Centre faces criticism over irregularities in examination system (Img: Dynamite News)
New Delhi: A technical delay during the Common University Entrance Test (CUET-UG) 2026 on Saturday has intensified criticism of the government’s handling of national-level examinations, with opposition parties linking the disruption to recent controversies involving NEET-UG, CBSE and SSC exams.
The disruption affected the second shift of the examination at multiple centres across the country, forcing students to wait beyond their scheduled reporting time.
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The National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducts CUET-UG, said the issue was caused by a technical problem reported by its technology partner, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS).
CUET-UG 2026 faced delays at several centres due to a technical glitch, sparking fresh criticism over India’s examination system. Opposition leaders linked the issue to recent NEET, CBSE and SSC controversies. #CUETUG #NTA #EducationNews #India pic.twitter.com/xF0jp1zJGi
— Dynamite News (@DynamiteNews_) May 30, 2026
According to the revised schedule issued by the agency, candidates for the afternoon session were asked to report from 2:30 pm, while the examination eventually began at 4 pm instead of the scheduled 3 pm.
The NTA stated that the technical issue had been resolved and assured candidates that compensatory time would be provided to ensure no student faced any disadvantage due to the delay.
The incident quickly triggered strong political reactions, with opposition leaders accusing the government of repeated failures in conducting major examinations smoothly.
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! pic.twitter.com/zVTtdmR6zb
— Atishi (@AtishiAAP) May 30, 2026
AAP leader Atishi criticised the Union government and Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, pointing to recent controversies related to the NEET-UG paper leak and CBSE evaluation issues.
Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi also attacked the government, claiming repeated examination disruptions were damaging students’ trust in the education system. AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal joined the criticism, questioning the management of national-level examinations and demanding greater accountability.
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The latest CUET disruption comes amid continuing scrutiny of India’s examination infrastructure after multiple controversies in recent months.
The NEET-UG paper leak row had already triggered protests, court hearings, and demands for reforms in the functioning of the National Testing Agency. Questions had also been raised regarding CBSE evaluation practices and technical issues during certain SSC examinations.
Education experts say repeated glitches in high-stakes examinations can increase stress among students and raise concerns over transparency, preparedness, and operational efficiency.
