CUET-UG 2026: NTA to re-test candidates hit by TCS technical glitch
Synopsis
A TCS-triggered technical outage delayed the CUET-UG 2026 morning shift by two hours on 30 May, prompting the NTA to promise a fresh exam for all affected candidates. With over 13 lakh students registered and TCS publicly named as the cause, the incident puts India's largest centralised undergraduate entrance test under fresh scrutiny over third-party execution risk.
Key Takeaways
The NTA promised a re-examination for CUET-UG 2026 candidates who could not complete their test on 30 May 2026 due to a technical glitch.
TCS , the NTA's IT service provider, admitted a technical issue caused a delay of approximately two hours in the morning shift.
Krithivasan issued a public apology and confirmed the issue was resolved without affecting exam integrity.
Affected candidates had completed biometric registration and were present at their centres during Shift-I .
Morning-session candidates who continued were given full compensatory time to complete the paper.
In 2025 , 13.54 lakh students registered for CUET-UG, underlining the scale of potential impact.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) on Saturday, 30 May 2026 announced a fresh examination opportunity for all CUET-UG 2026 candidates who could not complete their test due to a technical glitch caused by IT service provider Tata Consultancy Services (TCS). The disruption, which delayed the morning shift by approximately two hours, affected candidates at multiple centres across the country.
What the NTA Announced
In a post on X, the NTA confirmed that any candidate who completed biometric registration and was present at their centre on 30 May 2026 in Shift-I but could not finish the exam due to the technical disruption 'will get an opportunity for examination.' The agency said it 'sincerely regrets the inconvenience caused to students and parents.'
The NTA also stated that morning-session candidates who did continue were given the full duration of the paper with compensatory time, and were permitted to exit only after completing it — ensuring no candidate was disadvantaged by the delay.
TCS Admits Fault, CEO Responds
K. Krithivasan, CEO and Managing Director of TCS, acknowledged the failure in an official statement, saying the issue was 'promptly identified and resolved' by TCS technical teams and that the exam had since resumed 'without any impact to the sanctity of the exam.' He added: 'We regret the inconvenience. Our teams are actively monitoring all systems. We remain committed to working closely with NTA to ensure seamless conduct of the computer-based tests.'
The NTA, in turn, placed the blame squarely on its vendor, stating: 'M/s TCS has reported that a technical glitch at their end delayed the commencement of CUET (UG) 2026 at some centres on 30.05.2026.' This public attribution is notable — it is rare for NTA to name a service provider in an official communication during an ongoing exam.
Scale and Context of CUET-UG 2026
The CUET-UG is India's centralised undergraduate entrance test, designed to provide a common platform and equal opportunities to candidates across the country — particularly those from rural and remote areas — and to streamline admissions to central universities. Registration for the 2026 edition opened in the first week of April. In 2025, 13.54 lakh students had registered for the exam, making any disruption at this scale a matter of significant public concern.
Pattern of Technical Failures
This is not the first time CUET has faced operational controversy. The exam has drawn criticism in previous cycles over centre-level irregularities, paper leaks, and logistical failures. A TCS-linked technical outage on exam day adds to a growing list of execution concerns around one of India's largest computer-based tests. Notably, this is the second consecutive year in which CUET-UG has faced day-of disruptions that required NTA to issue emergency remedial measures.
What Happens Next
The NTA has not yet announced the specific date for the re-examination of affected candidates. Students and parents have been advised to monitor the NTA's official website and communication channels for further updates. The agency has indicated that systems are being actively monitored to prevent recurrence during remaining shifts and exam days.
Point of View
Burned by years of exam-integrity controversies, is now prioritising optics of accountability over vendor protection. But the deeper question is structural: why does India's most consequential undergraduate entrance test still lack a robust technical failover that can prevent a two-hour delay from cascading into a re-examination exercise? With 13-plus lakh students and university admissions at stake, the tolerance for vendor-side failure should be near zero. The TCS CEO's swift public statement suggests the reputational stakes were well understood. Whether this incident prompts a formal review of NTA's vendor management and contingency protocols — or fades as another exam-season footnote — will be the real measure of accountability.
NationPress
21 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who will get a re-examination chance in CUET-UG 2026?
Candidates who completed biometric registration and were physically present at their exam centre on 30 May 2026 during Shift-I but could not finish the test due to the technical glitch will be given a fresh examination opportunity, according to the NTA.
What caused the CUET-UG 2026 technical glitch?
TCS, the IT service provider engaged by the NTA for the exam, reported a technical issue at its end that delayed the start of the morning shift by approximately two hours at several centres on 30 May 2026. TCS CEO K. Krithivasan confirmed the issue was identified and resolved by the company's technical teams.
Were candidates who continued the exam on 30 May disadvantaged?
No. The NTA stated that morning-session candidates who continued were given the full duration of the paper along with compensatory time, and were allowed to exit only after completing it, ensuring no candidate was penalised for the delay.
When is the re-examination for affected CUET-UG 2026 candidates?
The NTA had not announced a specific re-examination date as of 30 May 2026. Affected candidates have been advised to monitor the NTA's official website and communication channels for further updates.
How many students are registered for CUET-UG 2026?
The NTA has not yet released the final registration figure for 2026. In the previous cycle, 13.54 lakh students had registered for CUET-UG 2025, making any disruption at this scale a matter of significant concern for students and universities alike.
