Git push error pre-receive hook declined

GitLab by default marks master branch as protected (See part Protecting your code in https://about.gitlab.com/2014/11/26/keeping-your-code-protected/ why). If so in your case, then this can help:

Open your project > Settings > Repository and go to "Protected branches", find "master" branch into the list and click "Unprotect" and try again.

via https://gitlab.com/gitlab-com/support-forum/issues/40

For version 8.11 and above how-to here: https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/user/project/protected_branches.html#restricting-push-and-merge-access-to-certain-users

In my case, my team lead to created a repo(repo was empty) and assign me as developer so when I pushed to the code directly to master the error I was facing ! [remote rejected] master -> master (pre-receive hook declined) So how it was fixed that he assigned to me as maintainer so I was able to push the code directly to the master.