UGC Chairman, Jagadesh Kumar, confirmed on Thursday that the results for the Common University Entrance Test-Undergraduate (CUET-UG) would be declared no later than July 17. Initially, the results were anticipated to be announced by July 15.

This year, the CUET-UG received over 14 lakh applications, indicating a significant 41% surge compared to the previous year's inaugural edition.

"The CUET-UG results will be announced by July 17 at the latest. We strive for error-free results upon their release. The administration of CUET-UG was a complex process, involving 841 question papers, with 214 in different languages, 534 in English and Hindi, and 93 in 11 regional languages. The total number of questions across these papers amounted to 1.48 lakh," Kumar stated.

The candidates were given the opportunity to challenge the answer keys from June 29 to July 1. A total of 25,782 challenges to the answer keys were received, of which 3,886 were unique. The data processing and finalization of results require sufficient time. Once completed, the result committee will review the data and authorize the announcement of the results. The National Testing Agency (NTA) aims to declare the results by Monday or even earlier," he added.

Following the declaration of the CUET-UG results, the admission process for undergraduate programs at over 200 universities nationwide will commence.

In terms of applicant volume, CUET-UG is the second-largest entrance exam in the country. In its inaugural edition, 12.5 lakh students registered for the exam, with 9.9 lakh submitting their applications.

Unlike the previous year, this year's exam was conducted in three shifts.

The National Testing Agency (NTA), responsible for conducting the exam, issued provisional answer keys earlier this month.

On Wednesday, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad urged the UGC and the NTA to promptly announce the CUET-UG results, highlighting that further delays would cause additional academic setbacks for various universities.