CUET UG 2026 Delayed: NTA Revises Afternoon Shift Timings Following TCS Technical Glitch; Full Compensatory Time Promised
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The Cause: A sudden technical glitch and service disruption reported by service provider TCS.
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New Afternoon Timing: Shift 2 will now begin at 4:00 PM instead of the original 3:00 PM schedule.
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Afternoon Reporting Time: Entry for the afternoon session will start at 2:30 PM.
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Morning Shift Relief: Candidates are being given full compensatory time and will only exit after completing their paper duration.
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Upcoming Reschedule
Due to the technical breakdown at select examination centres on May 30, 2026, the NTA has pushed back the afternoon slot to ensure candidates do not panic.
The official structural changes for the afternoon session are structured as follows:
| Event Component | Original Timing | Revised Timing (Today, May 30) |
| Reporting & Centre Entry | 1:30 PM | From 2:30 PM onwards |
| Gate Closing Time | 2:30 PM | 3:30 PM |
| CUET UG Exam Start Time | 3:00 PM | 4:00 PM |
Official NTA Statement on X (formerly Twitter): "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. The issue has since been resolved, and the exam is being conducted with full compensatory time so that no candidate is disadvantaged."
Massive Relief for Morning Session Candidates
For students who were already inside the computer-based test (CBT) halls during the morning slot when the connectivity issue hit, the NTA clarified that their interests are fully protected.
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Guaranteed Paper Duration: Every candidate will get the complete allotted minutes for their respective domain subjects, languages, or general tests.
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Controlled Exit: To avoid paper leaks and maintain absolute test sanctity, morning-session students will only be permitted to leave the room after successfully completing their full paper duration.
The testing agency explicitly expressed its deepest regret to the thousands of anxious parents and students waiting outside the venues, reinforcing that security and equity remain uncompromised.
CUET UG 2026 Upcoming Revised Exam Dates Announced
This is not the first modification to the schedule this week. To accommodate students dealing with local disruptions or center-specific issues, the NTA has finalized an alternative buffer window.
If your centre experienced an unresolvable server blackout today, please keep track of the fresh dates allocated for the remaining phases:
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May 31, 2026
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June 6, 2026
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June 7, 2026
Candidates are urged to download their updated CUET UG 2026 admit cards exclusively from the official portal at cuet.nta.nic.in.
Official NTA Grievance Helpline
If you faced a localized problem, failed to get extra compensatory time, or need clarity on your rescheduled center, contact the authorities directly:
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Helpline Number: +91-11-40759000
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Official Email Support: cuet-ug@nta.ac.in
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) — CUET UG 2026 Technical Delay
Q1: Why was the CUET UG 2026 exam delayed today?
The exam was delayed at select test centers due to a sudden technical glitch and severe connectivity disruption on the servers managed by the exam partner, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS).
Q2: What is the new timing for the CUET UG May 30 afternoon shift?
The afternoon exam will now start at 4:00 PM (delayed from 3:00 PM). Candidates can start reporting at the test venue from 2:30 PM onwards.
Q3: Will I get extra time if my CUET exam started late?
Yes. The NTA has confirmed that full compensatory writing time will be provided to every single student affected by the technical delay. No student will lose marks or time due to this server issue.
Q4: Where can I check if my exam has been rescheduled to June?
Revised schedules, venue changes, and fresh admit cards for the upcoming June 6 and June 7 exams are being updated dynamically on the official NTA website: cuet.nta.nic.in.