NEW DELHI, May 28: The National Testing Agency (NTA) has officially revised the schedule for the Common University Entrance Test Undergraduate (CUET-UG) 2026 examinations that were postponed due to Eid-ul-Azha celebrations across several parts of the country.
According to the revised notification issued by the testing agency, the postponed examinations will now be conducted on May 31, June 6 and June 7 at designated centres nationwide. The decision was taken after representations from students and state administrations regarding the overlap of examination dates with the religious festival.
The NTA also informed candidates that admit cards for students scheduled to appear in the May 31 examination have already been uploaded on the official website. Candidates can download their hall tickets using their application number and date of birth credentials.
Officials said admit cards for the June 6 and June 7 examinations will be issued shortly. Students have been advised to frequently check the official portal for updates regarding examination centres, reporting time and other important instructions.
The rescheduling has brought relief to thousands of candidates who had expressed concern over logistical difficulties and travel arrangements during Eid-ul-Azha. In several states, educational organisations and student groups had urged authorities to reconsider the original schedule to ensure that students from all communities could appear in the examination without inconvenience.
CUET-UG has emerged as one of the country’s largest entrance examinations since its introduction in 2022. Conducted for admissions to undergraduate programmes in Central universities, participating state universities and private institutions, the examination aims to streamline the admission process through a common assessment platform.
The examination system evaluates students on language proficiency, subject-specific knowledge and general aptitude. Education experts believe the single-window examination process has reduced the burden of appearing in multiple entrance tests for different universities.
Officials from the Ministry of Education stated that the revised dates were finalised after reviewing administrative feasibility and centre availability. Authorities also assured that the rescheduling would not affect the admission calendar for universities participating in CUET-UG 2026.
Several universities welcomed the move, saying it reflects sensitivity towards students’ concerns while ensuring smooth conduct of the examination process. Parents and candidates also appreciated the timely release of updated information, which helped avoid confusion regarding examination arrangements.
Meanwhile, coaching institutes and academic counsellors have advised students to utilise the additional preparation time effectively and remain focused on revision and mock tests. Experts believe the revised timeline offers students an opportunity to strengthen weaker sections before appearing in the examination.
The NTA reiterated that all examination centres would continue to follow standard security and verification protocols during the conduct of the examination. Candidates have been instructed to carry valid identification documents along with their admit cards to the examination venue.
The agency further clarified that no requests for additional date changes would be entertained and urged candidates to adhere strictly to the revised schedule. Students facing technical difficulties while downloading admit cards have been asked to contact the NTA helpdesk.
Educational institutions across the country are expected to begin the undergraduate admission process shortly after the declaration of CUET-UG 2026 results. Universities are likely to release merit lists and counselling schedules during the following months.
The revised examination schedule has once again highlighted the increasing scale and complexity of conducting nationwide entrance examinations involving lakhs of students across multiple states and union territories.