Telangana school uniforms revert to old design

Telangana’s School Education department plans to revert government and local body school uniforms to the previous corporate-style design, restoring stripes and shoulder loops removed by the current government. Around 20 lakh students will receive uniforms, costing Rs. 130 crore

Hyderabad: The School Education department appears to have taken a U-turn with regards to the uniform of the government and local body schools in the State.

For the forthcoming academic year, the department is now considering reverting to old uniform design, a corporate style look, which was introduced by the previous BRS government.

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After coming into power, the Telangana Congress government made significant changes to the uniforms given to the government and local body school students which ended up making them unappealing and dull.

The previous BRS government had in 2023 introduced a new design for the uniforms. The boys uniform featured pant-coloured strap on the shirt shoulders, sleeves and pockets. Similarly, girls’ uniforms had waistcoat-coloured straps from the sleeves of Punjabi dress and shirts besides shirt coloured strap on body-frock for primary class girl students.

However, after coming into power, the Congress government removed straps and shoulder loops from both boys and girls uniforms, making them unappealing and dull. But for both girls and boys, the uniform colour– red and ash colour checks printed shirt and maroon dyed for suiting- remained the same. Now, the School Education department has recently sent a proposal seeking a nod to revert to the old design.

“As this design did not have much visual appeal, we are now considering providing uniforms in the old model that include stripes and shoulder loops,” official sources said.

Every academic year, the government provides two sets of free uniforms to students. The number of uniforms to be supplied is expected to come down from 22 lakh students this academic year to 20 lakh students in the forthcoming academic year. The department has set a target to deliver the fabric to mandal headquarters by January 31, 2026.

As per the official estimates, a total of one lakh meters of fabric might be required for stitching uniforms, which is expected to cost Rs.130 crore. Orders for the fabric have already been placed with TG TESCO.

Like this academic year, the uniforms will be stitched and distributed to government and local body schools through self-help groups.