New Delhi, April 21, 2026 — Popular Indian eyewear retailer Lenskart has come under intense social media scrutiny following the circulation of an alleged internal "Staff Uniform and Grooming Guide" that appeared to restrict visible Hindu religious symbols for customer-facing employees while permitting certain accommodations for other faiths.
The controversy erupted in mid-April 2026 when a screenshot of the document, reportedly dated around February 2026, went viral on platforms like X. The guide allegedly prohibited items such as bindi, tilak, and kalawa (sacred thread) for store staff, while allowing plain black hijabs and outlining conditions for turbans. Critics highlighted what they saw as selective enforcement, accusing the company of religious bias and double standards in its workplace policies.
The backlash quickly intensified, with users sharing accounts from current and former employees claiming that internal audits penalized visible religious markers, sometimes affecting performance scores. Calls for boycotts trended online, and reports emerged of protests, including Hindu activists and BJP leaders visiting Lenskart stores to apply tilak on staff as a symbolic gesture. Some incidents involved Bajrang Dal members demonstrating at outlets.
# Company Response and Clarification
Lenskart co-founder and CEO Peyush Bansal (known for his appearance on Shark Tank India) addressed the issue promptly on social media. He described the circulating document as an outdated internal training note that did not represent the company's current guidelines. Bansal acknowledged "language lapses" and inaccuracies in the older version, taking personal responsibility and emphasizing that Lenskart has "no restrictions on any form of religious expression, including bindi and tilak."
In a public statement, the company apologized, stating: "That is not who Lenskart is, and it is not who we will ever be." It stressed that every symbol and tradition employees carry is part of the company's identity.
On April 18, 2026, Lenskart released a revised In-Store Style Guide publicly for greater transparency. The updated document explicitly welcomes "every symbol of faith and culture," including:
Bindi, tilak, sindoor, and other religious or family marks
Kalawa, sacred threads, mangalsutra, kada, and similar items
-Hijab, turban, and other cultural attire
Core uniform requirements remain focused on brand consistency: Lenskart T-shirts or approved tops, plain dark blue jeans (no rips), closed shoes, and a neat, professional appearance. Items like ripped jeans or open-toed shoes continue to be restricted for operational reasons.
The company framed the revision as a response to customer and community feedback: "We have heard you. Clearly and openly... Today, we are standardising our In-Store Style Guide and sharing it publicly and transparently."
# Market Impact and Ongoing Reactions
The controversy took a toll on investor sentiment. Shares of Lenskart Solutions tumbled nearly 5% on Monday amid the backlash and boycott calls, though they partially recovered by the end of the trading session.
Public reactions remain polarized. Many viewed the original document as evidence of anti-Hindu bias in corporate India, especially in a customer-facing retail environment. Others argued that retail chains routinely enforce grooming standards for brand uniformity and questioned the scale of outrage over what the company called an obsolete note. Some commentators pointed to poor internal communication as the real issue rather than deliberate discrimination.
The episode has reignited broader debates on balancing workplace professionalism with India's constitutional protections for religious freedom and cultural expression. Similar dress code rows have surfaced at other companies in the past, often highlighting tensions in diverse workplaces.
Lenskart has positioned the new guide as a step toward greater inclusivity, with officials reiterating that diversity is a strength. Whether the swift apology and policy revision will fully restore public trust remains to be seen, as social media sentiment continues to evolve.
As of now, the company has not reported any major operational disruptions from the boycott calls.
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