CUET Glitch Deepens India’s Exam Crisis as Trust Deficit Widens
Students waiting outside a CUET examination centre amid delays caused by a technical glitch, highlighting concerns over India's examination infrastructure. (Image Neha on X)
By KUMAR VIKRAM
From NEET’s cancellation to CBSE’s On-Screen Marking controversy and now CUET disruptions, India’s examination ecosystem is confronting a crisis of credibility that compensation alone may not resolve.
New Delhi, May 30 — Students across India woke up to another day of anxiety on May 30, 2026. The Common University Entrance Test (CUET-UG) 2026 faced delays at multiple centres due to a technical glitch blamed on Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), the NTA’s service provider. Morning sessions in places like Delhi, Noida, Varanasi, and Bangalore started late. The agency scrambled to revise the afternoon shift to 4 PM and promised full compensatory time.
NTA issued a statement: “M/s TCS has reported that a technical glitch at their end delayed the commencement. The issue has since been resolved, and the exam is being conducted with full compensatory time so that no candidate is disadvantaged.” Yet for thousands waiting outside exam halls, those words offered little comfort. Some centres reportedly sent students home after prolonged waits, sparking fresh outrage on social media.
This isn’t an isolated hiccup. It’s the latest crack in a system already fracturing under repeated failures.
Recall the NEET-UG 2026 debacle. The medical entrance exam, held on May 3, was cancelled outright amid allegations of paper leaks, irregularities, and compromised integrity. The NTA ordered a re-exam for over 22 lakh aspirants, triggering protests, political firestorms, and heartbreaking reports of student suicides. CBI probes followed, arrests were made, and questions mounted about insider networks.
CBSE hasn’t escaped unscathed. Its new On-Screen Marking (OSM) system for Class 12 exams drew sharp criticism over poor scan quality, discrepancies in evaluation, and technical glitches that forced rescanning of thousands of answer sheets. Students and parents alleged unfair marking and a lack of transparency.
SSC exams and other board tests have faced their own storms of delays, leaks, and scoring controversies.
The Ministry and NTA defend themselves by pointing to compensatory measures, investigations, and planned reforms—like shifting NEET to computer-based testing. But students and parents aren’t buying the reassurances anymore. Trust has eroded. They have questioned outsourcing critical infrastructure to private players Glitches and leaks keep surfacing despite warnings and billions spent.
Today’s CUET disruptions, though resolved on paper with extra time, add fuel to a raging fire. As exams continue in coming days, the real test isn’t for the students alone. India’s youth deserve better than perpetual exam roulette.
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