Father Protests Removal of Daughter’s Religious Necklace at NEET Centre in Surat, NTA Orders Probe

According to details from the incident, the father, a follower of the Swaminarayan sect, reacted angrily when officials instructed his daughter to remove the religious necklace before entering the examination hall. Raising his voice in protest, he questioned the decision and made a pointed remark comparing the treatment of different religious symbols, asserting that he was standing in Surat and not in a foreign country. The confrontation created a tense atmosphere outside the centre as the examination schedule approached.

Amid the escalating situation, the visibly anxious student intervened and persuaded her father to allow her to comply with the instruction. She ultimately removed the Tulsi mala to avoid missing the examination and proceeded inside the centre.

The National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducts the NEET examination, later termed the removal of the religious item as “wrong and unacceptable.” The agency clarified that its official guidelines permit candidates to wear articles of faith, provided they undergo proper security checks. The NTA acknowledged that the incident constituted a violation of established procedures.

In response, the agency has initiated a formal probe into the matter and has assured that appropriate action will be taken against those found responsible for disregarding the guidelines. The investigation aims to determine how the lapse occurred despite clear instructions allowing religious items under regulated checks.

The incident has drawn attention to the balance between security protocols and religious sensitivity at high-stakes examination centres. It underscores the need for strict adherence to official guidelines to ensure that candidates are not subjected to unnecessary distress during critical academic events.