Story perspectives

Uttarakhand CM Orders 206 Madrasas Shift Weekly Holiday to Sunday

By Drooid · Oct 22, 2026, 4:20 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami ordered madrasas to move their weekly holiday from Friday to Sunday.
The order applies to 206 madrasas under the State Authority for Minority Education.
76 madrasas are recognized; 114 applications await approval as of Oct. 21, 2026.
Over 30,000 students will study the state curriculum alongside religious lessons.
Congress spokesperson Pratima Singh alleged the BJP used the change to polarise communities before elections.

History

Historical Context

The 2026 Uttarakhand order moving 206 madrasas’ weekly holiday to Sunday follows a long Indian debate over minority-run schools. In 1953 T. A. Pai founded Kasturba Medical College, pioneering private, self-financing education that set precedents for institutional autonomy. Today, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami’s directive revives that autonomy tension for over 30,000 students.

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Story summary

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami ordered madrasas to move their weekly holiday from Friday to Sunday.
The order applies to 206 madrasas under the State Authority for Minority Education.
76 madrasas are recognized; 114 applications await approval as of Oct. 21, 2026.
Over 30,000 students will study the state curriculum alongside religious lessons.
Congress spokesperson Pratima Singh alleged the BJP used the change to polarise communities before elections.

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