The National Testing Agency (NTA) has formally deferred the Common University Entrance Test for Undergraduates (CUET UG) 2025, which was initially set to start on May 8. The move follows a delay in the release of the highly awaited exam city intimation slip, which notifies candidates of the city where they will appear for the test. As per a Times of India report, the new date for the examination to start is now scheduled for May 13, 2025.

The exam city notification slip is a significant piece of information for students to arrange their travel and logistics for the exam date. This slip is normally distributed beforehand so that students from all over the nation can plan their schedule on time to reach their assigned exam centers. A lapse in communication among officials has been reported to result in the delay of releasing this vital notification, thus breaking the already scheduled timeline.

Due to this delay, the NTA has also decided to postpone the exam and give extra time to students to prepare and plan accordingly. Candidates are now being asked to keep checking the official NTA CUET website (cuet.nta.nic.in) for updates on the new exam schedule and the final release of the city intimation slip. After the slips are ready, students will have to log in to the student portal with their application number and date of birth to download the slip for future use.

After the city notification is released, hall tickets for CUET UG 2025 will also be released. These admit cards will contain important candidate details like names, photographs, application form numbers, and the chosen subjects for the exam. It is recommended that all candidates check these details carefully to ensure there are no discrepancies or problems on the exam day.

This year, the CUET UG test will be held only in the Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode. Each paper will last 60 minutes, and candidates will be evaluated on a variety of topics. The number of topics available for selection has been dramatically reduced. While 63 topics were offered in the 2024 edition, the 2025 test will feature only 37 topics, organized into 13 languages and 23 domain-based subjects. This decline is thought to be part of a larger move to simplify the process of examinations and make it less burdensome on both administrators and students.

The delay and the rescheduling have added to the anxiety of most students who have been preparing for months now. With the CUET UG assuming a pivotal role in admission to all undergraduate courses of the central and other participating universities, the stakes are high. CUET UG has come into prominence in recent times for standardizing entrance credentials across institutions, providing the students of various educational boards with an equal platform to be assessed.

The NTA has not yet announced the full revised calendar for all the examination dates after the first test of May 13. Test aspirants are, therefore, advised to remain on their toes through official media and not depend upon unofficial channels for information on exams. The agency is likely to announce the revised schedule soon, and clarity in the subject-wise schedule and time slots is likely to come about in a few days’ time.

Meanwhile, students are encouraged to keep preparing with dedication and to make the most of this additional time. With the exam schedule now under a new timeline, the added days can be useful for students to revisit, practice mock tests, and be thoroughly prepared for the CBT format.

The delay, though causing discomfort to all, underscores the value of effective and timely coordination as well as communication in implementing a national-level test. As the NTA rushes to mend the delays and hasten the balance process, attention is now fixated on the forthcoming declarations related to cities where the test would be conducted, hall tickets, and the entire schedule.

Such registered applicants need to regularly log on to cuet.nta.nic.in for authentic news and also to download city intimation slip and admit card whenever released.