The Common University Entrance Test-Undergraduate (CUET-UG), 2026, on Saturday witnessed delays at some examination centres owing to a technical glitch. As a result, the National Testing Agency (NTA) revised the timing of the afternoon session.However, candidates who did their biometric registration and were present at their examination centres today, but couldn’t take their examination due to the technical glitch will get an opportunity to appear for it again.“Earlier today, some centres faced a technical glitch that delayed the start of shift 1. We know this was stressful, and we’re sorry for the anxiety it caused. The technical service provider, TCS iON, has been asked to conduct a root-cause analysis and submit its report immediately. Most candidates (about 95 per cent) were able to complete their exam once it resumed,” the NTA said in a statement.The agency said 3,765 candidates, who were present and had completed biometric registration, chose to leave before the exam could restart.“For these candidates, the NTA will hold a rescheduled examination as a one-time measure. The new date and details will be announced separately,” it said.K Krithivasan, CEO and MD, TCS, said a brief technical issue caused a delay of around two hours in the CUET-UG in the morning shift today.“The issue was promptly identified and resolved by our technical teams and the test resumed without any impact to the sanctity of the exam. We regret the inconvenience. Our teams are actively monitoring all systems. We remain committed to working closely with the NTA to ensure seamless conduct of the computer-based test,” he said.Meanwhile, the Opposition got an ammo to attack the Centre. The Congress targeted the government over repeated controversies surrounding national-level examinations, with Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi citing NEET, the CBSE, the SSC and the CUET to allege that the government had failed students and damaged the country’s education system, while party leader Jairam Ramesh accused it of focusing on “damage control” instead of fixing structural problems.In a post on X, Rahul linked the recent examination controversies to what he described as a larger collapse of the education system and questioned the government’s ability to conduct large-scale examinations fairly.“NEET, the CBSE and the SSC. Today, the CUET. Four exams; one crore children. Not a single one conducted with honesty,” he said.Targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Rahul said repeated issues in examinations exposed failures within the system despite the government’s claims of global leadership.“Claims of ‘world guru’, but can’t conduct even one exam in the country — Modi ji has completely ruined the entire education system,” he said.The Congress leader said young people affected by repeated controversies surrounding entrance and recruitment examinations would eventually seek accountability from those in power.“The generation whose future you are destroying — that same generation will hold you accountable,” Rahul said.Joining the criticism, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the government was now in a “damage control mode” amid criticism over the handling of examination-related issues and alleged that attempts were being made to manage perceptions rather than address underlying problems.Referring to recent developments linked to NEET-UG, Ramesh claimed that the Union Education Minister had lost public credibility and accused the Centre of attempting to shield the Prime Minister from criticism over examination failures.He also questioned the decision to involve the armed forces in logistical arrangements for the NEET-UG scheduled for June 21, claiming the move was aimed more at optics than structural reform.“Dharmendra Pradhan is the poster child of the monumental incompetence that defines the Modi Cabinet. How is an Education Minister who bungles every exam undertaken still in office? What is the hope for India’s Gen Z when their education is so badly mismanaged and subject to rampant corruption,” asked senior Congress leader and MP KC Venugopal.