Haridwar, Apr 20: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has announced that the Madrasa Board in the state will be abolished, with all madrasas required to adopt the Uttarakhand Board curriculum from July 2026 or face closure.
Addressing an event in Haridwar, Dhami said the move aims to ensure uniform and modern education for all students, adding that institutions failing to implement the prescribed syllabus will not be allowed to operate.
He termed the decision “historic,” stating that all madrasas will shift to the curriculum set by the Uttarakhand Education Board to align students with mainstream education.
The announcement received support from religious leaders, including Swami Chidanand Muni, who said the move would help integrate students into the national mainstream by combining modern education with spiritual values.
However, some seers made controversial remarks, with Ravindra Puri linking madrasas to radical activities and calling for their closure nationwide, while Kailashanand Giri advocated restrictions on people of other religions in “Devbhoomi” states.
There was no immediate response from opposition parties or Muslim organisations, though earlier the proposal had drawn strong objections.
Khalid Rashid Firangi Mahali had termed the move unlawful, while Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi questioned the need to dissolve the Madrasa Board, suggesting reforms could have been implemented through the existing system.
The decision is set to be implemented across Uttarakhand from July 2026. (Agencies)
