A technical glitch during the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) Undergraduate 2026 examination on Saturday affected candidates at multiple centres, prompting the National Testing Agency (NTA) to announce a one-time opportunity for some students to retake the test. According to the NTA, more than 3,700 candidates who had completed biometric registration but left their examination centres before the test could restart will be allowed to appear for a rescheduled examination.
Details of the Disruption
The issue delayed the start of Shift 1 at some centres. The NTA stated that after the problem was resolved, most candidates were able to complete their examination. However, 3,765 students chose to leave before the exam resumed. The NTA said on X, "Most candidates were able to complete their exam once it resumed. We understand that 3,765 candidates who were present and had completed biometric registration chose to leave before the exam could restart." The agency added, "For these candidates, NTA will hold a rescheduled examination as a one-time measure."
NTA's Response and Apology
The NTA said details of the fresh examination date will be announced separately. It also apologised for the disruption and confirmed that the technical service provider, TCS iON, has been asked to conduct a root-cause analysis and submit a report immediately. "We know this was stressful, and we're sorry for the anxiety it caused," the NTA said.
Compensatory Time and Revised Schedule
Earlier in the day, the NTA announced that the technical issue had been resolved and candidates were being given full compensatory time. Morning shift candidates were allowed to complete the full duration of the paper, while the afternoon session began later than scheduled. The revised reporting time for the afternoon session was 2:30 pm, and the examination started at 4 pm instead of 3 pm.
Statement from TCS
TCS CEO and Managing Director K Krithivasan acknowledged a "brief technical issue" that caused a delay of around two hours in the morning shift. "The issue was promptly identified and resolved by our technical teams and the examination has since resumed without any impact to the sanctity of the exam. We regret the inconvenience," the company said.
Student and Parent Reactions
Meanwhile, several students and parents took to social media to complain about long waiting hours and a lack of communication at some centres. One user wrote, "CUET 2026 students forced to wait 3-4 hours due to technical glitches. No proper communication, no arrangements, students and parents suffering in extreme heat." Another user claimed that students and parents had reached a Delhi examination centre early in the morning, only to find that the test had not started hours later.
Background on CUET-UG
CUET-UG is the national-level entrance examination for admission to undergraduate programmes in central, state, and several private universities. Conducted by the NTA, the exam has faced operational challenges in previous years as well, including delays, technical problems, centre changes, and rescheduled tests.
