The Uttarakhand government on Wednesday (October 21, 2026) issued a circular for timings and weekly-off for schools across the State including recognised madrasas which will observe Sunday as their weekly holiday instead of Friday.

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Authorities from the Uttarakhand Minority Welfare department said that the decision came following the integration of the religious institutions into the State's education system, bringing them under the rules applicable to other recognised schools.

“The decision was taken after discussions with the madrasa authorities. Because the registered madrasas have been reclassified as schools, hence the institutions required to follow the guidelines issued by the education department and the authority,” an official from the department said.

Change of Board

Previously, most of the madrasas in the State observed Friday as their weekly holiday to accommodate Jumma (Friday) prayers.

The State government, last year, had replaced the Uttarakhand Madrasa Board with a Minority Education Board. The new framework covers educational institutions serving Muslim, Sikh, Parsi, Jain and Buddhist communities.

According to authorities, of the 452 previously recognised madrasas, 76 institutions that submitted fresh applications have received recognition as schools in the State. Approximately 30,000 students are enrolled in these institutions.

Applications from another 114 institutions remain under consideration.

Parag Madhukar Dhakate, secretary of the Minority Welfare Department, said 250 unauthorised madrasas were sealed during the first phase of enforcement.