On 13 May 2026 the Karnataka Government issued a new circular withdrawing the February 2022 order that prohibited the Hijab and other faith‑based symbols in aided and private schools and pre‑university colleges. The order aligns the state’s education policy with constitutional secularism while permitting limited traditional symbols that do not disturb discipline, safety or student identification.
Key Developments
- The circular permits symbols such as Hijab, turban (Pete), sacred thread (Janivara), Shivadara, Rudraksha, alongside the prescribed uniform.
- The order cites constitutional secularism and the need to respect Article 25 while maintaining institutional order.
- The Karnataka High Court previously held that wearing the Hijab is not an essential religious practice, and a split Supreme Court decision on the challenge remains pending.
- A recent public‑interest litigation seeks a declaration that the Karnataka Examination Authority’s refusal to allow students wearing the sacred thread in the CET 2025 is unconstitutional.
Important Facts
The original order dated 5 February 2022 mandated strict uniform compliance across all government, aided and private schools, sparking nationwide protests and extensive litigation. The new circular references the Karnataka Education Act, 1983 and Rule 11 of the