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6h ago

Uttarakhand Cabinet Approves Bill to Expand Minority School Recognition and Dismantle Madrasa Board

Set for introduction on August 19, the bill creates a unified authority for six minority faiths, retiring the standalone madrasa board by July 2026.

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Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami (Image: X)
Uttarakhand cabinet, led by CM Pushkar Singh Dhami, clears law granting minority status to non-Muslim institutions.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami.

Overview

  • The cabinet approved the Uttarakhand Minority Educational Institutions Bill, 2025, after a meeting on August 17, with formal tabling in the assembly scheduled for August 19.
  • The legislation would extend formal minority status benefits to Sikh, Jain, Christian, Buddhist and Parsi institutions in addition to existing Muslim madrasas.
  • A new State Minority Education Authority would be responsible for granting recognition, enforcing mandatory registration and oversight, and revoking status for financial or social-harmony violations.
  • The bill would repeal the Uttarakhand Madrasa Education Board Act of 2016 and related 2019 rules effective July 1, 2026, dissolving the separate madrasa regulatory framework.
  • State BJP leaders have praised the measure as inclusive and quality-driven, while opposition parties and some Muslim groups have voiced concerns over potential impacts on religious-education autonomy.