The Uttarakhand Cabinet on Sunday approved the Uttarakhand Minority Educational Institutions Bill, 2025, paving the way for its introduction in the upcoming monsoon assembly session scheduled for Tuesday in Gairsain, Chamoli district.
The landmark legislation seeks to extend minority status—so far limited only to Muslim institutions—to those established by Sikh, Jain, Christian, Buddhist, and Parsi communities as well.
Chaired by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, the state cabinet cleared the bill with the aim of creating a transparent, modern, and accountable framework for granting minority status to educational institutions while ensuring high standards in education.
Under the proposed law, a Uttarakhand State Minority Education Authority will be set up as the nodal body to process applications, grant recognition, and monitor institutions for compliance with benchmarks prescribed by the Uttarakhand Board of School Education. The authority will also ensure fairness in student assessments.
“Once enacted, Uttarakhand will become the first state in the country to not only grant minority status to multiple communities but also to lay down clear provisions for academic excellence, accountability, and protection of constitutional rights,” a senior government official said.
The Bill makes it mandatory for all institutions set up by Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, or Parsi communities to seek recognition. Such institutions must be registered under the Society Act, Trust Act, or Company Act, with properties and accounts maintained in the institution’s name.
Officials said the legislation will bring uniformity to a process that has so far lacked consistency, while safeguarding the autonomy of minority institutions. At the same time, the government will retain powers to supervise functioning and issue directions when required.
“The bill balances independence with accountability. The focus is on transparency and quality in education, without infringing upon institutional rights,” an official added.
Authorities expect the new framework to not only strengthen the recognition process but also raise educational standards across minority-run institutions, benefitting both students and communities in Uttarakhand.
(This story is published from a syndicated feed)