Rajya Sabha chairman orders review of new military-style uniform of marshals
New Delhi: Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu on Tuesday ordered review of the new military-style uniform of marshals in the House, a move which comes following criticism by some ex-Army officers and remarks of opposition leaders.
Uniforms of Rajya Sabha marshals were restyled from traditional Indian attire comprising turbans to dark navy blue and olive green military-style outfits with caps. Naidu mentioned in the House that the Secretariat of Rajya Sahba had come out with a new dress code for marshals.
However, there have been suggestions and comments by politicians and well-meaning individuals on the same, he said.
"I have decided to ask the Secretariat to revisit the same," Naidu said.
On Monday, when the marshals came wearing the new uniform together with aiguillette, some members commented if "marshal law was being imposed." Customarily, the presiding officer of the House is flanked by two marshals who march ahead of the chairman to announce the commencement of proceedings and also assist the chair in organising the desk and bringing up order papers.
Marshals earlier wore safari suits during summer and Indian bandgalas during the winter along with turbans. The turbans were viewed by some as colonial legacy, leading to review of the uniform.
On Monday, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh had sought to raise a point on the marshals' new uniform. "Sir, the marshals...," he began only to be interrupted by Naidu. Ramesh, however, insisted that there has been "a very significant change" in their attire.
"Okay. You always make significant point at an insignificant time," Naidu had remarked on Monday. Some former Army officers have also criticised the new uniforms for marshals, terming them as illegal.
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NEET student hangs self in Rajasthan's Sikar
Jaipur (PTI): A student preparing for the NEET examination allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself in a rented room in Rajasthan's Sikar on Friday, police said.
According to the police, the student allegedly hanged himself from a ceiling fan using his sister's scarf while one sister was attending coaching classes and the other was in the bathroom.
He had appeared in the NEET UG exam 2026, which was cancelled due to paper leak, they said.
Udyog Nagar SHO Rajesh Kumar said that the deceased, identified as Pradeep Meghwal, was a resident of Kanika ki Dhani village in Jhunjhunu's Gudha Gaudji area.
He had been living in a rented room in Sikar's Jaldhari Nagar area with his two sisters while preparing for NEET over the last three years.
His elder sister later found him hanging and informed the landlord and police after bringing him down, officials said.
The SHO said the body was kept at SK Hospital mortuary, and a postmortem had not been conducted.
The student's father, Rajesh Kumar Meghwal, told police that Pradeep's NEET examination had gone well and the family was expecting him to score around 650 marks.
Former Rajasthan deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot expressed grief over the incident and linked it to anxiety among students after reports of irregularities and paper leaks in NEET 2026.
Pilot said repeated paper leak incidents and cancellation of examinations were affecting students' mental health and demanded a time-bound investigation and strict action against those responsible.
