Karnataka govt withdrawn 2022 order issued by the previous BJP government effectively restricted wearing of hijab in educational institutions

The fresh order formally revokes the earlier directive that had required strict adherence to uniforms without religious symbols, a move that had sparked a political flashpoint centred on the wearing of the hijab.

Under the new order, students in government, aided, and private educational institutions, including pre-university colleges, can wear items such as the hijab, sacred thread (janivara), rudraksha, shivadhara, and sharavastra along with the prescribed uniform.

The fresh directive, issued by the Department of School Education and Literacy, permits students in schools and colleges across the state to wear items such as the hijab, turban, sacred thread and rudraksha, provided these do not disrupt discipline, safety or student identification.

Karnataka allows limited religious symbols with uniforms in schools, revoking a previous order amid ongoing debates on student rights.