In a written reply, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said that Andhra Pradesh State Minorities Commission has taken cognisance of complaints about Muslim students being barred from NCC for sporting a beard.
He said that the commission had in its order dated September 11 has recommended to the Ministry of Defence to examine and reconsider the matter in detail and pass necessary orders allowing Muslims to sport beard on lines of the exemption given to Sikh community.