Latest news with #MinorityEducationBill
News18
17 hours ago
- Politics
- News18
Uttarakhand Assembly Passes Minority Education Bill, To Replace Madrasa Education Board Act
Last Updated: The Uttarakhand chief minister said that with the bill's implementation, the Madrasa Education Board Act 2016 will expire on July 1, 2026. The Uttarakhand Assembly passed the Minority Education Bill, 2025, on Wednesday, allowing institutions run by Sikh, Jain, Buddhist, Christian, and Parsi communities, in addition to Muslims, to receive minority status benefits. Once enacted, the Uttarakhand Madrasa Education Board Act, 2016, and the Uttarakhand Non-Government Arabic and Persian Madrasa Recognition Rules, 2019, will be repealed, effective July 1, 2026. In a social media post, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami stated, 'Today (on Wednesday), the 'Uttarakhand Minority Education Bill-2025′ was passed in the Assembly. Till now, the recognition of minority institutions was limited only to the Muslim community." He mentioned that issues such as irregularities in distributing central scholarships and mid-day meals, along with a lack of transparency in management, had been prevalent in the Madrasa education system for years. The chief minister said that with the bill's implementation, the Madrasa Education Board Act 2016 and the Non-Government Arabic and Persian Madrasa Recognition Rules 2019 will expire on July 1, 2026. He added that now all minority community educational institutions will receive transparent recognition, which will not only enhance the quality of education but also protect the students' interests. Dhami noted that the government would gain the right to effectively monitor minority educational institutions' operations and issue necessary instructions. The bill establishes an authority from which educational institutions set up by minority communities must seek recognition. This authority will work to facilitate and promote educational excellence in these institutions, ensuring children from minority communities receive quality education and support for their academic development. The authority will ensure that education in these institutions meets the standards set by the Uttarakhand Board of School Education, and that student evaluations are fair and transparent. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Loading comments...
News18
4 days ago
- Politics
- News18
Uttarakhand Cabinet Clears Minority Education Bill Proposal: What Is It? What Next For Madrasas?
Last Updated: The legislation seeks to regulate minority educational institutions across the state. The ruling BJP says the move is aimed at safeguarding the Devbhoomi -- the Land of Gods After implementing the much-talked-about Uniform Civil Code (UCC), the Pushkar Singh Dhami government is now set to introduce the Uttarakhand Minority Education (UME) Bill in the upcoming assembly session. The legislation seeks to regulate minority educational institutions across the state. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) says the move is aimed at safeguarding the Devbhoomi — the Land of Gods. Cabinet nod for new bill The cabinet cleared the proposal for the new bill on Sunday. According to government sources, the legislation will pave the way for establishing an authority to oversee minority institutions – from approving fresh proposals to ensuring improved academic standards. The BJP hailed the cabinet's decision as a 'game changer." 'The Minority Education Bill is a big step towards restoring and protecting Uttarakhand's identity as Devbhoomi," said Mahendra Bhatt, BJP state president and Rajya Sabha MP. The authority will have power to decide on the curriculum for these institutions. Madrasa Education Board Act to be abolished In the same meeting, the cabinet decided to abolish the Madrasa Education Board Act, introduced by the Harish Rawat government in 2016. The Madarsa Board currently oversees madrasas – Muslim religious schools – and frames rules for Arbi and Farsi madrasas, which will now be scrapped. Reacting sharply, former CM Harish Rawat said there was no reason to oppose the Madrasa Board. 'Madrasas have a legacy dating back to the pre-Independence era and even contributed to the freedom movement. You may abolish the Board, but you cannot erase history," Rawat told News18. Currently, there are 452 registered madrasas in Uttarakhand. However, several unregistered madrasas are also operational, particularly in Haridwar and Udham Singh Nagar, which have significant Muslim population. In recent months, the Dhami government acted against 237 illegal madrasas. As per the 2011 Census, Muslims constitute nearly 14% of the state's population, making them Uttarakhand's largest minority group. view comments First Published: News explainers Uttarakhand Cabinet Clears Minority Education Bill Proposal: What Is It? What Next For Madrasas? Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
