The Punjab government's directive to repaint select state school buildings using a specific new colour combination has disrupted visual uniformity across Ludhiana district. Issued in December 2025 by the office of the Punjab director general of school education, the order mandated a specific whitewash and colour-coding scheme for 852 government middle, high, and senior secondary schools across the state in its initial phase.
First Phase Targets 70 Schools in Ludhiana
The first phase of the project targets 70 schools in Ludhiana, comprising 20 high schools and 50 senior secondary schools. A stark visual contrast has emerged because some listed schools have fully implemented the new colour scheme, while others are still in the middle of incomplete repainting work. This inconsistency has created a patchwork appearance across the district, with some buildings sporting the new colours and others displaying a mix of old and new paint.
Unlisted Schools Choose Their Own Colours
Compounding the lack of uniformity, school managements not included in the first-phase list are painting their buildings in completely different colours of their own choosing. Deputy district education officer (secondary) Amandeep Singh clarified that these unlisted institutions retain the autonomy to select their own paint, stating they can choose colours traditionally used for school buildings for the time being. This has led to a wide variety of hues across the district, further undermining the goal of visual consistency.
Government Colour Palette Draws Criticism
According to the government guidelines, the mandated interior scheme requires “Bronze Mist” for classroom walls and “Sea Oats” for the ceilings. For the exterior corridors, verandas, and structural borders, the department selected a colour named “Rhapsody”. The specific palette has drawn criticism from local school union leaders, who raised formal concerns when the order was first released. The union representatives claim that the chosen colour scheme closely resembles the flag of the party leading the state government, sparking allegations of political motives behind the aesthetic choice.
The directive has left many school administrators and parents confused about the timeline for full implementation and whether unlisted schools will eventually be required to adopt the scheme. The education department has not yet announced a second phase or provided a timeline for extending the repainting to all schools. As of now, the lack of uniformity continues to be a visible issue in Ludhiana's educational landscape.
