New Delhi— The Common University Entrance Test-Undergraduate (CUET-UG) 2026 witnessed delays at some examination centres on Saturday due to a technical glitch, the National Testing Agency (NTA) said.
According to the agency, the issue originated at the end of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), the technology partner involved in conducting the examination. The glitch temporarily delayed the commencement of the test at certain centres.
In a statement posted on X, the NTA said the problem had been resolved and assured candidates that no one would be disadvantaged as a result of the disruption.
“TCS has reported that a technical glitch at their end delayed the commencement of CUET UG 2026 at some centres on Saturday. The issue has since been resolved, and the exam is being conducted with full compensatory time so that no candidate is disadvantaged,” the agency stated.
To accommodate the delay, the NTA revised the schedule for the afternoon session. Candidates were allowed entry from 2:30 pm, while the examination was rescheduled to begin at 4:00 pm instead of the originally planned 3:00 pm.
The agency also clarified that candidates appearing in the morning session were being provided the full duration of the examination and would be permitted to leave only after completing the allotted test time.
Expressing regret over the inconvenience caused, the NTA apologised to students and parents affected by the delay.
For assistance, the agency has provided a helpline number, +91-11-40759000, and an email address, cuet-ug@nta.ac.in, for candidates seeking support.
Introduced in 2022, CUET-UG serves as a national-level entrance examination for admission to undergraduate programmes in central, state and participating private universities across India. The exam was launched to create a uniform admission process and reduce dependence on multiple entrance tests.
The examination assesses candidates on language proficiency, domain-specific subjects and general aptitude, in line with the objectives of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 aimed at ensuring greater inclusivity and equal opportunities in higher education.
