The Karnataka Examination Authority has issued a dress code for recruitment exams of various state-run boards and corporations to be conducted on November 18 and 19 in the state.

The KEA has also issued a list of prohibited items, which include electronic devices, mobile phones, pen drives, earphones, microphones, bluetooth devices and wristwatches. The candidates will not be allowed to use them inside the examination centres.

Wearing a cap or any other clothing on the head is prohibited to prevent the use of bluetooth devices in the examination room. Masks are also banned.

Pencil, paper, eraser, geometry boxes, and log tables have also been barred.

Women candidates are not allowed to wear clothes with elaborate embroidery, flowers, or clothes with buttons.

They are also barred from wearing full-sleeved clothes, jeans pants, high-heeled shoes or slippers inside the exam hall.

Metal jewelry, except 'Mangalsutra' and 'Kalungura' (toe rings), are prohibited.

Male candidates have been asked to wear half-sleeve shirts as full-sleeved shirts are not allowed on the day of the examination.

According to the KEA, plain trousers are the preferred dress code for male candidates but 'Kurta Pajama' and jeans pants are not allowed.

“Clothes worn by male candidates should be light i.e. no zip pockets, pockets, large buttons and elaborate embroidery. Shoes are strictly prohibited inside the examination hall. Candidates should wear sandals or thin-soled sandals", it said.

Earlier on November 6, a woman appearing for the Karnataka Public Service Commission examination was asked to remove her 'mangalsutra' before entering the exam hall.

After protests by Hindutva groups, the KEA has now allowed women to wear mangalasutra and toe rings in the examination hall while restricting other jewellery.

The state government had also expanded this directive to include other board exams such as Class X and XII, as well as the Common Entrance Test conducted by KEA.

The guidelines have not banned hijab but it is inferred that head coverings associated with different faiths such as Islam and Sikhism will not be permitted in the exam hall, to vade off malpractices using Bluetooth devices.

Earlier in October, the Karnataka government had allowed students to wear the Hijab, during competitive exams. The Higher Education Minister MC Sudhakar had allowed aspirants to come to examination centres wearing the Hijab sparking off protests by right-wing groups.

The State government had on November 11 ordered a probe by the state CID into an incident where candidates at Kalaburagi and Yadgir examination centres allegedly used Bluetooth devices for writing the exams conducted by the KEA in October, 2023.

In 2022, the Supreme Court had upheld the Karnataka government's decision on banning the Hijab in classrooms that came under the state. The State government had at the time also extended this order to other Board exams like Class X and XII as well as the Common Entrance Test conducted by the KEA.