Uttarakhand Madrasas to Adopt State School Calendar, End Friday Closures

Madrasas in Uttarakhand will now operate according to the state's official school calendar, with classes running Monday through Saturday and Sunday designated as the weekly holiday, according to the minority affairs department. The change marks a significant shift in the operational framework of Islamic educational institutions across the state. Parag Dhakate, special secretary of the minority affairs department, confirmed the directive in recent communications, stating that all madrasas must align their academic schedules with the education department's established calendar. The move represents an effort to standardize educational institutions under a unified administrative framework. The decision has triggered considerable discussion among stakeholders regarding the intersection of religious observance and state-mandated educational schedules. Madrasas have historically observed Friday as their weekly holiday in observance of the Islamic Jumu'ah prayers. Officials from the minority affairs department have framed the directive as a measure to ensure consistency in the state's educational system, though community responses to the policy remain mixed. The implementation timeline and any provisions for religious observance remain subjects of ongoing dialogue between educational authorities and madrasa administrators.