NTA tells Delhi UGC NET candidates (Sept 9-10 re-exam) to travel early as BRICS summit curbs slow roads. Exam schedule, advisory wording and what to do.
Cover image: Bharat Mandapam convention centre in New Delhi at dusk — photo by Ministry of Culture, Government of India, GODL-India, via Wikimedia Commons.
India's National Testing Agency has told Delhi candidates for the UGC NET re-examination on September 9 and 10 to plan routes early and leave extra travel time, warning that BRICS summit security curbs could slow roads even though exam centres sit outside the directly affected zones. "Delhi candidates, a quick heads-up ahead of your UGC-NET Examination 2026," the September 8 advisory says. "With travel restrictions in the city on 9th and 10th September, roads may take longer than usual."
Which exams are affected
The retest covers three papers from the June 2026 cycle that drew complaints about errors: English on September 9 from 9 am to noon, Commerce the same afternoon from 3 pm to 6 pm, and Sociology on September 10 from 9 am to noon. The original June cycle ran June 22 to 30 across 87 subjects, deciding eligibility for Junior Research Fellowship awards, assistant professor posts and PhD admission, so affected candidates cannot afford a late arrival.
NTA said examination centres are not located in areas expected to be directly affected, but candidates may still face "traffic congestion, diversions and delays on certain routes" because "extensive security arrangements are being made" for the summit.
The BRICS disruption behind the advisory
India hosts the 18th BRICS Leaders' Summit at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on September 12 and 13, and Delhi Police has warned of temporary traffic restrictions and diversions from September 11 to 13 for dignitary movement. The exam-eve overlap is what puts September 9 and 10 travellers at risk: rehearsals, convoy movements and rolling restrictions can snarl routes well beyond the controlled core.
For the full picture on summit-week movement, see our Delhi BRICS traffic advisory covering airport and metro and our report on BRICS-week hotel rates and traffic in Delhi. Candidates flying in should read the airport section of the advisory and keep metro timings as a backup, since rail movement stays normal while roads are regulated.
What candidates should do
NTA's guidance is practical rather than procedural: verify the travel path ahead of time instead of at the last minute, stay informed about citywide movement limits and diversions, allocate extra margin for the trip, leave earlier than usual, and arrive at the venue significantly ahead of the reporting schedule. With the advisory landing barely a day before the first paper, outstation candidates already in Delhi should recce their route today rather than trusting usual journey times.
| UGC NET re-exam fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Papers and schedule | English Sept 9 (9-12), Commerce Sept 9 (15-18), Sociology Sept 10 (9-12) |
| Reason for retest | Complaints about errors in June 2026 cycle papers |
| NTA advisory | Travel early; roads may take longer Sept 9-10 |
| BRICS summit | 18th summit, Bharat Mandapam, Sept 12-13 |
| Traffic curbs | Restrictions and diversions Sept 11-13; centres outside affected zones |
Frequently asked questions
Is the UGC NET exam postponed because of BRICS?
No. The re-examination goes ahead on September 9 and 10 in Delhi. NTA has only issued a travel advisory asking candidates to start early and allow extra time.
Which UGC NET papers are being re-held?
English and Commerce on September 9 (morning and afternoon sessions) and Sociology on September 10 morning, after complaints about mistakes in the June 2026 cycle papers.
Are exam centres inside the BRICS restricted zone?
NTA says centres are not in areas expected to be directly affected, but warns of congestion, diversions and delays on certain routes from September 11 to 13 summit restrictions and pre-summit movements.
What should Delhi candidates do?
Verify the route in advance, follow Delhi Police traffic updates, leave much earlier than usual, and reach the venue well before the reporting time. Flying in? Check the airport and metro guidance in our BRICS traffic advisory.
