CUET UG 2026 exam delayed in Ahmedabad due to server issues, parents question authorities

India’s National Testing Agency (NTA), which is conducting the CUET UG 2026 examination from May 11 to 31, 2026 is facing scrutiny in Ahmedabad, after parents of the wards, who had come for the exam, were informed about the exam delay due to server issues.

CUET UG examination was conducted at the TCS iON Digital Zone iDZ in Odhav, in two shifts and this matter came to light when parents who had been there since 7 am were intimated by not any official there but the security guard regarding the server failure, which led to the delay in the commencement of the exam,

Some students, who had entered the premises at 7 or 7.30 am for the exam that was from 9 am to 10 am, left at 11 am due to the hour-long postponement. Others who had examinations from 9 to 11 am, left the centre  at 1 pm after a delay of 2 hours when the exams concluded.

A student said, “When I entered the exam premises, my biometrics were taken and I was assigned a seat. After entering my application details on the computer, we were supposed to sign in once the timer ended, but the system was not working. From around 9 to 10 am, the staff repeatedly refreshed the systems and asked us to log out, log in again, and click the ‘Launch’ button, but many students still could not access the exam. Some students were eventually able to start, while others, including me, had to undergo biometrics again and were shifted to different computers before the login finally worked.”

Another student who had also previously appeared for NEET exam on May 3, added, “This postponement of exam was difficult to process, as I already have an exam due and now this delay made me anxious. There were ceiling fans that did not work. I was in the premises from 7.30 am and left at 12 noon”.

At one point, several parents gathered near the entrance and began questioning the security guards, which led to a few arguments. Shortly afterwards, an official arrived, addressed the crowd, and clarified that the issues were related to the site itself. The official assured the parents that the matter was being handled and appropriate steps were being taken to resolve the situation.

The parents pointed out that their main concern was the lack of communication from any official authority, as the security guards were not authorised officials and were unable to provide reliable updates or clarification regarding the situation.

Some parents and students there viewed the situation as reflective of broader issues within the education system. They pointed to incidents such as the leak of the NEET examination paper, which resulted in the cancellation of the exam and leading to the retest despite students preparing rigorously for it over an extended period.

Adding to the Central Board of Secondary Education’s implementation of a digital evaluation system, the OSM (On-Screen Marking) for Class 12 board examinations, which has sparked concerns after many students reported unexpectedly low scores.