Hyderabad: The entrance examination should have been on their mind, but students found themselves paying more attention to the Neet dress code.
The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Neet) is an entrance examination for students wishing to study any graduate or postgraduate course medical course in government or private medical colleges in India.
To avoid any irregularity in the examination this year, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) had decided on a strict dress code. All candidates had to strictly follow the guidelines or sit out for the test. With no option, many chose to stop studying for a couple of hours and go shopping to ensure that their outfit would pass scrutiny successfully.
M. Nithisha, a student who appeared for her exam at Loyolo College, said, “The dress code was very strict and the CBSE guidelines had to be followed. So I had to take time from my tight schedule to shop. I was worried that I may not be allowed to appear for the examination if I did not follow instructions. Like me, some of my friends also had to shop for light-coloured clothes.”
She added that there was strict checking at the examination centres. “We even had to remove our hair pins and rubber bands for the checking before we were allowed into the examination hall,” she said.
Seventeen-year-old Sai Kumar, a student who appeared for the Neet at Hyderabad Public School, Ramanthpur, said, “Like most boys, I too have full-sleeved shirts. But I had to buy half-sleeved shirts to appear for the Neet.”
Seetha Kiran, Neet coordinator for Hyderabad, said, "Despite many instructions, many students wore dupattas, which were not all allowed, Many male students wore full-sleeved shirts but as it was last minute we allowed the students to sit for the exam. We followed the timings strictly and three students from Arbindo Bhavan Junior College in Sainikpuri were not allowed to appear as they reached their centre after 9.45 AM."
