Technical difficulties marred the second day of the Common University Entrance Test-Undergraduate (CUET-UG) 2022 Phase II on Friday, forcing the National Testing Agency (NTA) to postpone the exam at 50 centers across the country. Some students also claimed to have received late night notice from the NTA that their exam scheduled for Saturday has been postponed for administrative and logistical reasons.
On Thursday, the exam was canceled in a few centers in 17 states in the first shift, while the second shift exam was canceled in all 489 centers. Several students complained that they had to wait two hours to be told that the exams scheduled for the day had been cancelled. Candidates also appeared to be in a panic because the agency did not issue the admission tickets for Sunday.
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On the second day, the first shift exam was postponed in 20 centers and the second shift in 30 centers across the country. “Technical issues were reported in some centers, after which reports were collected from observers and city coordinators on site. Based on their recommendations, it was decided to postpone the exam,” said a senior NTA official.
However, the agency has not announced any new dates for the re-examination. Ganika, who wants to pursue BA (Hons) Sociology at Delhi University, said: “I came from Chhatarpur to the exam center in Noida Sector 64 (about 34 km). We had to sit at the terminals. At 12 noon we were told that the exam will not be taken today due to technical problems. Yesterday my sister came all the way from Narela to this center (about 84 km) but had to return because of the same problem.” “This is the height of mismanagement,” she added.
Hemanshe Udar, another CUET candidate, shared a similar complaint. “I left my home in Dwarka Sector 51 (44km) at 5.30am to be in the center on time. But after almost three hours we were told that the newspaper is canceled today and that we have to go back on August 12th. It’s extremely difficult to commute from that far,’ she said. Her mother said it was difficult for parents too, as many of them took time off from work to accompany their wards.
The second phase of the CUET-UG got off to a bad start on Thursday as technical and administrative issues forced the NTA to cancel the second shift exam in all 489 centers and postpone the first shift in some locations in 17 states. These exams will take place on August 12.
The NTA has also postponed the CUET-UG in Kerala – scheduled for August 4, 5 and 6 – due to heavy rainfall and said new dates will be announced later. Although the agency said on Thursday that the same admission card will be valid for those who failed to take the exam, on Friday some students claimed they were being asked to tear them off.
Roshni, who traveled from the North Campus area, said, “I have to come to the same center tomorrow for my Section 2 exam. We are assured that the exam will take place. But assuming yesterday and today’s scenario, it seems unlikely.” Candidates whose exam is on August 7 took to social media throughout the day, tagging the NTA about admission card issues. Apart from that, there are candidates who have shared their admission tickets on social media and claim to have been assigned cities they did not choose.
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