The Uttarakhand government has given its nod to the Minority Educational Institutions Bill, 2025, describing it as a landmark measure to broaden inclusivity in the state’s education system. For the first time, the proposed law extends minority status to institutions run not just by Muslims but also by Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, Jains and Parsis. The Bill will be tabled in the Legislative Assembly on August 19.
According to the state cabinet, the move will establish a uniform and transparent framework for granting minority recognition to schools and colleges while also emphasising educational quality and constitutional safeguards. The legislation additionally proposes the introduction of subjects such as Gurmukhi and Pali.
One of the most significant provisions is the repeal of the Uttarakhand Madrasa Education Board Act, 2016, and the Uttarakhand Non-Government Arabic and Persian Madrasa Recognition Rules, 2019. Both will cease to operate from July 1, 2026, leading to the dissolution of the state’s standalone madrasa board. In its place, a single regulatory authority* will oversee all minority educational institutions.
Historically, most of these institutions in Uttarakhand have been Muslim-managed. By expanding the scope to cover all six constitutionally recognised religious minorities, the state has termed the legislation a “historic first” in India.
The decision, however, has stirred unease within sections of the Muslim community. Noted cleric Maulana Sufiyan Nizami criticised the Bill, calling it an extension of the government’s bias. Speaking to IANS, he contrasted the move with the Centre’s stated aim of modernising madrasas. “The Centre promotes the idea of the Quran in one hand and a laptop in the other. Here, the state is dismantling the Madrasa Board altogether. This clearly reflects its intentions,” he said, urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene.
As the Bill comes up for debate, observers say it is likely to ignite sharp discussions balancing constitutional rights, religious identity and the evolving landscape of minority education in Uttarakhand.
