CUET UG 2024 day 1 records over 75% attendance; exam held at 2,157 centres

NEW DELHI: The first day of the Common University Entrance Test (CUET UG) 2024 was held ‘successfully’ across India and over 75 percent students appeared for the exam, said the University Grants Commission (UGC) chairman Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar. CUET 2024 day 1 was conducted for chemistry, biology, English and general tests in four slots all over India except 258 examination centres in Delhi.

Candidates wrote the CUET UG 2024 May 15 exam at a total of 2,157 centres across India, informed UGC chief. A total of 11.4 lakh candidates had been scheduled to take the exam in pen and paper mode.

CUET UG 2024 Day 1 Attendance

The number of candidates who wrote today's CUET 2024 papers is as follows:

The commission chief added that since students wrote multiple tests, the number of candidates is equivalent to handling 25,91,014 students on a single day. This constitutes 44.71% of the total scheduled slots for students registered in pen and paper mode in this year’s CUET exam.

"This is a landmark achievement by NTA in conducting CUET-UG in such large numbers on a single day, and NTA deserves kudos for their meticulous planning and for making sure that the test today went off well today at such large scale in pen and paper mode," said Kumar.

Also read CUET UG 2024 May 15 Shift 2 Analysis: English, General Test papers easy; check unofficial answer key PDFs

About postponement of the exam for Delhi candidates, Jagadesh Kumar said that it was necessitated due to some logistical issues beyond the control of NTA.

CUET UG 2024 Day 1: Smooth or chaotic?

Meanwhile NTA said the exam was scheduled at the same centre for candidates who opted for multiple subjects and first two shifts were held in the same. Students were given 'sufficient' breaks between papers and various arrangements were made for 'smooth' conduct of the exam.

"Numerous measures have been implemented to support the candidates this year. The examination schedule was announced well in advance, and efforts were made to ensure that candidates were allotted centres near their residences. All scheduled candidates have been provided with centres as their first choice in their respective home states.

Kumar’s and NTA's statements come amid complaints of mismanagement, insufficient time, chaos at the exam centres by the candidates. Several students alleged that they were provided less time in today’s CUET UG 2024 English paper due to which they couldn’t attempt all the questions.

Earlier, aspirants complained of not being able to download the CUET UG 2024 admit card and of examination centre details missing in the hall ticket. Students were already upset with the exam postponement.

For the first time, CUET UG 2024 is being held in a hybrid mode for approximately 13.48 lakh candidates who have opted for 57,95,211 combinations of subjects. Of these combinations, 53,91,227 (around 93%) are being conducted in pen and paper mode, informed NTA.