In a significant policy reversal, the Mahayuti government has decided to abandon its centralised uniform distribution scheme for government school students. The responsibility for procuring and distributing uniforms will return to school management committees (SMCs) starting from the 2025-26 academic year. This decision comes after widespread delays, inefficiencies, and quality issues under the current system.
The centralised scheme, launched in 2023 under the ‘One State, One Uniform’ initiative, aimed to standardise uniform distribution across Maharashtra's government schools. However, the scheme faced operational challenges from the outset. Reports revealed that nearly 32 lakh students were left without their second set of uniforms this year, leading to frustration among parents and educators.
Implementation issues plagued the scheme from its first year. In the 2023-24 academic year, many students reportedly received only one uniform set, often delayed until October. Schools struggled to comply with the government’s directive, causing confusion and dissatisfaction among stakeholders. The situation worsened in 2024-25 when the government promised two sets of uniforms per student. Despite these assurances, nearly 10% of students had not received a single uniform set by October, while only 23% managed to get both sets. Additional complaints about poor stitching, ill-fitting sizes, and low-quality materials further discredited the scheme.
To address these issues, the school education department issued an ordinance on Friday, officially transferring the responsibility back to SMCs. The Maharashtra Primary Education Council will allocate ₹30 per uniform per student to these committees and provide clear guidelines to ensure effective implementation. According to the revised plan, all students will receive two uniform sets. Boys will wear sky-blue shirts with dark blue shorts or trousers, while girls will receive sky-blue shirts with dark blue pinafore skirts. In schools where salwar kameez is standard attire, the salwar will be dark blue and the kameez sky-blue.
The move to revert to a decentralised model has been widely welcomed by teachers, parents, and activists. Teacher representatives highlighted that the centralised system had placed undue stress on educators, who often faced backlash from parents due to delays and poor-quality uniforms. Uniform suppliers, previously involved under the decentralised scheme but excluded in recent years, expressed relief at the decision, calling it a victory after nearly two years of lobbying. The government’s decision reflects its recognition of the inefficiencies in the centralised model and its commitment to improving the system to better serve students and schools. With this rollback, stakeholders hope for a smoother, more efficient uniform distribution process in the coming years.
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