'How Can They Insult Our Religion': Janeu Row Erupts At Bengaluru CET Exam Centre

Last Updated:April 24, 2026, 14:54 IST

Officials at the Krupanidhi College in Bengaluru’s Madiwala allegedly insisted that students remove their janeu or sacred thread before entering the CET exam hall

A fresh controversy has erupted over the enforcement of examination dress codes in Karnataka as officials at a CET (Common Entrance Test) centre in southeast Bengaluru allegedly insisted that students remove their sacred threads (Janivara or Janeu).

The incident took place at Krupanidhi College in Madiwala on the first day of the exams and the parents of the students have now approached the police to file an FIR.

“We did not expect this. We explained it to the officials, but they insisted. We asked the children to remove it or else their future would be affected. But how could they have insulted our religion like this? It’s unfair," a parent told News18.

According to reports, more than five students were allegedly asked to remove their sacred threads before entering the examination hall.

One of the students, Anand Sudhir Rao, reportedly resisted the instruction, prompting officials to tell him to “go back home" if he could not comply.

Fearing that their son’s academic future could be affected, the parents eventually persuaded him to remove the thread.

Protests, Officials Step In To Defuse Tension

As parents gathered outside the examination centre and staged a protest, questioning the enforcement of rules, officials from the Education Department and the CET cell visited the spot. They attempted to pacify the parents and collected written statements, in what parents alleged was an effort to prevent the issue from escalating further. Additional staff were deployed at the centre, and police moved protesting parents away from the premises.

Echoes Of 2025 Row, Action Taken Earlier

This mirrors another similar incident in 2025, where several students were reportedly asked to remove their sacred thread before being allowed to enter the examination hall.

The controversy snowballed last year where one of the student’s sacred thread was cut and the family alleged it was thrown into the dustbin. They alleged the student was threatened that if he needs to gain entry into the examination hall, the sacred thread would have to go.

“I had my Mathematics CET exam on April 17. When I reached the exam centre, the college management checked me and saw my janeu. They asked me to cut it or remove it, only then would they allow me to appear for the exam. For 45 minutes, I kept requesting them, but finally I had to come back home," said the student, Suchivrat Kulkarni, whose sacred thread was cut off using scissors.

Dress Code Enforcement Triggers Confusion Elsewhere

The incident at Sai Spoorti PU College in Bidar district had triggered widespread outrage and later the state government took action and suspended the principal and staff. The student later demanded a re-examination or a government seat.

This year, the strict enforcement of examination dress code rules has also led to confusion at other centres. In Chikkamagaluru, several girl students were stopped during frisking at an examination centre at MES College, as metal ornaments were not permitted inside the hall.

Girls were asked to remove items such as nose pins and earrings before entry. In cases where students were unable to remove nose pins, staff reportedly placed adhesive tape over them and allowed entry, drawing mixed reactions from parents and students.

In Ballari district, similar checks were carried out across multiple centres, where students were asked to remove earrings, threads worn around the neck, and wrist threads used for religious purposes as part of the inspection process. Officials maintained that the measures were part of standard security protocol to ensure the smooth conduct of examinations.

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