Punjab orders blue, yellow paint for 3602 more schools, ‘AAP flag colors’, Opposition had alleged

Nine months after a similar decision had sparked political controversy in Punjab, the state education department has ordered the whitewashing and repainting of an additional 3602 government schools in the region. The initiative, aimed at making schools "smart," involves painting the outer buildings in shades of yellow and blue, which the Opposition has accused of mimicking the colors of the ruling AAP party's flag.

According to a letter from the Director General of School Education (DGSE) dated October 1, the project will cost Rs 80.45 crore and cover 764 high schools, 411 middle schools, 1,895 primary schools, and 532 senior secondary schools. The highest number of schools - 334 - will be repainted in the Amritsar district, followed by Patiala (326), Bathinda (117), and other districts.

The Opposition had previously alleged that the color choice was politically motivated, as yellow and blue are the colors of the AAP party's flag. However, DGSE officials have denied any political intent, stating that the schools are undergoing routine renovation and whitewashing as part of the "Converting Govt schools into Smart Schools" scheme.