JEE Main Session 1 Exam on January 23 Deferred in West Bengal Over Saraswati Puja

The JEE Main Session 1 examination slated for January 23 has been postponed after concerns were raised in West Bengal, where the date coincides with Saraswati Puja.

The National Testing Agency confirmed on Thursday that candidates in West Bengal who were assigned the January 23 exam will be given a different examination date within the already announced JEE Main 2025 Session 1 schedule. The decision followed multiple appeals from students and authorities in the state, citing the cultural and religious significance of the day.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee stated on social media that she had urged the authorities to reconsider the exam date, noting that January 23 is observed both as Saraswati Puja and the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. She said holding the exam on such an occasion would have created difficulties for students, and welcomed the move to provide an alternate date so they could observe the festival.

Union minister of state for education and development of the North Eastern Region, Sukanta Majumdar, had earlier written to the higher education secretary in the Union education ministry, drawing attention to the importance of the day and requesting a rescheduling of the exam. The West Bengal higher education department also formally communicated its concerns to the NTA.

After reviewing these representations, the testing agency agreed to revise the schedule. Under the original plan, the January 23 examination was to take place in two sessions, from 9 am to noon and from 2 pm to 5 pm.