NTA Reports Technical Glitch in CUET UG 2026 Exam, Thousands of Students Affected Across Centres
Exam Delays Trigger Chaos as National Testing Agency Promises Re-Test for Affected Candidates
The National Testing Agency (NTA) has acknowledged a major technical glitch that disrupted the conduct of the Common University Entrance Test Undergraduate (CUET-UG) 2026 at several examination centres across India, triggering widespread confusion, delays, and protests from students and parents. The agency stated that the disruption originated from a technical issue on the side of its technology partner, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), and assured that affected candidates would be given another opportunity to appear for the examination.
According to NTA, the glitch delayed the commencement of examination sessions at multiple centres, forcing thousands of students to wait for hours before receiving updates. In response, the agency revised afternoon session timings and announced compensatory measures to ensure that candidates did not lose examination time.
Students Left Waiting for Hours
Reports from several states described scenes of confusion outside examination centres as candidates waited in extreme heat without clear communication regarding the status of their exams. Some students alleged that servers failed repeatedly, while others claimed examinations could not begin even after long delays. Parents gathered outside centres demanding explanations from authorities as uncertainty continued throughout the day.
At some centres, candidates reportedly remained inside examination facilities for several hours before being informed that the examination could not proceed as scheduled. Several students expressed concern that the delays had caused mental stress and disrupted their performance in one of India’s most important university entrance examinations.
NTA and TCS Issue Clarifications
The NTA stated that TCS reported a technical malfunction that delayed the examination process but emphasized that the issue was subsequently resolved. The agency maintained that candidates who completed their examinations received full compensatory time and that no student would be placed at a disadvantage because of the disruption.
TCS also acknowledged the issue, describing it as a temporary technical problem that led to delays of nearly two hours at some locations before normal operations were restored.
Re-Exam Announced for Affected Candidates
Recognizing the seriousness of the disruption, NTA announced that candidates who were unable to take or complete the examination due to the technical glitch would be provided another chance through a special re-examination. Reports indicate that more than 3,700 candidates may be eligible for the re-test, although the exact number could change after verification of centre-level reports.
The agency said detailed instructions regarding the re-examination schedule would be communicated separately to affected students.
Renewed Questions Over NTA’s Exam Management
The latest disruption has once again intensified scrutiny of the National Testing Agency, which has faced repeated criticism in recent years over examination-related controversies involving NEET, JEE, and other national-level tests. Educational experts and student groups argue that recurring technical and administrative failures are eroding public confidence in India’s centralized examination system.
Social media platforms were flooded with complaints from candidates who questioned why critical national examinations continue to face infrastructure failures despite being conducted digitally and involving millions of students every year.
CUET-UG has become the primary gateway for admission to undergraduate programmes in central universities and many major higher education institutions across India. Any disruption in the examination process directly affects the academic future of lakhs of students competing for limited seats. The incident has therefore raised concerns not only about technical preparedness but also about crisis management and communication during high-stakes examinations.
As NTA moves forward with re-examinations for affected candidates, attention will remain focused on whether the agency can restore confidence in the examination process and prevent similar disruptions during future national entrance tests.
