The Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main 2026 Session 1 exam date for candidates in West Bengal originally set for 23 January 2026 has been postponed by the National Testing Agency (NTA) after representatives from students and state authorities highlighted that the date coincides with the Saraswati Puja celebrations in the region.
Reason for Rescheduling
The decision to reschedule was made following representations from candidates in West Bengal who explained that the scheduled exam date had a significant cultural and religious overlap with the Saraswati Puja festival — an important observance associated with education and learning in the state. Citing these concerns, the NTA agreed to assign a new examination date to affected candidates within the already announced session 1 timetable running from 21 January to 29 January 2026. State officials, including members of the West Bengal administration, had formally requested the change to avoid placing students in a conflict between their cultural commitments and critical competitive exams.
What Candidates Should Expect?
Students from West Bengal who were originally scheduled to take JEE Main on 23 January will not appear for the exam on that date. Instead, NTA will allot them an alternate date from the existing Session 1 examination window. Candidates are advised to keep checking the official JEE Main portal for updates on their revised schedule and to download updated admit cards once they are available. The broader JEE Main 2026 Session 1 continues as planned for other applicants on 21, 22, 23, 24 and 28 January 2026, following the two‑shift structure used across all exam centres nationally and abroad.
Implications and Next Steps
This change affects only the portion of candidates in West Bengal originally scheduled for 23 January. The revised date will fall within the existing session schedule, and no additional shift or extension beyond 29 January 2026 is expected at this time. Once the new date is announced, candidates should verify it on the official JEE Main website and update their planning accordingly. Affected aspirants may reach out to the NTA helpdesk or email support for clarifications regarding new exam slots, admit card updates, and other related queries.