NEW DELHI, May 30: More than 3,700 Common University Entrance Test – Under Graduate (CUET-UG) candidates who left their examination centres after a technical glitch delayed the start of Shift 1 of the test on Saturday will be given a one-time opportunity to reappear for the entrance exam for undergraduate admissions, the National Testing Agency (NTA) said.
Following the disruption, examination timings were revised at the affected centres and “most candidates (about 95 per cent) were able to complete their exam once it resumed,” the National Testing Agency (NTA) said.
“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. For these candidates, NTA will hold a rescheduled examination as a one-time measure,” the NTA said on X.
The new date and details will be announced separately, the agency said. In a post on X, it also said: “We know today’s unfortunate technical disruption caused distress for some CUET (UG) 2026 candidates. Candidates who did their Biometric Registration and were present at their examination centres today in Shift-I but couldn’t complete their examination due to this technical glitch, will get an opportunity for examination.”
Earlier in the day, the agency blamed the technical glitch on part of the M/s TCS (Tata Consultancy Services), which “delayed the commencement of CUET (UG) 2026 at some centres on 30.05.2026.” Noting that the issue has since been resolved, NTA said the “exam is being conducted with full compensatory time so that no candidate is disadvantaged.”
“Morning-session candidates are being given the full duration of the paper and may exit only after completing it,” it added. Additionally, it also announced revised timings for the day’s second shift, which was originally scheduled to commence at 3 p.m., with entry starting at 1 p.m. The revised timing for the afternoon sessions are as follows- Reporting/entry: from 2.30 p.m.; examination begins: 4 p.m. (instead of 3 p.m.).
In a statement, K. Krithivasan, CEO and MD at TCS, said “a brief technical issue” caused a delay of around two hours in the morning shift of CUET-UG. “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 statement said.
It added that its teams are “actively monitoring all systems” and remain committed to working closely with the NTA “to ensure seamless conduct of the computer-based tests.” The NTA also said that TCS iON, “has been asked to conduct a root-cause analysis and submit its report immediately” after the glitch delayed the commencement of the examination at some centres.
Meanwhile, parents and guardians waiting outside the examination centres took to social media to share their grievances.
Posting on X, Leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly Atishi criticised the Union Education Minister, saying: “First NEET, then CBSE, now CUET…Today CUET has been delayed due to a ‘technical issue’. Lakhs of students were to take the exam in all parts of India today and after waiting for hours, such notices have been put up outside all centres. Remarkable incompetence @dpradhanbjp!”
The CUET-UG examination this year commenced from May 11, 2026 and will go on up to May 31, 2026. As per the NTA, a total of 15,68,866 candidates have registered for the examination, which is being conducted across 35 shifts over the 21-day examination window.
(Manas Dasgupta)