JEE Main 2026 Exam Date Shifted in West Bengal for Saraswati Puja
The National Testing Agency (NTA) has made a key adjustment to the JEE Main 2026 schedule for candidates in West Bengal. The agency will not conduct the exam on January 23, 2026, in the state. Instead, all West Bengal candidates originally slated for that date will receive an alternative exam slot.
Why the Change Happened
NTA officials cited Saraswati Puja celebrations as the reason for this decision. The agency received multiple representations from candidates in West Bengal regarding the clash with the festival on January 23, 2026. In response, NTA posted on social media to confirm the change.
"In view of the representations received from candidates in the state of West Bengal regarding the celebration of Saraswati Puja on 23rd January 2026, it has been decided that all candidates scheduled to appear for JEE (Main) in West Bengal on 23rd January 2026 shall be allotted another date of examination among the advertised dates for JEE (Main) 2026 Session 1 examination," the agency stated.
JEE Main 2026 January Session Schedule
The JEE Main 2026 January session will run from January 21 to January 30, 2026. Here is the detailed breakdown of the exam dates:
- Paper 1 (BE/BTech): January 21, 22, 23, 24, and 28, 2026. This paper will have two shifts daily: morning (9 AM to 12 noon) and afternoon (3 PM to 6 PM).
- Paper 2 (BArch/BPlanning): January 30, 2026. This includes Paper 2A for BArch, Paper 2B for BPlanning, or both. It will be held in a single shift from 9 AM to 12:30 PM.
Admit Card and Registration Details
NTA released the city intimation slips for JEE Main 2026 Session 1 on January 8, 2026. Candidates can check and download these slips from the official website: jeemain.nta.nic.in. The admit cards are expected to be available three to four days before the exam starts on January 21, 2026.
Looking back at previous years, the JEE Main Session 1 exam in 2025 saw 13,11,544 registrations with 12,58,136 candidates appearing. The Session 2 exam in April 2025 had 10,61,840 registrations and 9,92,350 appearances. In 2025, the January session was held from January 22 to January 30, and the April session from April 2 to April 8.
This rescheduling move highlights NTA's responsiveness to cultural and regional considerations, ensuring that candidates in West Bengal can participate in both their academic and religious commitments without conflict.
