CUET-UG 2026 affected by technical fault; NTA says retest will be conducted for 3,765 candidates
Candidates look for the seating arrangements as they arrive to appear for the Common University Entrance Test – Undergraduate (CUET-UG) examination in New Delhi. File. | Photo credit: ANI
The first shift of the Common University Entrance Test2026 for Undergraduate Admissions (CUET-UG) was delayed at some centers on Saturday (May 30, 2026) due to a technical glitch that caused stress to hundreds of students and their parents. More than 3,700 applicants who completed biometric registration left without the test.
“Earlier today, some centers faced a technical glitch which delayed the start of Shift 1. We know it has been stressful and we apologize for the anxiety this has caused. The technical service provider, TCS iON, has been asked to conduct a root cause analysis and submit its report immediately,” the National Testing Agency (NTA) said.
“Most candidates (about 95%) were able to complete the exam once it was resumed. We understand that 3,765 candidates who were present and completed the biometric registration decided to leave before the exam could resume. For these candidates, NTA will hold a rescheduled exam as a one-off measure. The new date and details will be announced separately,” it said.
‘Problem solved’
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) Managing Director and Managing Director K. Krithivasan said in a statement, “A brief technical issue caused a delay of around two hours in the CUET-UG examination today in the morning shift. The issue was immediately identified and resolved by our technical teams and the examination has since continued without any impact on the sanctity of the exam. We apologize for the inconvenience.”
On social media, many people claimed there was a delay of three to four hours. Some videos of students protesting against the organizers also got into circulation.
The NTA, through its X handle, had earlier said that the issue had been resolved and that the test was conducted with full compensatory time, so no candidate was disadvantaged. The adjusted times for the afternoon sessions were 2.30pm for reporting/entry and 4.00pm for the start of the exam.
CUET was formally launched in 2022 for the admission of undergraduates in all Central/Participating Universities (State/Deemed/Private) across the country in line with the National Education Policy 2020 guidelines.
“The Common University Entrance Test (CUET) provides a common platform and equal opportunities to candidates across the country, especially those from rural and other remote areas, and helps establish better linkages with universities. A single examination enables candidates to cover a wide reach and be part of the admission process to various central universities/participating universities (state/deemed/private),” its website said.
Visuals from CUET’s outdoor center in Ambala https://t.co/BR7JsDVzHW
— Atishi (@AtishiAAP) May 30, 2026
Repeated concerns
The NTA has faced considerable criticism in recent years due to repeated concerns over the conduct of major trials. After the NEET-UG medical entrance test 2024 paper leak allegations, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) took over the case and indicted at least 45 accused persons.
This year, NTA canceled the NEET-UG examination (held on May 3) and postponed it to June 21 following complaints that questions were leaked. The CBI is conducting the investigation on the recommendation of the Education Ministry and has arrested 13 accused persons so far.
Statement by K Krithivasan, CEO & MD TCS @NTA_examinationspic.twitter.com/cebDJw7E3y
— TCS iON (@TCS_iON) May 30, 2026
The latest edition of CUET-UG came close to yet another controversy that has engulfed the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and the Department of Education over irregularities in the on-Screen Marking (OSM) evaluation process for the Class 12 board examination.
Published – 30 May 2026 12:47 IST