Uttarakhand abolishes Madrasa Board, sets up unified minority education authority

Uttarakhand has dissolved the Madrasa Board and set up the Uttarakhand State Minority Education Authority for all notified minority communities. The new framework brings recognition, regulation and NEP-linked oversight under a single system.

In Short

• The authority was launched in Dehradun by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami
• Muslim, Sikh, Jain, Buddhist, Christian and Parsi institutions now share one framework
• Officials said the new authority came into effect on July 1, 2026

Uttarakhand has formally abolished its Madrasa Board and introduced a single regulatory body for minority education, marking a major structural change in the state’s education system.

The newly created Uttarakhand State Minority Education Authority (USMEA) will now oversee institutions belonging to all six notified minority communities.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami launched the authority in Dehradun, describing it as a step towards strengthening education, values and equal opportunity across communities.

ONE SYSTEM FOR SIX COMMUNITIES

With the new framework, educational institutions run by Muslims, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Christians and Parsis will now fall under one common recognition and regulatory system.

Earlier, minority institution recognition in the state was largely limited to Muslim-run institutions.

Officials said the authority came into effect on July 1, 2026, following the dissolution of the Madrasa Board under the Uttarakhand Minority Education Act, 2025.

‘ONE NATION, ONE EDUCATION’ PUSH

Speaking at the launch, Dhami said the reform aligns with the broader vision of “One Nation, One Education,” drawing a parallel with the state’s earlier push for a Uniform Civil Code.

He said the goal is to ensure quality education for every child while preserving cultural and religious identity.

The chief minister added that the authority is not meant to interfere with traditions but to expand access to modern education in science, technology, languages and mathematics.

QUALITY, TRANSPARENCY AND NEP FOCUS

According to the government, USMEA will not just grant recognition but also improve teacher training, accountability and implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP).

Officials said the system will also ensure greater transparency in the functioning of minority institutions.

Minority Affairs Secretary Parag Madhukar Dhakate said institutions must first secure affiliation from the state Education Department before applying for recognition under the new authority.

He added that Uttarakhand is the first state in the country to bring all notified minority institutions under a single recognition framework.
The government believes the move will streamline regulation and strengthen educational standards across communities while widening access to formal recognition for institutions that were previously outside the Madrasa Board system.

(With PTI inputs)

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