Under the new bill, other minority communities, including Sikhs, Christians, Jains, Buddhists, and Parsis, will also be eligible for recognition and support for their educational establishments. Sunday’s cabinet decision effectively nullifies the Madarsa Education Board Act of 2016, which was enacted by the previous Congress government. Sources indicate that an authority will be constituted under the new Act, bringing all minority educational institutions under a single regulatory umbrella – a first for any state in India. The existing Madarsa Education Board, which currently governs 452 registered madrasas, primarily dealt with Muslim educational institutions. This board is slated to cease operations by July 1, 2026. However, the new Uttarakhand Minority Educational Institutions Act will regulate educational institutions of all religious minorities, including Muslims, Sikhs, Parsis, Buddhists, Jains, and Christians. The concept of this new law reportedly followed the Dhami government’s actions against a significant number of allegedly “illegal madrasas” in the state, underscoring the perceived need for a more transparent system for minority-run educational institutions.
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