Bhubaneswar: The Mohan Majhi-led government in Odisha has announced a change in the design and colour of uniforms for Class IX and X students in public and aided schools under the Mukhyamantri Chhatra Chhatri Paridhan Yojana. The new uniforms, unveiled on Tuesday, mark a departure from the green design introduced by the previous BJD regime last year.
According to the new design, boys will wear checkered light brown shirts paired with maroon pants, while girls will don a checkered kurta along with a maroon jacket and salwar.
The School and Mass Education Department, in an official letter to the Director of Secondary Education, confirmed the government’s approval of the new uniform design. The letter stated, “The new design may be implemented in schools where uniforms in the old design have not yet been stitched or distributed.”
Earlier, there was speculation that the state government might revert to the classic blue and white uniforms, which were worn by students before the green colour was introduced by the previous administration. School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond had indicated that the previous uniform colour, associated with the former ruling party, could be replaced with more neutral tones.
The previous blue and white uniforms, still in use by elementary school students in Odisha, were seen as a symbol of continuity and tradition, and many welcomed the possibility of their restoration. However, with the new light brown and maroon combination now officially approved, the state has opted for a fresh look for its secondary school students.