The National Testing Agency (NTA) has postponed the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main 2026 exam scheduled for January 23, 2026 . This change applies only to candidates appearing for the exam in West Bengal . The decision was made because Saraswati Puja will be celebrated on the same day across the state. New exam dates for West Bengal candidates will be announced soon by NTA.
Students from West Bengal had requested the NTA to change the exam date. Saraswati Puja is a major festival dedicated to the goddess of knowledge, wisdom, and art. It is widely celebrated in educational institutions. The NTA understood that holding a national exam on such an important regional festival could create problems for students and exam centers in West Bengal.
Why the Exam Was Postponed
Saraswati Puja is an important day for students and educational institutions in West Bengal. Schools and colleges often become exam centers for tests like JEE Main. On January 23, 2026 , these institutions will be busy with festival celebrations. This could make it hard to conduct the JEE Main exam smoothly. Students in West Bengal also raised concerns about missing the festival if they had to take the exam.
The NTA considered these requests and the cultural importance of the festival. To ensure all candidates have a fair chance to appear for the exam without disruptions, the NTA decided to reschedule the exam for West Bengal candidates only. This is not the only date change made by NTA; earlier, another exam date for JEE Main was changed from January 30 to January 29.
Who is Affected?
This postponement specifically affects candidates who are scheduled to take the JEE Main 2026 Session 1 exam on January 23, 2026 , within West Bengal . For candidates in all other states and Union Territories, the JEE Main 2026 exams will continue as per the original schedule. There are no changes to any other exam dates for candidates outside West Bengal.
Key Details of the Postponement
| Exam Name | Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main 2026 Session 1 |
| Original Exam Date | January 23, 2026 |
| Postponement Scope | Only for candidates in West Bengal |
| Reason for Change | Clash with Saraswati Puja celebrations |
| New Date | To be announced soon by NTA |
| Affected States/UTs | West Bengal only |
| Other States/UTs | No change; exam on January 23, 2026 , proceeds as planned |
Next Steps for West Bengal Candidates
Candidates from West Bengal who were to appear for the JEE Main 2026 exam on January 23, 2026 , must check the NTA's official website regularly. The NTA will announce the revised exam dates on its website. It is important for students to stay updated with official announcements to know their new exam schedule. No individual notices will be sent out.
Students should continue with their preparation and focus on their studies. Once the new dates are released, they can adjust their study plans. The NTA aims to provide enough time for students to prepare for the rescheduled exam. This change ensures that students in West Bengal do not face any inconvenience due to the festival.
The JEE Main exam is a national-level entrance test for admission to undergraduate engineering programs in various top institutions across India, including IITs, NITs, and other GFTIs. Millions of students appear for this exam every year. Such changes are made by NTA to ensure fair and smooth conduct of the examination process for all candidates.
