Uttarakhand State Authority for Minority Education

Uttarakhand State Authority for Minority Education
उत्तराखंड राज्य अल्पसंख्यक शिक्षा प्राधिकरण
Statutory authority overview
Formed2026
JurisdictionGovernment of Uttarakhand
HeadquartersDehradun, Uttarakhand, India
Parent departmentDepartment of Minority Welfare

Uttarakhand State Authority for Minority Education (Hindi: उत्तराखंड राज्य अल्पसंख्यक शिक्षा प्राधिकरण) is a statutory body constituted by the Government of Uttarakhand under the Uttarakhand Minority Educational Institutions Act, 2025. The authority regulates and recognises minority educational institutions in the state and replaced the Uttarakhand Madrasa Education Board.[1]

Background

In 2025, the Uttarakhand government introduced the Uttarakhand Minority Educational Institutions Bill, 2025 to establish a unified regulatory framework for minority institutions in the state.[2]

The legislation replaced the Uttarakhand Madrasa Education Board Act, 2016 and provided for the constitution of a new statutory authority.[3]

Objectives

The authority has been mandated to:

  • Grant recognition to minority educational institutions.
  • Regulate curriculum and academic standards.
  • Ensure compliance with state education norms.
  • Facilitate affiliation with the Uttarakhand Board of School Education.[4]

The act extends minority recognition to institutions run by Muslim, Sikh, Jain, Buddhist, Christian and Parsi communities.[5]

Composition

As per the government notification, the authority consists of a chairperson, nominated members and ex-officio officials from key education departments.[6]

Nominated Members

  • Chairperson – Surjit Singh Gandhi
  • Member – Rakesh Jain
  • Member – Syed Ali Hamid
  • Member – Pema Tenzin
  • Member – Elba Madrile
  • Member – Robina Aman
  • Member – Gurmeet Singh
  • Member – Rajendra Bisht
  • Member – Chandrashekhar Bhatt

Ex-officio Members

  • Director General, School Education
  • Director, State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), Uttarakhand
  • Director, Minority Welfare, Uttarakhand

Impact

The establishment of the authority marked a significant restructuring of minority education governance in Uttarakhand. It integrates minority institutions into a broader regulatory structure aligned with state education standards while maintaining provisions for minority rights under the Constitution of India.[7]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Uttarakhand constitutes minority education authority, will replace Madrasa Board". ETEducation, The Economic Times. 4 February 2026. Retrieved 14 February 2026.
  2. ^ "Uttarakhand now first state to abolish Madarsa Board after Minority Education Bill approval". The Week. 7 October 2025. Retrieved 14 February 2026.
  3. ^ "Uttarakhand to repeal madrassa Act, new law to cover all minority institutions". The Times of India. 2025. Retrieved 14 February 2026.
  4. ^ "Uttarakhand passes Minority Education Bill, Madrasa Board to be abolished". India Today. 8 October 2025. Retrieved 14 February 2026.
  5. ^ "Uttarakhand constitutes minority education authority, will replace Madrasa Board". ETEducation, The Economic Times. 4 February 2026. Retrieved 14 February 2026.
  6. ^ "Uttarakhand State Minority Education Authority formed to decide syllabus". The Times of India. 2026. Retrieved 14 February 2026.
  7. ^ "Uttarakhand constitutes minority education authority, will replace Madrasa Board". ETEducation, The Economic Times. 4 February 2026. Retrieved 13 February 2026.