Bengaluru: In a significant policy shift aimed at promoting inclusivity, the Karnataka government on Wednesday revoked the 2022 order that had restricted religious attire—including the hijab—in schools and pre-university colleges. The new guidelines allow students to wear “limited traditional and custom-based symbols” along with their prescribed uniforms.
The School Education and Literacy Department withdrew the earlier order (EP 14 SHH 2022, dated February 5, 2022) with immediate effect, stating that the revised policy seeks to ensure equal access to education while upholding uniformity, equality and secularism on campus.
Under the updated rules, students in all government, aided and private schools and PU colleges must continue to follow the institution’s prescribed uniform. However, they may now additionally wear certain traditional symbols such as turbans, sacred threads (janivara), rudraksha, and headscarves (hijab), provided they meet specific conditions.
The government has clarified that these symbols must complement the uniform, not alter or undermine its purpose, and must not interfere with discipline, safety, or identification of students.
The order also bars educational institutions from denying entry to classrooms, exam halls, or academic activities on the grounds of wearing such permitted symbols. At the same time, institutions cannot force students to wear or remove them.
Addressing the press, School Education and Literacy Minister S. Madhu Bangarappa reiterated that the core objective of schooling is education. “Children come to school to learn. They bring their cultural and religious identities from home. The new rules, framed under the guidance of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, ensure that no child faces any inconvenience because of their background,” he said. He added that for certain events such as examinations, national or state-level dress codes may still apply.
The policy shift follows an incident on April 24, where a student’s sacred thread was allegedly removed, triggering widespread debate and criticism. Commenting on the episode, Health and Family Welfare Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said such actions have no place in educational institutions. “Children come to school only to study, and we must ensure that is protected,” he noted.
The latest order instructs School Development and Monitoring Committees (SDMCs), College Development Committees (CDCs), and heads of institutions to prevent any form of discrimination or disrespect. Citing the inclusive philosophy of 12th-century social reformer Basavanna, the order urges institutions to adopt the spirit of “Iva nammava” (They are ours). Any earlier circulars or decisions contradicting the new guidelines stand null and void.
