Minority Education Authority will be formed in Uttarakhand

Amaanullah Usmani

Dehradun – For the first time in the state, a Minority Education Authority will be formed for the recognition of minority educational institutions. For this, the cabinet has approved the introduction of the Uttarakhand Minority Educational Institutions Act Amendment Bill in the Assembly. In the proposed bill, Muslim, Sikh, Jain, Christian, Buddhist and Parsi minority educational institutions will have to get recognition from the authority.

Five proposals were approved in the cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami in the Secretariat on Sunday. A decision was taken in the cabinet to introduce several bills in the monsoon session starting from August 19 in Bhararisain Assembly of summer capital Gairsain.

The Uttarakhand Minority Educational Institutions Act 2025 Amendment Bill will also be tabled in the Assembly. In this bill, an authority will be constituted for the recognition of minority institutions.

After the amendment, when the Act comes into force, Gurumukhi and Pali languages can be studied in recognized minority educational institutions. Apart from this, Uttarakhand Madrasa Education Board Act 2016, Uttarakhand Non-Government Arabic and Persian Madrasa Recognition Rules 2019 will be repealed from July 1, 2026.

Main features of the Act

1 – Formation of Authority – Uttarakhand State Minority Education Authority will be constituted in the state, which will provide the status of minority educational institution.

2 – Mandatory recognition – Any educational institution established by Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain or Parsi community will be required to obtain recognition from the authority to get the status of minority educational institution.

3 – Protection of institutional rights – The Act will not interfere in the establishment and operation of minority educational institutions, but will ensure that the quality and excellence of education is maintained.

4 – Mandatory conditions – To get recognition, the educational institution must be registered under the Society Act, Trust Act or Company Act. Land, bank accounts and other assets should be in the name of the institution. Recognition can be withdrawn in case of financial irregularities, lack of transparency or activities against religious and social harmony.

5 – Monitoring and Examination – The authority will ensure that education is provided as per the standards set by the Uttarakhand Board of School Education and the evaluation of students is fair and transparent.

Effect of the Act

• Educational institutions of minority communities in the state will now get recognition through a transparent process.

• Along with the quality of education, the constitutional rights of minorities will also be protected.

• The state government will have the power to monitor the functioning of the institutions and issue necessary instructions from time to time.