The Congress-led government in Karnataka has officially withdrawn the controversial 2022 uniform order that had effectively restricted the wearing of hijab in schools and colleges across the state. The new order came into effect immediately on Wednesday.
Under the revised guidelines, students in government, aided and private educational institutions, including pre-university colleges, will now be allowed to wear limited religious and traditional symbols along with prescribed uniforms. These include hijabs, turbans, sacred threads (janivara/janeu), rudraksha beads and similar customary attire.
The government clarified that these symbols must complement the school uniform and should not affect discipline, safety, equality or student identification inside campuses. Uniforms will continue to remain mandatory in educational institutions.
The earlier order was introduced in February 2022 during the previous BJP government, triggering nationwide protests, court battles and political controversy over the hijab issue. The matter had become one of the biggest political and social debates in the state.
According to reports, the latest decision came weeks after controversy erupted during the Karnataka Common Entrance Test (CET), where some students were allegedly asked to remove sacred threads before entering examination halls.
State Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa said the new policy was introduced following directions from Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and emphasized that all religions and faiths must be respected equally in educational institutions.
The decision has triggered strong political reactions across the state. Supporters of the move called it a step toward inclusivity and religious freedom, while opposition leaders criticized the government, claiming it could affect uniformity in schools.
