Are you pregnant?: Varsity seeks dates of students' periods, 'last delivery'

Jaipur: The admission application of a women’s university in Rajasthan expects students to answer questions on their menstrual cycle and pregnancy status and is being condemned by activists for being ‘intrusive’ and ‘disgusting’.

According to a report in Hindustan Times, the Banasthali University is situated in Tonk and is a popular residential varsity in the state.

The University’s admission form asks very personal questions to aspiring students, like, ‘when was your last period’, and if they have regular periods or not.

Following are some of the questions that feature in their application:

• Are you pregnant now?
• Date of last delivery?
• Date of last menstruation?
• Do you have regular menstruation?
• Have you had any abortion or miscarriage or Caesarean section?

Facing criticism, the University defended its questionnaire and claimed that such details help them ‘provide better healthcare to students’.

The report claims University sources revealed that the management began keeping gynaecological records of its students after a newborn was allegedly found dead in one of their hostels.

While some students think that the Varsity has the right to ask such questions, many were appalled and taken aback at the questions.

Shweta Singh, an IT engineer and former student who graduated from the university this year, is one such candidate.

“It was the first time that I saw a form in which all these details were required. The first thing that struck me… was why do they want to know these things? All these details are personal,” Singh said.