The Ministry of Human Resource Development announced on July 4, 2012, that Kendriya Vidyalayas nationwide would adopt a new uniform pattern. This change in dress code for students of Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, an autonomous body under the Ministry of Education, marked the first update since its establishment in 1963. The new uniform included updated scarf and turban designs, such as a scarf with red hemming for Muslim girls to match their attire. The KVS Board of Governors approved these changes in its 92nd meeting on May 18, 2012. The Ministry of HRD stated that the new design aimed to give students a contemporary look while providing a unique identity, considering comfort and cost factors. The introduction of checks for both boys and girls, as well as the replacement of salwars with trousers for girls in classes IX-XII, were part of the uniform update. The National Institute of Fashion Technology and the Ministry of Textiles collaborated to create the new uniform. Currently, there are 14.35 lakh students enrolled in 1,248 Kendriya Vidyalayas, with a breakdown of 6.55 lakh girls and 7.79 lakh boys. While specific enrollment figures by category are not available, in 2015, out of 12.09 lakh students in Kendriya Vidyalayas, 56,719 were Muslims, including 23,621 girls. In response to a Lok Sabha inquiry on August 8, 2012, the HRD Ministry clarified that the government was not involved in determining the uniform for Kendriya Vidyalaya students, as this responsibility falls under the autonomous KVS. However, KVS introduced a new uniform to give students a distinct identity, marking the first change since 1963.
