The Uttarakhand government has approved the Uttarakhand Minority Educational Institutions Bill, 2025, a new piece of legislation that will bring significant changes to the regulation of minority educational institutions in the state. The bill is scheduled to be introduced in the upcoming monsoon session of the Assembly.
Previously, only Muslim-run institutions were granted minority status. The new bill, however, extends this status to institutions run by other minority communities, including Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Christians, and Parsis.
Once enacted, the bill will lead to the repeal of the Uttarakhand Madrasa Education Board Act, 2016, and the Uttarakhand Non-Government Arabic and Persian Madrasa Recognition Rules, 2019, with the changes taking effect from July 1, 2026.
A new regulatory body, the Uttarakhand State Authority for Minority Education, will be established to oversee all minority educational institutions. This authority will be responsible for granting recognition to institutions and ensuring that they adhere to the standards set by the Uttarakhand Board of School Education.
The bill also includes provisions for the study of Gurmukhi and Pali in recognized minority educational institutions. To receive recognition, institutions will need to be registered under the Societies Act, Trust Act, or Companies Act.
The government has stated that the new bill is intended to create a more transparent and uniform process for recognizing minority educational institutions, while also ensuring the quality of education.
The decision has been met with mixed reactions. Some have welcomed the move as a step towards greater inclusivity, while others have expressed concerns about the potential impact on existing institutions.
