Uttarakhand shifts madrasa weekly holiday from Friday to Sunday

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has announced that recognized madrasas in the state will now observe Sunday as their weekly holiday instead of Friday. This change aims to bring minority-run educational institutions under common academic and administrative standards, aligning them with the state's broader push for uniformity following the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code.

The decision follows the abolition of the state's statutory madrasa board and the introduction of the Uttarakhand Minority Education Act, 2025. Under this new framework, institutions run by Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, and Parsi communities are regulated by the Uttarakhand State Authority for Minority Education. Currently, 76 madrasas have received school recognition under the new system, with more applications being processed.

Dr. Surjeet Singh Gandhi, chairperson of the Uttarakhand Minority Education Authority, stated that the authority has consulted community experts regarding prayer timings to mitigate difficulties. Meanwhile, the opposition Congress party has criticized the move, accusing the government of attempting to polarize voters ahead of the 2027 state assembly elections.