REET 2025 – Clothes cut, jewellery removed: Rajasthan’s biggest exam enforces strict security

For the first time, the Rajasthan Eligibility Examination for Teachers or the REET exam is being conducted with high-tech security measures. Candidates were subjected to face scans, biometric verification, and strict dress code checks, including having their clothes altered or cut and jewellery removed before entering the exam centre.

REET is the largest exam held in Rajasthan and this year, teacher eligibility test has seen a massive 14.29 lakh registrations. The breakdown of candidates is:

• Level 1: 3,04,625 candidates
• Level 2: 9,68,501 candidates
• Both levels: 1,14,696 candidates

The exam is being conducted in three shifts over two days, February 27 and 28, across 1,731 centres in 41 districts of Rajasthan.

STRICT SECURITY MEASURES

To prevent cheating and ensure transparency, face scanning technology was introduced at REET exam centres for the first time. Candidates had to undergo biometric verification before being allowed inside. The entrance gates were closed one hour before the exam, leaving many candidates seen running to make it in time.

Security checks were intense. Male candidates’ sleeves and collars were cut, and female candidates had to remove jewellery before entering. Despite prior instructions, some candidates still arrived wearing necklaces and nose rings, which were removed at the gate.

Candidates had to follow a pre-decided dress code:

• Men: Full-sleeve shirts, trousers (no belts, shoes, watches, or caps)
• Women: Kurti, salwar, saree, or full-sleeve blouse (no heavy buttons, metal clothing, handbags, or shawls)
• Only essentials allowed: Admit card, blue/black ball pen, photo ID (Aadhaar, voter ID, driving licence), and a passport-size photo

PROHIBITED ITEMS

To maintain strict exam discipline, REET candidates were banned from carrying:

• Electronic devices: Mobile phones, calculators, Bluetooth gadgets, smartwatches
• Personal belongings: Wallets, purses, diaries
• Other restricted items: Question papers were not allowed to be taken out, and candidates had to submit the original OMR sheet while keeping their own copy

FREE TRAVEL AND SPECIAL TRAINS

To assist candidates, the Rajasthan government provided free travel in roadways buses for five days (starting two days before the exam and continuing one day after). Candidates could travel by simply showing their admit cards.

Additionally, the Indian Railways operated five special trains to accommodate candidates traveling from distant locations:

• Jodhpur to Gwalior (via Dheer Ka Balaji)
• Gwalior to Dheer Ka Balaji
• Sriganganagar to Dorai
• Bharatpur to Jaipur
• Merta Road to Bharatpur City