Muslim woman barred from exam in India’s Rajasthan for wearing hijab

ISLAMABAD: A Muslim woman candidate in India’s Rajasthan state was barred from appearing in a government recruitment examination after refusing to remove her hijab, according to local media.

The incident occurred in Kota district on Sunday during the Level II Higher Primary School Teacher (Social Studies) examination conducted by the Rajasthan Staff Selection Board (RSSB). The candidate, Alisha, was denied entry to the examination center for wearing a hijab and was forced to return without taking the test. 

According to local authorities, examination guidelines prohibit candidates from covering their ears and face.

Alisha said she was wearing a salwar suit with a hijab, and that her admit card photograph also shows her wearing a hijab. She said she was checked by a female police officer and security staff. No objectionable items were found in the investigation, but the center superintendent later refused her entry unless she removed the hijab, according to Zee News India.

“I have been preparing for this exam for more than a year and even took coaching,” Alisha told local media. “Despite explaining everything, I was not allowed to appear.” She later left the center with her father, visibly distressed.

The incident has sparked criticism on social media and among rights activists, who say such actions disproportionately affect Muslim women and undermine their access to education and employment.

The Rajasthan administration has so far defended its decision, stating that the rules were applied uniformly. However, rights groups are calling for clearer, more inclusive guidelines to ensure that religious identity does not become a barrier to equal opportunity.