A / S
- RTI Act 2005 — Section 4, 6, 8, 20
- Article 19(1)(a) and reasonable restrictions in 19(2)
- Difference between gatekeeping and agenda setting
- OTT regulation under IT Rules 2021
- Five Ws and one H of news writing
- Inverted pyramid structure
- AIDA model in advertising
Preparation Strategy — 30 Day Plan
| Week | Focus | Targets |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Communication models, theories, Indian press history | Make flashcards for 7 models + 7 theories |
| 2 | Print, Radio, TV, Cinema | Year-fact mapping table; CBFC categories |
| 3 | New media, Advertising, PR, Media laws | Read IT Rules 2021 summary; AIDA + SOSTAC |
| 4 | Revision + 4 mocks + PYQ practice | Hit 35+/40 in mocks |
30 Practice MCQs — Sample Set (Five with Explanations)
Q1.
Who is regarded as the father of Indian press?
A) Raja Ram Mohan Roy B) James Augustus Hicky C) Dadabhai Naoroji D) Gangadhar Bhattacharya
Answer: B. James Augustus Hicky started Bengal Gazette in 1780.
Q2.
“Who says what, in which channel, to whom, with what effect” — proposed by?
A) Berlo B) Lasswell C) Shannon D) Schramm
Answer: B. Lasswell, 1948.
Q3.
Agenda setting theory was given by?
A) Lazarsfeld B) McCombs and Shaw C) Gerbner D) Katz
Answer: B. 1972.
Q4.
Doordarshan was launched in which year?
A) 1947 B) 1959 C) 1976 D) 1982
Answer: B. 15 September 1959.
Q5.
Which act regulates film certification in India?
A) Press Council Act 1978 B) Cinematograph Act 1952 C) IT Act 2000 D) RTI Act 2005
Answer: B. Cinematograph Act 1952; CBFC.
Take the embedded quiz at the end for the remaining 25 MCQs.
Internal Resources
Explore our CUET 2027 courses, the CUET 2027 hub page, and free study resources.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Is Mass Media and Communication available in CUET UG?
A: Yes — subject code 322 in NTA’s domain subject list. Open to any Class XII stream that has studied the subject or its equivalent.
Q2: Which colleges accept CUET Mass Media scores?
A: Jamia Millia Islamia (AJK MCRC), BHU, Hyderabad Central University, Allahabad University, Tezpur, IGNOU and select state central universities. IIMC primarily uses IIMC-CET for PG, but UG aspirants can target JMI/BHU via CUET.
Q3: What is the marking scheme for CUET Mass Media?
A: +5 for correct, -1 for wrong, 0 for unattempted. Attempt only what you are confident on.
Q4: Are there any unit-wise priorities?
A: Communication theory, Indian press history, and media laws together cover roughly 33-35% of the paper.
Q5: Best book for CUET Mass Media 2027?
A: NCERT Class XII Mass Media Studies (NIOS), Communication Theories by Wilbur Schramm (introductory chapters), and CBSE-12 Mass Media textbook. Supplement with PYQs.
Practice Quiz — 10 Curated MCQs
Practice Quiz — 10 CUET-Style Questions
Click an option to reveal the answer and explanation.
Get Started Today
Mass Media is a high-scoring CUET subject when prep is structured. Enrol in our CUET 2027 program for unit-wise notes, weekly mocks, and a 30-day revision booster.
