Shafaqna India: The removal of a religious thread from a candidate’s neck by examination authorities at a NEET-UG centre in Gujarat’s Surat has sparked backlash, with a video of the incident going viral on social media.
The candidate, a girl appearing for the examination, was wearing a Tulsi mala which was removed by the authorities.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) conducted the NEET-UG 2026 examination on Sunday for more than 22.79 lakh candidates across the country and abroad.
Ahead of the examination, the agency had released a detailed advisory outlining biometric verification protocols, dress code, and essential items to be carried by candidates inside the examination centres.
According to the guidelines, candidates were encouraged to wear light and comfortable clothing. While full sleeves and woollen garments were permitted, students opting for such attire were required to report early for additional security checks.
Religious articles were also allowed under similar conditions of early reporting.
Among the permitted items, candidates were allowed to carry transparent water bottles. Footwear guidelines recommend slippers or low-heeled sandals to ensure smooth security clearance.
