Common University Entrance Test 2025: Students face woes with remote centres

India Today

11-05-2025

As the Common University Entrance Test for Undergraduates (CUET-UG) 2025 unfolds, lakhs of aspirants across India face a wave of logistical difficulties that threaten to derail their academic aspirations. Students, particularly from Delhi-NCR, Meerut, and surrounding regions, are voicing growing concerns over the allocation of exam centres far from their chosen locations-some being asked to travel as far as Dehradun and Muzaffarnagar, despite having selected nearby cities as preferences.advertisementMany are calling the issue a case of poor planning and mismanagement. It has not only raised questions of safety and affordability but is also taking a mental and emotional toll on students already navigating the pressure of high-stakes examinations."It is deeply concerning to see CUET-UG aspirants across the country facing severe logistical challenges due to the apparent mismanagement by the NTA," says Karan Mehta, Co-founder of Toprankers.
"Students being allotted exam centres in their third-preference cities - and, in many cases, hundreds of kilometres away - is not just inconvenient, it's unfair. This raises serious concerns about travel safety, affordability, and the emotional toll on students already under academic pressure."The lack of transparency surrounding rescheduled exam dates has only added to the anxiety. With several commerce stream students still in the middle of prolonged board exams, the overlap with CUET dates creates further complications. "The delay in exam conduct will inevitably push results back, leading to a late start to the academic session, disrupting university timelines. Students deserve transparency, efficiency, and empathy in the process - especially when their future hinges on it," Mehta adds.
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Manish Mohta, Founder of Learning Spiral, echoes similar sentiments. "Certain procedural rubrics on distant exam-center locations for CUET have caused great distress to students. Logging heavy costs while bearing the physical strain may deteriorate one's mental well-being as candidates find themselves in increased states of anxiety and tiredness, way before the exam."He emphasises that accessibility must be a core pillar of exam planning, especially for students from rural or economically challenged backgrounds, for whom long-distance travel is not always feasible. "These kinds of hindrances may not allow a student to give their best, which will affect their future," he adds.Some education leaders are now questioning the very structure of CUET as a one-size-fits-all exam. W.R. David, Principal of Winmore Academy, Bengaluru, points out, "Selection based on board marks would make the process much easier for students. CUET completely nullifies the consistent effort put in by students during their board exams." He advocates for a more rigorous, concept-based board evaluation that could potentially replace the need for a separate entrance test, easing both stress and financial strain on students and families.Indeed, the cumulative burden of last-minute travel, overlapping exams, unclear schedules, and rising coaching and transport costs is creating an environment that feels more exclusionary than inclusive. In a country where education is becoming increasingly digital, accessible, and student-centric, such oversights could undo the very progress the system strives to achieve.As CUET-UG continues to be positioned as a gateway to 280+ universities, experts argue that now is the time to re-evaluate the student experience and reimagine an entrance process that is not only fair and uniform, but also compassionate and accessible to all.