Uttarakhand Establishes State Minority Education Authority to Replace Madrasa Board

The Uttarakhand government has formed the State Minority Education Authority to replace the Madrasa Board. This new authority will focus on minority education and includes members from the minority community, with Surjit Singh Gandhi as chairman.

The Uttarakhand government has established the State Minority Education Authority, replacing the Madrasa Board, whose term concludes in July. Parag Madhukar Dhakate, special secretary to Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, announced this through a notification. Governor Lieutenant General Gurmit Singh (retd) has approved the authority's formation and appointed 12 members, including the chairman.

Surjit Singh Gandhi has been named chairman of the newly formed authority. The members include Rakesh Jain, Syed Ali Hamid, Pema Tenzin, Elba Madrile, Robina Aman, Gurmeet Singh, social worker Rajendra Bisht, and retired officer Chandrashekhar Bhatt. All members belong to minority communities.

Minority Education Bill and New Law

The Uttarakhand Minority Education Bill-2025 was passed last August and received the Governor's assent in October. This legislation mandates the dissolution of the Madrasa Board by July 2026. It also establishes the State Minority Education Authority to oversee all minority educational institutions in the state.

The new law broadens minority educational institution status beyond the Muslim community. It now includes Sikh, Jain, Buddhist, Christian, and Parsi communities. Previously, only Muslim institutions were recognised as minority educational entities.

Ex Officio Members and Authority's Role

The Directors General of School Education, State Council of Educational Research and Training, and Minority Welfare are included as ex officio members of the authority. This inclusion aims to ensure comprehensive oversight and integration of educational policies for minority communities.

The establishment of this authority marks a significant shift in how minority education is managed in Uttarakhand. By encompassing various minority groups under one umbrella, it aims to provide equitable educational opportunities across different communities.

With inputs from PTI