Uttarakhand Expands Minority Educational Benefits to Multiple Communities
The Uttarakhand Minority Educational Institutions Bill, 2025, allows minority status benefits to Sikhs, Jains, Christians, Parsis, and Buddhists alongside Muslims. By 2026, all madrasas will need affiliation and recognition under new guidelines. The Bill aims to maintain educational quality and institutional rights while enabling inclusive minority education.
- Country:
- India
In a significant legislative development, the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly has passed the Uttarakhand Minority Educational Institutions Bill, 2025. This pioneering bill enables Sikh, Jain, Christian, Parsi, and Buddhist communities to access minority educational benefits, which previously were exclusive to Muslims.
The reformation mandates that by July 1, 2026, all madrasas in Uttarakhand must affiliate with the state's Education Board to apply for minority status from the newly formed Uttarakhand State Minority Education Authority. The Bill, initially announced by the state cabinet on August 17, seeks to broaden minority educational rights.
Once the Bill is enacted, it will not only repeal previous laws such as the Uttarakhand Madrasa Education Board Act, 2016, but also contribute to quality education by including new curricula like Gurmukhi and Pali. This legislation marks a significant step by setting a transparent recognition process for educational institutions backed by minority communities, ensuring their rights and maintaining educational standards.
(With inputs from agencies.)
Google News