New Delhi: With the escalating India-Pakistan tensions resulting in school closures, and the postponement of university and Chartered Accountants (Final and Intermediate) exams, calls are growing for the deferment of the Common University Entrance Test for undergraduate admissions (CUET-UG) as well, which is scheduled to begin Monday.
Originally set to start on 8 May, the CUET-UG had already been postponed to 13 May by the National Testing Agency (NTA) without citing any specific reason. “CUET (UG)-2025 Examination will commence from 13th May 2025 and City Intimation will be displayed on 7th May 2025,” it had said in a post on X on 6 May.
If the CUET-UG exams—for admission to undergraduate programmes in central universities—are to start on 13 May, the NTA is expected to release admit cards soon.
However, with the situation at the border deteriorating, uncertainty looms over the commencement of the exam, particularly in states and UTs, such as Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and Rajasthan.
Pakistan armed forces launched multiple attacks using drones and other munitions along India’s “entire western border” on the intervening night of Thursday and Friday, according to a statement by the Indian Army. Pakistani troops also resorted to numerous ceasefire violations along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu & Kashmir.
According to the defence ministry, military stations at Jammu, Pathankot and Udhampur were targeted by Pakistani-origin drones and missiles along the border in J&K. The threats were “swiftly neutralised using kinetic and non-kinetic capabilities”, and no casualties or material losses were reported, the ministry added.
With the tensions ratcheting up, students and parents have been taking to social media requesting the NTA to consider postponing the exams citing safety issues while travelling.
“NTA, please postpone CUET. I have been allotted a centre in Mohali, but I live in Jammu. Due to the recent Pakistan-linked attack and the current high alert in the northern region. If the situation worsens, it could seriously affect students. Please consider postponing the exam,” Pradeep Singh, a student, posted on his X handle Friday.
Divya Bhatt, a Jammu student whose examination centre is in Chandigarh, told ThePrint, “We haven’t been able to study for the past two days, and with the current situation, travelling now will be extremely difficult. The NTA should immediately postpone our CUET-UG or at least shift our centre to our city.”
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Worried parents
Parents are also anxious about sending their children to exam centres.
Chandigarh’s Amit Kumar, whose daughter has enrolled, expressed concern over students travelling to write the papers under the prevailing situation.
“With the present circumstances, we are not comfortable sending our children for entrance exams. Chandigarh and many other cities are experiencing blackouts, and sirens are going off all night. In such a tense environment, how can we expect students to focus on their studies? The NTA should at least postpone the exam in sensitive cities,” he said.
All India Congress Committee (AICC) Secretary Neeraj Kundan wrote to NTA Director General Pradeep Singh Kharola Thursday, requesting him to consider the postponement of the CUET-UG in Jammu and Kashmir.
“This volatile environment, marked by damaged infrastructure, halted transport, and communication blackouts, renders it impossible for students to safely access exam centers. For instance, a student from Udhampur assigned a center in Chandigarh—420 km away— faces an insurmountable journey amid military operations and travel advisories. The psychological toll on students, grappling with fear… further undermines their ability to prepare or compete fairly,” he wrote.
“In 2023, the NTA postponed CUET in Jammu and Kashmir due to unrest, setting a precedent for responsive action. Today’s crisis, far graver, demands similar urgency. Conducting the exam now risks disenfranchising countless students, violating the principles of equity and safely that the NTA upholds.”
ThePrint attempted to contact the NTA director general via call and text messages for a comment. This report will be updated if and when a response is received.
However, a senior education ministry official said the government is closely monitoring the situation. “Students’ interest will be kept in mind in whatever decision may be taken,” the official told ThePrint, requesting anonymity.
Over 13 lakh students have registered for CUET-UG 2025, which is set to be conducted entirely in online mode. The exam is scheduled as of now to be held over multiple days between 13 May and the first week of June. If postponed, it could potentially disrupt the academic calendar of colleges across the country.
Other than CUET-UG, another high-stakes entrance exam, the Joint Entrance Exam (JEE-Advanced) for admissions to IITs, is also scheduled for 18 May.
(Edited by Ajeet Tiwari)
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