Thiruvananthapuram: The Centre has agreed to allow rescheduling of the JEE (Main) 2026 exam for candidates unable to appear on April 5 (Easter Sunday), Union Minister Suresh Gopi said on Friday, addressing concerns raised by the Christian community.

In a social media post, Gopi, Minister of State for Tourism and Petroleum & Natural Gas, said the scheduling of the JEE Main 2026 session 2 exams between April 2 and April 10, including key Holy Week dates, had caused widespread concern among students and community leaders.

Rescheduling option for JEE Main candidates

According to the minister, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan confirmed that students unable to appear for the exam on April 5 will be given an option to request a change of exam date.

Candidates seeking rescheduling have been asked to submit their details via email to jeemain.query@nta.ac.in, with the deadline set for March 28, 2026.

Appeal to Centre over exam clash

Gopi said he had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Education Minister, urging intervention after receiving a representation from Cardinal Baselios Cleemis Catholicos. The appeal highlighted the overlap of the engineering entrance exam with significant Christian observances, including Maundy Thursday and Easter Sunday.

Community concerns and response

Earlier, the Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council (KCBC) had urged authorities to reschedule the JEE Main examination dates falling during important religious days, citing inconvenience for students observing Holy Week.

Welcoming the decision, Gopi thanked the Ministry of Education and the central government for responding promptly to student concerns and ensuring flexibility in the examination process.

PTI