Writing '786' or 'Om' on exam papers may debar students in India

Decision by the board aims at keeping religion away from the examination process

The Uttar Pradesh (UP) Board in India has directed students appearing for high school and intermediate examinations to abstain from using any religious symbols or numbers like '786' or 'Om' on their answer sheets.

As per the order, students violating the directive could be disqualified from the examination, India Today reported.



The decision by the board is aimed at keeping religion away from the examination process and is also a way to hide the religion of the student from the examiner marking papers.

A few years ago, Bangalore University had warned students that if they resorted to religious displays on their answer scripts, they would have to appear for the exam all over again. Similarly, Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) had issued a directive that inscribing any religious symbol would be considered a malpractice.

Examination superintendents have also been directed by the board to ensure that students do not carry any electronic gadgets which could assist them in cheating during examinations.



With board examinations approaching, the board has also cautioned examinees against any misbehaviour. Students violating any of the directives put forward by the board could see themselves disqualified from the exam permanently.

The Arabic letters of the opening phrase of the Quran "Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Rahim" (In the name of Allah, the most Merciful, the most Beneficient) sum up to the numerical value '786', according to a decimal number system and hence is significant in Islam.

This article originally appeared on India Today