Yogi govt plans Madrasa overhaul in UP: What are the proposed education reforms?

A high-level committee headed by the Director of the Minority Welfare Department and comprising senior officials from the basic education, secondary education, finance, and legal departments has been constituted to oversee the process. The committee will finalise new affiliation norms for madrasas, including infrastructural requirements such as a minimum number of classrooms, drinking water facilities, libraries, washrooms, and proper furniture.

In addition to academic changes, the government is planning a structural overhaul of the Uttar Pradesh Madrasa Board to make it more efficient in handling affiliated institutions. All marksheets will be digitised to improve transparency and ease of verification. The government is also working on framing staffing norms, and a training programme for madrasa teachers is expected to be launched to familiarise them with modern pedagogical methods and digital tools.

While the government maintains that the reforms are aimed at empowering students, the move has drawn mixed responses from educationists and political parties. Samajwadi Party leader Rajendra Chaudhry welcomed the inclusion of modern subjects but cautioned against what he called “state overreach.” “Introducing subjects like English, Hindi, and computers is beneficial, but the government must not interfere in the religious autonomy of madrasas. Article 30 of the Constitution gives minority institutions the right to manage their own affairs, especially concerning religious instruction,” he said.

Echoing similar sentiments, Urdu scholar and former Aligarh Muslim University professor Dr. Arshad Jamal said, “There is no harm in introducing modern subjects in madrasas. In fact, students should learn English and science to compete with the rest of the world. But reforms must come with consultation, not imposition. Madrasas are not just schools; they are cultural and religious institutions. The government must respect that sanctity.”

Reacting to the proposed reforms, BJP leaders welcomed the move, calling it a significant step toward mainstreaming madrasa education. BJP state vice-president Vijay Bahadur Pathak said, “This initiative reflects the government’s commitment to inclusive development. By introducing modern subjects in madrasas, the aim is to equip students with the tools they need to succeed in the contemporary job market, while also respecting their cultural and religious identity.” The leader added that the reforms would help bridge the educational gap and ensure that students from all backgrounds have access to quality learning and future opportunities.

The reforms come amid a broader narrative by the BJP government to integrate traditional religious institutions into the mainstream education system. Critics argue that this reflects a push toward a homogenised education policy that could dilute the character of minority institutions. However, supporters believe the move is essential to ensure that madrasa students are not left out of India’s academic and employment ecosystem.

According to official data, Uttar Pradesh currently has 13,329 recognised madrasas with approximately 12.35 lakh students enrolled. Of these, 9,979 madrasas operate at the primary and upper primary levels (Classes 1 to 8), while 3,350 cater to students in secondary and higher secondary levels (Classes 9 to 12).

As the Yogi government advances its reform agenda, the coming months will reveal whether it can strike a balance between modernisation and constitutional protections for minority education. The political implications of these changes are also likely to play out in the run-up to future elections, with the reforms being seen as both a governance initiative and a potential flashpoint in the state’s deeply polarised education and religious discourse.