The Karnataka government, led by the Congress party, has reversed a previous ban on religious symbols in schools, allowing students to wear items such as hijabs and turbans during examinations. Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa announced this decision, emphasizing that no student should be denied entry based on their attire, provided it aligns with the school uniform requirements. This move comes in response to an incident on April 24, where a student was forced to remove a sacred thread during an exam. The earlier restrictions, imposed by the previous BJP government, mandated adherence to a standardized uniform and prohibited visible religious symbols, which led to significant controversy and legal challenges. The Karnataka High Court had previously upheld these restrictions, ruling that the hijab was not an essential religious practice. The new guidelines aim to create a balance between maintaining discipline in educational settings and respecting students' religious and cultural identities. This policy shift is likely to reignite discussions and debates around the hijab issue in Karnataka, which has been a contentious topic in recent years.