CUET retest for 3,700 students after glitch mars exam

The Common University Entrance Test (CUET) for undergraduate admissions was marred by a significant technical glitch on Saturday, causing delays for tens of thousands of students across India. The National Testing Agency (NTA) attributed the disruption to errors in the systems managed by Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), the exam's conductor.

“

69,341 candidates (almost 95%) completed their examination at their respective centres. However, 3,765 candidates could not wait until the examination resumed and left their respective examination centres, without appearing for the test.

Students arrived at examination centers as scheduled, with tests for 12 subjects in Shift 1 set to begin at 9 a.m. However, the exams were delayed by two hours, leaving candidates waiting inside testing rooms with little clarity on the situation. While the NTA stated that nearly 95% of the 73,100 affected students completed their examinations, a substantial number, 3,765 candidates, left their centers without taking the test after the delay.

“

Nobody at any centre announced that the exam was being cancelled. It seems all students who were scheduled to write the exam at that centre left without writing the exam.

An NTA official denied claims that students were told the exam was canceled, stating that no such announcement was made. The agency confirmed that the 3,765 candidates who left were from various centers nationwide, including a specific hub in Noida. As a "one-time measure," the NTA announced a retest for these students and has directed TCS-iON to investigate the causes of the delay and submit a report. The incident adds to a series of disruptions that have plagued standardized examinations in India, raising fresh anxiety among students.

“

We entered the examination hall and were made to wait for four hours. Then we were informed that the exam had been postponed.