Education Minister Dada Bhuse Defends Students’ Right to Wear Burqa During Exams

Mumbai, 1st February 2025: Maharashtra’s School Education Minister Dadaji Bhuse has firmly responded to demands for banning burqas during 10th and 12th-grade exams, emphasizing that the focus should be on preventing cheating rather than dictating dress codes.
The controversy arose when Maharashtra Ports Development Minister Nitesh Rane called for prohibiting burqas during exams, citing concerns about potential cheating. This demand sparked an immediate backlash from Muslim students, who challenged Rane’s stance and defended their right to wear religious attire.
Bhuse addressed the issue, stating, “Whether a student wears a burqa or not, we are committed to ensuring that no one cheats during exams.” He highlighted the comprehensive measures in place to prevent malpractice, including cameras installed at exam centres, police presence for security, and supervisors overseeing the process.
The minister emphasized that these precautions are designed to maintain exam integrity regardless of what students wear. “Our focus is on conducting cheat-free exams, which has been our department’s ongoing mission,” Bhuse added.
Muslim students from H.R. High School in Nandgaon, Nashik, had earlier issued an open challenge to Rane, asserting, “The burqa is a matter of our faith and religion. We will take the exams wearing our burqas.” They accused Rane of deliberately targeting a specific community and called for action against him.