Nearly 40% of the madrasas listed in Uttarakhand’s previous registration records are now recorded as closed, while another 19 have been sealed for allegedly failing to comply with prescribed regulations. Meanwhile, only 30 madrasas have received recognition from the state Education Department under the new system.
The figures, based on departmental records, come after the state replaced the Uttarakhand Madrasa Board with the Uttarakhand State Minority Education Authority in February this year, introducing a new framework for the recognition of minority educational institutions.
Of the 452 madrasas registered under the earlier system, 179 are now listed as closed, accounting for 39.60% of the total. Another 19 institutions have been sealed for allegedly failing to comply with prescribed regulations.
The available data does not, however, establish whether the 179 closed and 19 sealed madrasas are entirely separate categories or whether some institutions appear in both.
The Uttarakhand State Minority Education Authority came into existence on February 3, 2026, replacing the state’s Madrasa Board as the authority responsible for recognising minority educational institutions.
During the transition, the Education Department began accepting and processing applications through a separate recognition process. So far, 30 madrasas have been granted recognition by the department, equivalent to about 6.6% of the 452 institutions recorded under the previous system.
Applications from another 134 madrasas are currently under examination, while 54 institutions have not applied for recognition so far.
These figures are separate from the recognitions granted by the newly constituted Minority Education Authority. The authority has so far recognised 35 minority educational institutions, including 33 madrasas and two other minority-run institutions, officials said.
The government has also continued scrutiny of institutions operating without the required recognition or allegedly outside the prescribed regulatory framework.
Parag Madhukar Dhakate, Special Secretary in the Minority Welfare Department, said applications were being considered as they were received.
“The process of granting recognition is on based on the applications received from minority educational institutions. Action to close down madrasas and other institutions found to be operating in violation of regulations is also being taken,” Dhakate said.
The 134 madrasas that have applied for recognition will now be assessed against the requirements laid down under the new framework. Their recognition will depend on whether they meet the prescribed standards.
