Hyderabad: A Muslim woman was allegedly barred from appearing for the NEET UG entrance exam after officials at the exam centre insisted she remove her hijab, citing National Testing Agency (NTA) guidelines. The incident reportedly occurred on May 4 at MP Shri Kendriya Vidyalaya in Garden Reach, Kolkata.
Although the event took place in early May, it gained widespread attention after a video of the student, Farheen Khan, recounting her ordeal surfaced on social media platform X on June 11.
Farheen, a resident of Beckbagan, claimed she reached the exam centre around noon and faced hostility even before entering. According to a report by Halaat e Bangaal, she stated that a group of boys began chanting “Jai Shree Ram” upon seeing her in a hijab. She had come to the centre alone.
Once inside, she alleged that NTA officials informed her that wearing a hijab or dupatta during the exam was prohibited under their regulations.
NTA rules, however, state that those wearing hijab for religious reasons must reach the centre one hour early for security clearance. Accordingly, Farheen reached the centre two hours before her exam.
“I spoke to the staff, and they told me that the rules change every year. I told them I have read no such rule and nothing like this was mentioned in the dress code,” she added. The NTA dress code mandates that students not wear shoes, earrings, belts, and more.
Farheen alleged that she had filled out the form stating she would come wearing a hijab under religious attire. “As per bulletin eight, they require me to come earlier for checking,” said Farheen.
“Then the staff told me that they’ll get their superior. There were many girls in hijab to the side while others continued to enter. I asked to be checked by a female security guard in private so that I could give the test in hijab. But they said I must take it off in order to sit for the exam. They went in again. We waited for a long time in the heat. She came out with a man after a long time, who very rudely told us we were not allowed inside with a hijab on. He claimed to be a member of NTA. I asked to be shown where it is written in the rules, and he very rudely told me to get out and go home,” she added, as reported by Siasat Daily.
Farheen reportedly asked the staff to show her the rule that specifically prohibited wearing a hijab, saying she would remove it if such a regulation existed. However, a senior official, after claiming the matter had been resolved, left without offering any clear explanation.
Despite appearing close to a resolution, the situation progressed very slowly. Eventually, she was informed that the NTA permits wearing a hijab as long as the ears are visible. Farheen agreed to this condition and proceeded to the security check.
Unlike other candidates who underwent biometric verification first, she and others in religious attire were directed to a separate security screening. Although the NTA advises students wearing religious garments to arrive an hour early to allow for thorough checks, the lengthy procedure delayed them to the extent that they were allowed to start the exam only after it had officially begun.
Farheen shared that although she complied with the instruction to keep her ears visible while wearing the hijab, she was later told she would need to remove it entirely. She said she was among the last to be allowed in, along with another girl wearing a hijab. Due to the significant delay, she claimed she was only able to attempt about half of the exam, although she believed the answers she gave were correct.
When asked whether she had taken any action following the incident, Farheen said she had contacted the National Testing Agency both via email and through speed post to report what had happened.
She also described feeling under constant scrutiny during the exam, alleging that staff members repeatedly pointed at her and discussed her with other officials throughout the test duration.