1 hour agoPolitics
31LENS
18 SourcesKarnataka, India
thebalanced.newsKarnataka Government Revokes 2022 Hijab Ban, Allows Religious Symbols with Uniforms
The Karnataka government has revoked its February 2022 order banning the hijab and other religious symbols in schools and pre-university colleges. The new directive permits students to wear limited traditional and faith-based symbols such as hijab, turban, sacred thread (janeu), rudraksha, and shivadhara alongside prescribed uniforms, provided these do not disrupt discipline, safety, or student identification. The order emphasizes that no student can be compelled to wear or remove such symbols, nor denied entry to classrooms or exams for wearing them. This move reverses the previous BJP government's policy, which had sparked widespread protests, legal battles, and political debate since early 2022. The government framed the new guidelines to balance institutional discipline with constitutional secularism and inclusivity, aiming to uphold equality and respect for diverse religious practices within educational institutions.
Political Bias
57%35%8%
Sentiment
65%
AI Analysis
Political bias across 18 sources
● Left 57%● Center 35%● Right 8%
The article group reflects perspectives primarily from the Congress-led Karnataka government, which emphasizes inclusivity, constitutional secularism, and student rights in reversing the BJP-era hijab ban. Coverage includes opposition criticism framing the move as political appeasement. The BJP's original order and its legal backing are noted, alongside reactions from Muslim leaders and community representatives. The sources present both the government's rationale and dissenting political views, illustrating the issue's politicization and communal sensitivity.
Sentiment — Neutral (65/100)
The overall tone across the articles is neutral to cautiously positive, focusing on the policy reversal as a step toward inclusivity and respect for religious freedoms in education. While some sources highlight the controversy and protests triggered by the original ban, the new order is portrayed as a measured effort to balance discipline with constitutional rights. Opposition voices express criticism, adding a critical dimension, but the coverage largely centers on factual reporting of the policy change and its implications.
How 15 sources covered this story
Each source's own headline, political lean, and sentiment — so you can see framing differences at a glance.
Coverage timeline
oneindia broke this story on 13 May, 02:03 pm. Other outlets followed.
- 1oneindia13 May, 02:03 pmKarnataka Government Withdraws 2022 Hijab Ban in Classrooms
- 2thehindu13 May, 02:35 pm'Limited' traditional and religious symbols to be allowed with prescribed uniforms in Karnataka schools and colleges
- 3news1813 May, 02:38 pmKarnataka Hijab Ban Reversed: What The 2022 Order Said And Why It Sparked Controversy
- 4hindustantimes13 May, 02:38 pmKarnataka revokes 2022 hijab order, permits religious symbols with uniform
- 5economictimes13 May, 02:42 pmKarnataka: Siddaramaiah govt reverses ban on wearing of hijab in schools, PU colleges
- 6indiatvnews13 May, 02:43 pmKarnataka revokes BJP govt's 2022 order, allows hijab and sacred threads in schools and colleges
- 7theprint13 May, 03:22 pmK'taka allows faith-based symbols like Hijab, Janeu with uniform under 'secular, inclusive' edu policy
- 8english13 May, 03:37 pmKarnataka Allows Hijab, Turban And Religious Symbols In Schools Under New Uniform Policy
- 9ndtv13 May, 03:53 pmKarnataka Revokes 2022 Order, Allows Hijab, Sacred Thread In Schools
- 10opindia13 May, 04:12 pmKarnataka Congress government revokes order banning hijab with school uniform
Lens Score breakdown
31/100
Public interest0/100
Coverage gap80%
Well-covered story — coverage matches public importance.
Who's involved
Institutions and figures named across source coverage.
Government
Karnataka GovernmentMinistry of Education, KarnatakaSchool Education and Literacy MinistryDepartment of School Education and LiteracyMinistry of Primary and Secondary EducationKarnataka State GovernmentHealth Ministry
Political
Minister for Primary and Secondary Education Madhu BangarappaCongress PartyKarnataka Legislative AssemblyBharatiya Janata PartyHealth Minister Dinesh Gundu RaoBJPCongress
Enforcement
Bengaluru Police
Judiciary
Supreme CourtKarnataka High CourtSupreme Court of India
Story context
- Category
- Politics
- Location
- Karnataka, India
- Sources analysed
- 18
- Last analysed
- 13 May 2026
- Key entities
- HijabKarnatakaTurbanBharatiya Janata PartyGovernment of KarnatakaUpanayanaIndian National CongressMuslimsDress codeSecularismMadhu BangarappaSupreme Court of India
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