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The Opposition on Friday attacked the Centre after a technical glitch delayed the commencement of the Common University Entrance Test Undergraduate (CUET
UG) at a centre in Varanasi, causing anxiety among students. AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal, in a post on X, wrote, “The country needs an educated PM” while sharing reports of the disruption.
Congress MP and LoP in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, in a post on X, said, “NEET. CBSE. SSC. And today CUET. Four examinations. One crore students. Not even one was conducted honestly.”
He further alleged that the country's education system had been damaged under the current government and warned that the generation affected by such disruptions would hold it accountable.
The controversy erupted after students at several centres across cities alleged that their examination, scheduled to begin at 9 am, had not started until 11 am. Candidates said they were informed that the server was not functioning, leaving them waiting at the centre for hours.
Sharing visuals from the examination centre, AAP leader Atishi wrote on X, “CUET exam centre visuals from Varanasi. Students being told that the server is not functioning…”
BJP National Spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari hit back at Arvind Kejriwal and Rahul Gandhi over their criticism of the Centre regarding the CUET examination glitch. In a post on X, Bhandari said, “This is why Arvind Kejriwal and Rahul Gandhi are not given the charge: One was busy in making ‘Sheeshmahal’ in Delhi, and the other is on an eternal foreign vacation.” He further took a swipe at Kejriwal, saying that when the “educated corrupt leader” got an opportunity to govern, he did little beyond opening liquor shops across Delhi.
NTA Confirms Glitch, Pushes Afternoon Exam to 4 PM
Amid the growing criticism, the National Testing Agency (NTA) later confirmed that a technical glitch had affected the examination process.In a statement posted on social media, the NTA said it had been informed by Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) about a technical issue that delayed the start of Session 1 of CUET UG on Friday. The agency said the problem had been resolved and assured students that compensatory time would be provided so that no candidate was disadvantaged.
As a result of the delay, the schedule for the afternoon session was revised. According to the NTA, reporting and entry for Session 2 would begin at 2:30 pm, while the examination would commence at 4 pm.
The incident triggered concern among students and parents, with many questioning the preparedness of authorities conducting one of the country's largest entrance examinations.
The NTA maintained that all affected candidates would receive additional time and that necessary measures had been taken to ensure the smooth conduct of the remaining sessions.
