**Karnataka Reverses Hijab Ban Policy, Allows Students to Wear Limited Religious and Cultural Symbols in Classrooms**

Karnataka Withdraws 2022 Hijab Ban Order, Allows Limited Traditional Symbols in Classrooms

Bengaluru, May 13, 2026: In a significant policy reversal, the Karnataka government has officially withdrawn its 2022 order that had restricted the wearing of hijab and other religious symbols in classrooms across the state. The decision marks a major shift in the state’s approach to school uniform regulations and comes after years of legal, political, and social debate over dress codes in educational institutions.

According to the latest government directive issued by the Department of School Education and Literacy, the February 5, 2022 order—introduced by the then administration—has been revoked with immediate effect. The earlier order had mandated strict adherence to prescribed uniforms and prohibited the wearing of religious attire, including the hijab, in government and aided schools and pre-university colleges.

The new policy now allows students to wear “limited traditional and faith-based symbols” along with the prescribed uniform. These include items such as the hijab, turban, sacred thread (janivara/janeu), rudraksha, shivadhara, and other customary symbols, provided they do not replace or alter the mandatory uniform.

Officials clarified that while uniforms will continue to remain compulsory, students will not be denied entry to classrooms for wearing permitted cultural or religious items. However, the directive also emphasizes that such symbols must not interfere with discipline, safety, identification, or the overall functioning of educational institutions.

The decision is seen as a reversal of a long-standing controversy that began in early 2022, when several educational institutions in Karnataka denied entry to students wearing hijab, triggering protests across the state. The issue later escalated into a broader legal and political debate on religious freedom, equality, and uniform policies in public education.

Government sources indicated that the new framework aims to balance institutional discipline with constitutional values such as equality, dignity, and personal freedom. The order also references the need to maintain social harmony in classrooms while ensuring that no student is excluded from education due to cultural or religious practices.

The move reportedly follows multiple recent incidents, including concerns raised after a student’s religious thread was allegedly removed in a school incident, which reignited discussions on cultural sensitivity in educational spaces.

Education officials have been instructed to implement the revised guidelines immediately across all government, aided, and private institutions under the School Education Department. Schools and colleges have also been directed to ensure that no disciplinary action is taken solely on the basis of wearing permitted traditional symbols.

Political reactions are expected to remain divided, as the issue has historically drawn strong opinions from different ideological groups. Supporters of the decision argue that it promotes inclusivity and constitutional rights, while critics may raise concerns about uniform discipline and standardization in educational environments.

With this policy change, Karnataka has effectively reset its stance on one of the most debated education-related issues in recent years, opening a new chapter in the ongoing discussion about identity, education, and secular practices in classrooms.