BHUBANESWAR: To promote uniformity and safety, Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology (VSSUT) in Burla of Sambalpur district in Odisha has introduced a mandatory dress code for first-year BTech students starting the 2025-2026 academic year.
Announced on August 13, an order, issued on the instructions of the Vice-Chancellor and signed by the Registrar, exempts postgraduate and PhD students for the dress code.
According to the notification, male students must wear formal shirts and trousers, while female students are required to wear salwar kameez with a waistcoat instead of a dupatta for safety reasons.
The designated colours are navy blue for trousers, salwar, and waistcoat, and sky blue for shirts. Fabric swatches are displayed on the university’s notice board to ensure colour accuracy.
“The uniform is “formal pant and shirt” for boys; and either “formal pant and shirt” or “shalwar-kameez with waistcoat” for girls. No dupatta is permitted due to safety reasons. The material for the pant and waistcoat are similar,” the letter read.
Students have been advised to arrange their uniforms and comply with the dress code by the end of August 2025.
Previously, VSSUT had no dress code, allowing students to wear clothing of their choice. The new policy aims to foster community, professionalism, and equality among students. The administration has indicated that compliance will be closely monitored once the deadline passes, and students failing to adhere to the prescribed attire could face disciplinary consequences.