Admissions – Rescheduled CUET-UG 2026 Conducted Successfully Across Test Centres
Admissions – The rescheduled Common University Entrance Test for undergraduate programmes (CUET-UG) 2026 was carried out without any major issues on Sunday at examination centres across India and selected overseas locations. The revised schedule was introduced after some tests originally planned for May 28 were deferred because of Eid al-Adha.
Exam Held in Multiple Shifts
According to information shared by officials from the National Testing Agency (NTA), the examination was conducted in two separate shifts and proceeded smoothly throughout the day. The agency reported that arrangements at both domestic and international centres functioned as planned, ensuring candidates could complete their examinations without disruption.
During the first shift, examinations were organised at 334 centres for 70,266 registered candidates. One international centre remained operational and accommodated two candidates appearing from outside India. Officials stated that no candidates registered under the Persons with Disabilities (PwD) category participated in this session.
Attendance Figures for Second Session
The second shift witnessed a larger number of registrations. A total of 80,872 candidates were scheduled to take the examination at 358 centres. Three candidates from the PwD category were registered for this session. Additionally, two overseas centres facilitated the participation of 30 candidates from foreign locations.
Data released by the agency indicated that 54,882 candidates appeared in the second shift, resulting in an attendance rate of nearly 68 percent. Officials described the overall conduct of the examination as orderly and well-managed.
Revised Schedule Announced Earlier
The NTA had previously revised the CUET-UG 2026 examination calendar after deciding to postpone certain papers scheduled for May 28. The decision was taken in view of Eid al-Adha observances. The affected examinations were redistributed across May 31, June 6, and June 7.
Admit cards for candidates scheduled to appear on May 31 had already been made available. The agency also confirmed that hall tickets for the remaining examination dates would be released separately before the respective tests.
Technical Issue Prompted Special Arrangements
The successful conduct of Sunday’s examination followed a technical disruption reported a day earlier at several centres. The issue caused delays in the commencement of the first shift, affecting a number of candidates waiting to take the examination.
Following the incident, the NTA announced that a fresh examination opportunity would be provided to affected students. The agency clarified that 3,765 candidates had completed biometric verification and were present at their designated centres but left before the examination could resume.
Re-Examination for Affected Candidates
To address concerns arising from the disruption, the agency confirmed that a one-time re-examination would be organised for these candidates. Officials stated that the fresh test date would be communicated separately through official channels.
The move is aimed at ensuring that students impacted by the unexpected delay receive an equal opportunity to participate in the admission process without disadvantage.
Importance of CUET-UG in Higher Education Admissions
Introduced in 2022, CUET-UG serves as a common entrance examination for undergraduate admissions across central universities, several state institutions, and participating private universities. The examination was designed to bring greater uniformity and transparency to the admission process.
The test evaluates candidates across language proficiency, subject-specific knowledge, and general aptitude. It aligns with the objectives of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which promotes a more standardised and student-focused framework for higher education admissions across the country.