Exam Chaos on Day One in Delhi-NCR
On the first day of the CUET UG 2025, several candidates in Delhi-NCR were denied entry for arriving just 5–10 minutes late to their exam centers. The reason: heavy traffic, public transport delays, and misleading Google Maps directions. Many students and their parents gathered outside the centers, pleading with officials for consideration, but their requests went unheard.
Students Blame Traffic, Navigation Errors
Multiple students cited reasons beyond their control—such as roadblocks, jammed streets, and being dropped off at the wrong location—as the cause of their delay. Many had traveled long distances to attend the exam and struggled to locate the centers in unfamiliar areas.
Ananya Tripathi’s Experience from Prayagraj
Ananya Tripathi, who had traveled from Prayagraj and was staying with relatives in Delhi, reached her exam center in Shakti Nagar 10 minutes late for her 3 PM slot due to severe afternoon traffic. Despite arriving just slightly behind schedule, she was not allowed to enter. “I left an hour early, but the traffic was out of control. Other national exams like JEE and NEET allow a brief grace period, but CUET offered none,” she said. At least 10–12 students at her center faced the same issue.
Anmol Bhati Misguided by Auto Driver
Anmol Bhati, traveling from Bulandshahr, reached Noida on time but was mistakenly dropped at the wrong sector (Sector 62 instead of Sector 64) by an auto driver. After realizing the mistake and rushing to the correct location, he arrived 10 minutes late and was denied entry.
Long-Distance Centers Raise Concerns
Several students reported being allotted exam centers 60 to 200 kilometers away, despite selecting nearby locations during registration. Dharamendra Singh from Bahadurgarh said his auto dropped him at the wrong site, forcing him to run 2 km to reach the center—only to be denied entry after arriving a few minutes late.
Parents Express Frustration Over Poor Facilities
Parents also raised concerns about the lack of basic amenities at exam centers. Many waited for hours in the sweltering heat without access to seating, shelter, or water. “We traveled more than 200 km, only to be turned away. There were no arrangements for parents either,” one guardian stated.
Students Demand Re-examination
Aggrieved students and their families have urged the National Testing Agency (NTA) to organize a re-exam for those who missed their test due to genuine logistical issues. They called for better coordination, improved allocation of nearby centers, and more compassionate policies in cases of minor delays.
About CUET UG 2025
The CUET UG 2025 is being conducted from May 13 to June 3 across India and a few international centers in a computer-based format. The exam includes 37 subjects: 13 languages, 23 domain-specific subjects, and one general aptitude test. It is available in multiple regional languages including Hindi, English, Bengali, Tamil, and Urdu. Each day, exams are held in two shifts—from 9 AM to 12 PM and from 3 PM to 6 PM.
