Uttarakhand Cabinet approves Minority Educational Institutions Bill, 2025; Madrasa Education Board Act to be repealed
On 17 August 2025, the Uttarakhand Cabinet approved the Uttarakhand Minority Educational Institutions Bill, 2025, extending minority educational institution status beyond Muslims to Sikhs, Jains, Christians, Buddhists and Parsis.
Summary
The Uttarakhand Cabinet on 17 August 2025 decided to introduce the Uttarakhand Minority Educational Institutions Bill, 2025 in the Assembly session starting 19 August. Until then, minority educational institution status in the State applied only to the Muslim community; the Bill extends it to Sikhs, Jains, Christians, Buddhists and Parsis and, once enacted, permits the study of Gurmukhi and Pali in recognised minority institutions. The Uttarakhand Madrasa Education Board Act, 2016 and the Uttarakhand Non-Government Arabic and Persian Madrasa Recognition Rules, 2019 are to stand repealed from 1 July 2026. The Bill provides for a State authority for minority education to grant recognition, which will be mandatory. The State government described it as the first such Act in the country.
Key facts
- Decision
- 17 Aug 2025, Uttarakhand Cabinet
- Bill
- Uttarakhand Minority Educational Institutions Bill, 2025
- Extends status to
- Sikhs, Jains, Christians, Buddhists, Parsis (earlier Muslims only)
- Languages
- Gurmukhi and Pali permitted
- Repeal
- Madrasa Education Board Act, 2016 and 2019 madrasa recognition rules, from 1 July 2026
- Assembly session
- From 19 Aug 2025
Practice MCQs 3 questions
From which date are the Uttarakhand Madrasa Education Board Act, 2016 and the 2019 madrasa recognition rules to stand repealed under the Bill approved by the State Cabinet in August 2025?
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Correct answer: D — 1 July 2026
1 July 2026, under the Uttarakhand Minority Educational Institutions Bill, 2025.
Once enacted, the Uttarakhand Minority Educational Institutions Bill, 2025 will permit the study of which languages in recognised minority educational institutions?
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Correct answer: B — Gurmukhi and Pali
Gurmukhi and Pali, as stated in the Cabinet decision of 17 August 2025.
Consider the following statements about the Uttarakhand Minority Educational Institutions Bill, 2025: 1. It extends minority educational institution status to Sikhs, Jains, Christians, Buddhists and Parsis, besides Muslims. 2. The Cabinet decided to introduce it in the Assembly session beginning on 19 August 2025. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct. Earlier, minority educational institution status in Uttarakhand applied only to the Muslim community.