JEE Main Exam Rescheduled in West Bengal Due to Saraswati Puja

NEW DELHI: The National Testing Agency (NTA) has announced a rescheduling of the JEE (Main) exam originally set for January 23 in West Bengal due to the celebration of Saraswati Puja.

The decision followed multiple requests from candidates in the region, where the festival holds significant cultural importance.

NTA stated, “All candidates scheduled to appear for JEE (Main) in West Bengal on January 23, 2026, will be assigned a different examination date from the available options for the JEE (Main) 2026 Session 1.”

The JEE Main 2026 Session 1 exams are planned from January 21 to January 29.

Registration for Session 1 opened on October 31, 2025, and closed on November 27, 2025. While official applicant numbers are pending, it is common for NTA to receive over a million registrations for the initial session each year.

This national-level entrance exam is crucial for admissions into undergraduate engineering, architecture, and planning programs at institutions such as the National Institutes of Technology (NITs) and Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs). Additionally, it serves as a qualifying test for JEE Advanced, the gateway to the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). Results for Session 1 are anticipated to be released in February 2026.

West Bengal's Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed her approval of the rescheduling, stating that the change was made following her intervention.

“The Joint Entrance Exams were initially set for January 23, which coincides with Netaji's birthday and Saraswati Puja—events that students traditionally celebrate. This scheduling conflict posed challenges for our students, prompting my request for a rescheduling,” she shared.