The NTA, responsible for conducting the nationwide entrance test for admission into undergraduate degree programmes across central, state, and private universities, revised the examination timing to 4:00 pm for the affected centres. The agency stated that the delay occurred on Saturday, May 30, due to a technical issue impacting examination systems managed by Tata Consultancy Services.
In its official communication, the NTA said that Tata Consultancy Services reported a technical glitch at its end, which delayed the commencement of the examination at certain centres. The issue, according to the agency, was subsequently resolved, and compensatory time was provided to ensure that no candidate was disadvantaged during the examination process.
The disruption has reignited political criticism over the management of major national examinations. Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, launched a strong attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging systemic failure in the conduct of examinations across the country.
In a post on social media platform X in Hindi, Rahul Gandhi referred to controversies surrounding several examinations, stating that four major examinations involving nearly one crore students had faced issues and questioning the integrity of their conduct. He cited the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test Undergraduate examination, the Central Board of Secondary Education Class 12 results, Staff Selection Commission examinations, and the Common University Entrance Test Undergraduate examination.
He further referred to concerns surrounding the CBSE Class 12 results, which were recently declared under a revised On-Screen Marking evaluation system that has faced criticism over alleged discrepancies. He also referenced earlier allegations of a paper leak in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test Undergraduate examination conducted by the NTA, which led to the cancellation of the May 3 examination.
Rahul Gandhi accused the government of failing to conduct examinations transparently and stated that the administration had not been able to manage even a single examination properly while projecting global leadership ambitions. He also stated that the younger generation whose future is affected by such disruptions would hold the government accountable.
Aam Aadmi Party national convenor Arvind Kejriwal also criticised the developments, stating that the country requires an educated Prime Minister. Responding to comments made by party leader Atishi regarding difficulties faced by students at an examination centre in Varanasi, Kejriwal highlighted systemic failures in examination management.
He further stated that multiple stakeholders would need to work collectively to address the recurring issues in the examination system, adding that isolated efforts would not be sufficient to resolve them. He also alleged that despite claims of strict measures, examination leaks and disruptions would continue if systemic corrections were not implemented.
The developments surrounding the CUET Undergraduate 2026 examination have intensified the national debate over the reliability and administration of large-scale competitive examinations in India, placing renewed focus on institutional accountability and examination infrastructure.
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