Individuals Detained for Advocating Removal of 'Religious Symbol' at NEET Exam Venue
2022 Update: A Contentious NEET Exam Incident
In the sweltering town of Kalaburagi, a heated controversy unfolded during the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) on May 4. Two individuals were taken into custody for allegedly asking a candidate to part with his "janivara" (sacred thread worn by Brahmins) before he could enter the exam hall.
As per the candidate's complaint, a First Information Report (FIR) was lodged against the two temp staff, who were employed by an agency and had been deputed by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for frisking duties.
"In light of the janivara incident at a private examination center during yesterday's NEET exam, the candidate has filed a complaint against two individuals. We've taken up the case. The staff were interrogated, and legal action was taken against them. We've also filed an arrest warrant," Kalaburagi City Police Commissioner, Sharanappa S. D, elaborated.
Both individuals were arrested on Sunday evening and later released on station bay, due to the offense being bailable. Further investigations are underway to establish whether others were complicit and to ensure the staff understand their duties properly.
The incident at Kalaburagi has stirred anger and frustration within the Brahmin community, prompting them to stage a protest outside the examination center. This occurrence echoes a similar situation that unfolded during the Common Entrance Test held for engineering and other vocational courses on April 16, 2021, where Brahmin boys were allegedly asked to remove their sacred threads.
The contemporary controversy surrounding the NEET exam in 2022 reminds us of a similar incident that erupted in 2025, where several candidates from the Brahmin community were asked to remove or had their sacred threads cut prior to entering the exam hall in Kalaburagi, Karnataka. Further investigation and accountability were demanded by the affected community members, who staged protests outside the center. The culprits were subsequently arrested, but it is essential to ensure such incidents do not recur in the future.
- The NEET incident in 2022, involving two temp staff allegedly asking a candidate to part with his sacred thread (janivara), has resulted in legal action, including the issuance of an arrest warrant by the Kalaburagi City Police Commissioner.
- The protests by the Brahmin community in Kalaburagi have been triggered by this incident, which bears resemblance to a similar occurrence during the Common Entrance Test held in 2021 and another incident in 2025.
- General-news and crime-and-justice sections have reported on the arrest of the two staff members and the ongoing investigations to determine whether others were complicit.
- The testing agencies involved are under pressure to review their hiring and training processes to prevent such sensitive and discriminatory practices in future examinations.
