New Delhi: The Common University Entrance Test (CUET-UG) 2026 faced disruption at several examination centres across the country on Saturday after a technical issue delayed the commencement of the test. The incident sparked widespread concern among students and parents, many of whom were left waiting for hours before receiving updates from authorities. The National Testing Agency (NTA) later confirmed that the delay was caused by a technical glitch linked to its technology partner and assured candidates that full compensatory time would be provided to ensure that no student was disadvantaged. The agency subsequently revised the schedule for later examination sessions to accommodate the delays and maintain fairness in the testing process.
The disruption quickly escalated into a political controversy, with opposition leaders accusing the central government of failing to effectively manage major national examinations. Several leaders pointed to recent controversies surrounding NEET-UG and CBSE examinations, arguing that repeated incidents have raised serious questions about the reliability of India’s examination system. Statements from opposition parties highlighted concerns about administrative lapses and demanded greater accountability from the authorities responsible for conducting large-scale competitive exams. Videos and reports from examination centres showing confusion among candidates further intensified the debate on social media and political platforms.
In response, the NTA issued a detailed clarification, stating that the technical problem had been resolved and that all affected students would receive their complete examination duration. The agency also expressed regret for the inconvenience caused and released helpline details for candidates seeking assistance. Introduced in 2022 under the framework of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, CUET-UG serves as a common entrance examination for admission to undergraduate programmes in central, state and participating universities across India. The latest disruption has once again brought attention to the challenges involved in conducting large-scale examinations involving lakhs of students across multiple cities and examination centres nationwide.
