Thousands of candidates appearing for the Common University Entrance Test (CUET-UG) 2026 faced delays at some examination centres on Saturday after a technical issue disrupted the start of the test, prompting the National Testing Agency (NTA) to revise the schedule and extend examination time for affected students.
The disruption came during one of the country’s largest undergraduate entrance examinations, which is used by central, state, deemed and private universities for admissions. With concerns emerging from several centres over the delayed commencement of the test, the NTA said steps had been taken to ensure that no candidate loses examination time because of the glitch.
In a statement posted on X, the agency said the delay was caused by a technical problem reported by its service provider, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS). According to the NTA, the issue has since been resolved, and examinations are continuing with compensatory time being provided to candidates wherever required.
As part of the revised arrangements, the afternoon session examination will now begin at 4 pm, one hour later than the originally scheduled start time of 3 pm. Candidate reporting and entry will continue from 2:30 pm.
The agency also clarified that students appearing in the morning session are being given the complete duration of their examination and will be permitted to leave only after finishing the allotted test time.
“NTA sincerely regrets the inconvenience caused to students and parents,” the agency said, while sharing its helpline number and email support for candidates seeking assistance.
Revised schedule announced for afternoon session
The NTA said the revised schedule has been implemented to compensate candidates affected by the delay and maintain fairness in the examination process.
Under the updated timetable, candidates for the afternoon shift will report from 2:30 pm, while the examination will commence at 4 pm.
Officials said the objective is to ensure that every candidate receives the full duration of the test irrespective of the delay experienced at individual centres.
Earlier exam postponement over Bakrid holiday
The development comes days after the NTA postponed CUET-UG examinations scheduled for May 28 following a change in the date of the Id-ul-Zuha (Bakrid) holiday notified by the government.
At the time, the agency had announced that both shifts scheduled for May 28 would be conducted on revised dates, which are yet to be announced.
CUET serves as a common entrance platform for undergraduate admissions across hundreds of participating universities. The examination is designed to provide students from diverse regions, including rural and remote areas, a single gateway to multiple higher education institutions.