Kolkata: Visva-Bharati University has revised the schedule of some semester examinations to accommodate an all-India test conducted by a wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in January next year, triggering controversy among faculty.

A senior member of the Visva-Bharati University Faculty Association said central university departments were asked to adjust exam dates so that the Bharat Boudh IKS exam, organised by an external body, can be held on January 31, 2026. The rescheduling affects the previously planned internal semester examinations, originally slated from January 7 to February 10.

Visva-Bharati spokesperson Atig Ghosh clarified that no semester exams are being cancelled, but some internal scheduling around the specified dates may need adjustment. A university notification on December 11 stated that no undergraduate or postgraduate semester-end exams will be held from January 29 to February 2, 2026, to accommodate the Bharat Boudh IKS examination.

According to the exam organisers, Bharat Boudh IKS, run by Vidya Bharati Uchcha Shiksha Sansthan, the educational wing of the RSS, aims to reconnect youth with Bharatiya Knowledge Systems through structured examinations, cultural integration, and modern applications.

The development has sparked debate among stakeholders over why an external examination is influencing the university's academic schedule. Ghosh said Visva-Bharati is one of several centres nationwide hosting the test and the adjustments are logistical, not academic.