In a significant policy shift, the government of Karnataka has decided to allow school students to wear certain religious symbols and traditional attire along with their prescribed uniforms. The move reverses a controversial order issued in 2022 during the tenure of former chief minister B. S. Yediyurappa, when the state had banned the wearing of hijab in educational institutions.
Officials say the new guidelines, which are currently being finalised by the Education Department, will permit students to wear items such as Janivara (the sacred thread worn by many Hindus), headgear, turban, rudraksha, shivadhara, hijab, and scarves while attending classes and examinations. The government has clarified that these symbols will be allowed alongside the mandated school uniform, not as a replacement for it.
The decision marks a clear departure from the earlier stance taken by the Bharatiya Janata Party government in the state. In 2022, the hijab issue had triggered widespread protests after some Muslim students were denied entry to classrooms because their headscarves were not considered part of the official uniform. The dispute soon turned into a national political debate and reached the courts.
At that time, the Karnataka High Court upheld the state government’s order enforcing uniform rules. The court observed that wearing the hijab was not an essential religious practice in Islam and supported the administration’s decision to maintain uniformity in educational institutions.
Now, under the leadership of the Siddaramaiah government from the Indian National Congress, the state has opted for a more inclusive approach. Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa said the decision emerged after discussions sparked by an incident on April 24, when a sacred thread worn by a student was reportedly removed during an examination.
According to the minister, the government wants to ensure that students do not face discomfort or humiliation due to their traditional or religious practices. He said clear guidelines are being prepared so that schools and examination centres know exactly what is permitted.
Bangarappa explained that the intention is not to disturb discipline in schools but to avoid situations where students feel excluded because of their beliefs. He added that children should be able to continue their education without unnecessary obstacles linked to cultural or religious identity.
The chief minister has reportedly instructed the Education Department to complete the framework before the start of the upcoming academic year so that schools can implement the new rules smoothly.
The policy will still maintain the overall structure of school uniforms, but with limited flexibility for religious and cultural symbols. Officials say this approach aims to strike a balance between maintaining order in educational institutions and respecting the diversity that exists among students.
The development is likely to reopen political debate in Karnataka, where the hijab controversy had previously triggered intense discussions, protests, and legal battles. While supporters of the new policy see it as a step toward inclusivity, critics are expected to question whether it could once again politicise the issue in the state’s education system.