The National Testing Agency (NTA) has postponed the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main 2026 exam date for West Bengal, initially scheduled for January 23, due to Saraswati Puja. The exams were scheduled between January 23 and 30. A revised exam date will be announced for the state candidates soon.
Taking to X, the NTA posted, “In view of the representations received from candidates in the state of West Bengal regarding the celebration of Saraswati Puja on 23 January 2026, it has been decided that all candidates scheduled to appear for JEE (Main) in West Bengal on 23 January 2026 shall be allotted another date of examination among the advertised dates for JEE (Main) 2026 Session 1 examination. For any queries, candidates may DM @NTA_Helpdesk or write to us at jeemain@nta.ac.in,or contact us at 011-40759000.”
Reacting to the development, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee posted on X: “Earlier GOI/ National Testing Agency had scheduled Joint Entrance Examination on 23 January, which happens to be Netaji’s birthday and Saraswati Puja, which the students are expected and habituated to celebrate with respect. This put our students into difficulty and I intervened to protest and seek a change.Due to my intervention, GOI/ National Testing Agency has arranged to give an alternative examination date for our boys and girls; so they will have scope to pray to Goddess Saraswati on that day! Best wishes!”
BJP MP and Minister of State for Education, Sukanta Majumdar, had also written to the Department of Higher Education Secretary Vineet Joshi requesting to postpone or reschedule the examination date in view of Saraswati Puja and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s birthday.
The letter stated, “I would like to draw your kind attention to the fact that 23 January 2026 is observed as Saraswati Puja as well as the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, both of which hold immense religious, cultural, and public significance in the State of West Bengal. In view of the widespread observance of these occasions, including public gatherings, institutional closures, and related logistical constraints, students appearing for the JEE (Main) 2026 Session-1 examination on the said date may face considerable inconvenience”.
“In this context, it is requested that the JEE (Main) 2026 Session-1 examination scheduled on 23 January 2026 may kindly be postponed or rescheduled in the State of West Bengal, in the interest of the candidates and to ensure the smooth conduct of the examination,” said the letter.