The 2022 Hijab Controversy refers to the dispute in Karnataka over Muslim girl students wearing the hijab in educational institutions with prescribed uniforms. The issue became a major constitutional and social debate involving freedom of religion, institutional discipline, equality, and education rights. The Karnataka government issued an order in February 2022 on uniforms where prescribed, and the Karnataka High Court later upheld restrictions in March 2022. 

UPSC Prelims Pointers:

• Linked with Articles 14, 19, 21, 25, and issues of religious freedom vs institutional regulation.
• Karnataka High Court held that hijab is not an essential religious practice in Islam (important exam fact).
• UPSC trap: the issue is about uniform policy in institutions, not a general nationwide ban.
• Can be connected with the doctrine of Essential Religious Practices (ERP).