In a sequence of events mirroring the recent Lenskart controversy, Air India has found itself at the center of a social media storm regarding its grooming policies.
On Monday, April 20, 2026, the airline issued a formal clarification after internal handbook screenshots went viral, suggesting a strict ban on traditional symbols like sindoor, tikka, and bindis for cabin crew. The leaked guidelines specifically stated that tikkas and sindoor were not permitted and that bindis were strictly forbidden with the airline’s Indo-Western uniform, allowed only optionally with sarees in a 5mm size.
The “outdated document” argument has become a recurring theme in corporate India this week, as major brands scramble to align their grooming standards with contemporary values of religious expression. Critics have been quick to point out the irony of these manual “leaks” happening almost simultaneously across different sectors. While Air India has disowned the handbook, the controversy has sparked a wider conversation about the intersection of corporate “standardized” looks and individual cultural identity in the aviation and retail industries.