NEW DELHI: Following the NEET-UG and CBSE controversies, the CUET-UG 2026 examination, which serves as the gateway for undergraduate admissions across Indian universities, faced significant disruption on Saturday. A technical glitch delayed the start of the exam by several hours at various centres nationwide, prompting the National Testing Agency (NTA) to revise schedules, provide compensatory time, and announce a re-exam for approximately 3,700 candidates who left exam centres without taking the test.
Morning Shift Disruption
The disruption primarily affected the morning shift of the three-hour computer-based examination. Candidates at several centres reported that despite completing entry formalities and being seated well before the scheduled 9:00 AM start, the test did not begin until 11:30 AM. Students remained inside the exam halls while relatives waiting outside were left without any clarity regarding the delay. At some centres, the exam reportedly began up to four hours behind schedule. Notices about the delay were pasted outside centres after parents protested. The NTA's technology partner, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), confirmed that the glitch was fixed and that students were given additional time to complete the test.
Impact on Candidates and Centres
Approximately 15.7 lakh candidates were expected to appear for the test nationwide. There are 306 CUET centres in India and 15 abroad. While the exact number of affected centres is unclear, reports of disruptions emerged from Delhi, Jodhpur, Noida, and several other locations in Uttar Pradesh. The delay also had a cascading effect on the afternoon shift, as candidates from the morning session exited much later than planned. In response, the NTA revised the afternoon schedule, directing candidates to report from 2:30 PM instead of the usual 1:00 PM, and announced that exams would begin at 4:00 PM instead of the scheduled 3:00 PM. Candidates are officially required to report to the CUET exam centre at least two hours before the commencement of their scheduled shift, after which entry is stopped.
NTA and TCS Statements
In a statement, the NTA said that its technology partner, TCS, had reported a technical glitch that delayed the commencement of CUET-UG at some centres. The agency stated that the issue had been resolved and that candidates were being given full compensatory time. "Morning-session candidates are being given the full duration of the paper and may exit only after completing it," the NTA said, apologising for the inconvenience caused. TCS, which operationalises the computer-based examination for NTA, explained that a brief technical issue had caused a delay of around two hours in the morning shift. The company said the problem was promptly identified and resolved and maintained that there was no impact on the sanctity of the examination.
"Most candidates (about 95%) 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. For these candidates, NTA will hold a rescheduled exam as a one-time measure. The new date and details will be announced separately," TCS said.
Widespread Effects
The glitch affected centres across multiple cities. Some candidates reported that exams were cancelled, while others said students left centres amid confusion before the issue was resolved. The NTA and TCS are working to ensure a smooth rescheduled exam for the affected candidates.
