Kolkata: The National Testing Agency (NTA) on Thursday announced that the JEE Main Session 1 exam scheduled for Jan 23 would be deferred following multiple requests from West Bengal.
In its notice, the NTA said: "In view of the representations received from candidates in the state of West Bengal regarding the celebration of Saraswati Puja on Jan 23, it was decided that all candidates scheduled to appear for JEE Main in West Bengal on Jan 23 shall be allotted another date of examination among the dates advertised for the JEE Main 2025 Session 1 examination."
Chief minister Mamata Banerjee said in a post on X that she intervened, as it would be difficult to conduct the exam on a day marked by Saraswati Puja celebrations. Her post said: "Earlier, the govt of India/National Testing Agency scheduled the Joint Entrance Examination on January 23, which happens to be Netaji's birthday and Saraswati Puja, which students are expected and accustomed to celebrate with respect. This put our students in difficulty, and I intervened to protest and seek a change. Due to my intervention, the govt of India/National Testing Agency arranged an alternative examination date for our boys and girls, so they will have the scope to pray to Goddess Saraswati on that day."
Sukanta Majumdar, Union minister of state for education and development of the north eastern region, wrote to Vineet Joshi, secretary, department of higher education, ministry of education, on Jans 9, highlighting Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's birth anniversary and Saraswati Puja, and requesting that the exam be rescheduled.
The state higher education department also sent a letter to the NTA on Wednesday. After considering the requests, the NTA decided to reschedule the exam. As per the original schedule, the exam on Jan 23 was to be held in two shifts: 9 am to 12 pm and 2 pm to 5 pm.