40% madrasas shut down in Uttarakhand since BJP came to power
The BJP has been in power in Uttarakhand for the past nine years, during which 40% of madrasas have been closed.
The BJP has been in power in Uttarakhand for the past 9 years, and during these nine years, 40 percent of the state's madrasas have been closed under a planned scheme. According to a report by The Observer Post, nearly two out of four madrasas recorded in old government records in Uttarakhand are no longer operational.
According to official figures from the state government,
out of 452 registered madrasas, 179 have been closed. This number is approximately 39.60 percent of the total registered madrasas. Additionally, 19 other madrasas have been sealed due to violations of regulations.
These figures have emerged at a time when
the Uttarakhand BJP government has made significant changes to the system of granting recognition to madrasas and other minority educational institutions.
However, available government data does not clarify whether all the closed and sealed madrasas were included in the list of the previously registered 452 madrasas or if there are overlaps in the names of some institutions across different categories.
Under the old system, a total of 452 madrasas were registered in Uttarakhand. With the closure of 179 madrasas, several questions have arisen regarding the future of madrasa education and related institutions in the state. Additionally, 19 madrasas have been sealed by the administration for not complying with the prescribed rules and standards.
The state government established the Uttarakhand State Minority Education Authority on February 3, 2026. This new authority has replaced the Uttarakhand Madrasa Board. Now, the responsibility of granting recognition to educational institutions operated by minority communities, including madrasas, lies with this authority. After the new system was implemented, the education department began processing madrasa recognition applications under a separate procedure during the transition period. So far, only 30 madrasas have received recognition from the state's education department. This number is about 6.6 percent of the previously registered 452 madrasas.
Meanwhile, 134 madrasas have applied for recognition from the education department. These applications are currently under review and examination. Additionally, 54 madrasas have not yet applied for recognition. Therefore, the future status of these institutions will depend on whether they apply within the stipulated time and whether they meet the rules and academic standards set by the government.
Apart from the recognition granted by the education department, the newly formed Uttarakhand State Minority Education Authority has also granted recognition to 35 minority educational institutions. This includes 33 madrasas and two other educational institutions operated by minority communities. Officials have clarified that the number of these 35 institutions recognized by the authority is separate from the 30 madrasas recognized by the education department.
This means that the recognitions granted by the education department and the newly formed authority are not categorized in the same way. It is essential to understand that these recognitions have been issued under different processes before combining the figures from both. The government has not yet provided detailed information on how these two processes will be integrated in the future.
The state government is also monitoring those madrasas and other minority educational institutions that are operating outside the prescribed regulatory framework. The government has stated that action will be taken against institutions operating without the necessary recognition or compliance with regulations.
Parag Madhukar Dhakate, Special Secretary of the Minority Welfare Department of Uttarakhand, stated that,
as applications are being received, they are being examined. The process of granting recognition is underway based on the applications received from minority educational institutions. Action is also being taken to close madrasas and other institutions found to be operating in violation of regulations.
Now, the biggest responsibility for officials is to examine the applications of the 134 madrasas that have sought recognition under the new system. Before granting recognition to these institutions, it will be assessed whether they meet the academic, administrative, and infrastructure-related standards set by the government.
In the coming days, after the examination of these applications is completed, the number of recognized madrasas in Uttarakhand may increase. On the other hand, action to close or seal institutions that do not comply with regulations is also likely to continue. Only after the new system is fully implemented will the actual number of madrasas and other minority educational institutions operating in the state and their recognition status become clear.