Uttarakhand Governor gives nod for Minority Education Bill; State to abolish Madrasa Board

Uttarakhand Governor Lieutenant General Gurmit Singh (Retd.) on Monday (October 7, 2025) approved the Uttarakhand Minority Education Bill, 2025. With the implementation of the Bill, the State will repeal the Madrasa Education Board Act, 2016, and the Non-Government Arabic and Persian Madrasa Recognition Rules, 2019.

A statement issued by the office of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that after the Bill comes into effect, educational institutions belonging not only to Muslims but also to Sikhs, Jains, Christians, Buddhists, and Parsis will be recognised as minority institutions in Uttarakhand.

All madrasas operating in the State will now be required to obtain recognition from the Uttarakhand Minority Education Authority and affiliate with the Uttarakhand Board of School Education.

“This decision is a historic step towards making the education system in the State equitable and modern. From the July 2026 academic session, all minority schools will impart education under the National Curriculum Framework (NCF) and the New Education Policy (NEP-2020),” Mr. Dhami said.

He added that the sole objective of the government in introducing this Bill is to ensure that every child in the State — irrespective of their class or community — has access to the same quality education and equal opportunities. This, he said, will help make the State’s education system more transparent, accountable, and focused on quality.

The State Cabinet approved the Bill in August 2025, and it was passed amid uproar during the Monsoon Session of the State Assembly, just days after receiving Cabinet approval.

“The law does not interfere with the establishment and administration of minority educational institutions but ensures that educational excellence is maintained. To obtain recognition, institutions must be registered under the Societies Registration Act, the Trusts Act, or the Companies Act. Ownership of land, bank accounts, and other assets must be in the name of the institution. Recognition may be withdrawn in cases of financial mismanagement, lack of transparency, or activities detrimental to religious or social harmony,” said an official involved in drafting the Bill.