Removing Tulsi Mala at a NEET Exam Centre in BJP-Ruled Gujarat.

OMG! This is BJP ruled Gujarat!!!

NEET-UG 2026 Row in Surat: Girl Allegedly Asked to Remove Tulsi Mala at Exam Centre; NTA Orders Probe.

Upendra Bharti | HENB | Surat, Gujarat, July 18, 2026:: A controversy has erupted over the enforcement of dress code guidelines during the NEET-UG 2026 examination after a Hindu student was reportedly asked to remove her Tulsi Kanthi mala, a sacred religious necklace, before entering an examination centre in Surat. The incident, captured on video and widely circulated on social media, has triggered a broader debate on the consistent application of examination rules concerning religious symbols.

According to reports, the incident occurred during the mandatory frisking process at a NEET examination centre in Surat’s Amroli area. Security personnel allegedly instructed the candidate to remove her Tulsi Kanthi mala before she could enter the examination hall. The student’s father strongly objected, arguing that the necklace was a religious symbol and should not have been treated as a prohibited accessory.

In the viral video, the father can be heard saying:

“I am the son of a Hindu, and I am standing in Surat—not Lahore, Karachi, or Pakistan.”

He further questioned what he described as inconsistent enforcement of examination rules, stating:

“You do not remove hijabs or burqas, yet you asked my daughter to remove her Tulsi mala.”

The remarks have since become the focal point of public discussion, with many social media users debating whether religious symbols across different faiths are being treated uniformly during security screening.

In the viral video, a young man sporting a red tilak on his forehead was seen forcefully snatching the Tulsi Kanthi Mala from the victim’s neck in a highly objectionable manner. It clearly shows that the man had no respect for Sanatan Dharma, nor did he have even the least understanding of the Sanatan way of life.

The incident prompted a response from the National Testing Agency (NTA). A senior NTA official described the reported action as “wrong” and “unacceptable” and announced that the matter would be investigated. According to the agency, the alleged instruction to remove the Tulsi mala was inconsistent with its published dress-code guidelines, which permit candidates wearing religious attire or articles of faith to appear for examinations after undergoing additional security checks, provided the prescribed procedures are followed.

Local education officials also clarified that frisking at NEET centres is carried out by agencies appointed by the NTA and not by the district administration.

The episode has reignited discussions about balancing examination security with religious freedom. While many have called for uniform enforcement of dress-code policies irrespective of religion, others have emphasized that all candidates should be subject to the same security protocols, with reasonable accommodation for genuine religious practices.

The NTA’s inquiry is expected to determine whether established procedures were followed at the Surat examination centre and whether corrective action is required to ensure consistent implementation of examination guidelines in future.

Such repression against Hindu students and NEET aspirants, as well as candidates appearing for other examinations, creates a sense of fear and results in a negative psychological impact on Hindu students. It is also shocking to note that such harassment of Hindus is occurring in a state like Gujarat, where the BJP has been in power for the last 30 consecutive years.