The Yogi Adityanath-led government in Uttar Pradesh has initiated a groundbreaking transformation in madarsa education – one that not only promises a brighter future for the state’s Muslim community but also marks a pivotal shift in India’s educational landscape. For decades, madarsas remained confined to imparting religious knowledge, often alienating a large segment of Muslim youth from mainstream education, technological skills, and economic growth. That paradigm is now shifting. The government’s formation of a high-level committee, introduction of a restructured curriculum, and mandatory inclusion of modern subjects reflect a decisive stride toward building an inclusive and progressive India.
Currently, Uttar Pradesh is home to approximately 16,461 recognized madarsas, of which around 560 receive direct state funding. These institutions collectively educate nearly 2.5 million students, with girls constituting about 38% of this number. These are not just statistics; they are a clarion call for reform. Equipping these students with quality education and modern knowledge could completely transform the trajectory of the Muslim community in the state.
Importantly, the Yogi government has chosen not to view madarsa reform through the lens of “correction” but through the prism of “empowerment”. Traditionally, madarsas focused predominantly on subjects like Arabic, Urdu, Fiqah, and Tafsir. Under the new policy, subjects such as Mathematics, Science, English, Social Studies, and Computer Education have been made compulsory. Efforts are also underway to integrate NCERT-based curriculum, ensuring that madarsa students can stand on equal footing with their counterparts in central and state board schools. This vision aligns with the objectives of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which emphasizes inclusivity and holistic development.
One of the core objectives behind this reform is to ensure that madarsa students are no longer limited to religious institutions or mosque-related roles but can aspire to become doctors, engineers, scientists, civil servants, and entrepreneurs. If students of madarsas look up to the late Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam – India’s former President and renowned scientist – as their role model, they must be granted access to the kind of education and opportunities that help them walk in his footsteps. The Uttar Pradesh’s BJP led government is working precisely in that direction.
To implement this vision, the government has earmarked ₹756 crore in the 2024–25 budget for the modernization of madarsas. This allocation is being used to establish smart classrooms, libraries, science labs, computer labs, and to recruit qualified teachers. Special training modules are being developed to enable educators to teach modern subjects effectively. The aim is to ensure that every madarsa is equipped with basic infrastructure required for delivering contemporary education.
Simultaneously, the state government is actively aligning with several central schemes such as ‘Nai Roshni’, ‘Nai Manzil’, ‘USTAD’, and ‘Saksham Yojana’ to empower Muslim youth not just through education but also by providing employment opportunities, vocational training, and support for self-employment. A 2022 initiative by the Ministry of Minority Affairs sought to digitally integrate over 12,000 madarsas – a plan that is now being vigorously implemented in Uttar Pradesh.
Significantly, the Yogi administration conducted a comprehensive survey of madarsas, which revealed that nearly 8,000 madarsas were operating without formal registration. This survey was not just a transparency initiative – it aimed to ensure that every student receives education from a recognized institution with standardized quality. Following this, the government launched an online registration portal to monitor these institutions and link them to relevant government schemes.
While the BJP government is taking proactive steps to integrate Muslim youth into the mainstream, opposition parties continue to be entangled in vote-bank politics. For decades, parties like the Congress, Samajwadi Party, and Bahujan Samaj Party have focused solely on emotional and identity-based issues, without making any meaningful efforts to address education, employment, or empowerment. In contrast, the BJP has made it clear: its vision is not appeasement, but genuine empowerment – ‘Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas’
For the lakhs of students studying in madarsas, this initiative represents a new dawn. Students who were once confined solely to religious texts will now conduct science experiments, learn computer programming, and communicate fluently in English. This is not just educational reform – it’s a social revolution. It is a model for the entire nation: when education is seen not as a political tool but as a means of empowerment, real transformation becomes possible.
Another laudable component of this reform is the integration of skill development with madarsa education. Students are now being offered vocational courses such as tailoring, electrical work, mobile repair, beautician training, and food processing. These courses are being implemented under the ‘Mission Saksham’ initiative launched in 2023–24, with the aim of preparing Muslim youth for self-reliance and entrepreneurship.
In conclusion, the transformation unfolding in Uttar Pradesh’s madarsas is more than just an educational upgrade—it is a historic leap toward social justice, equal opportunity, and the making of a ‘New India’. When the walls of madarsas begin to echo not just with Quranic verses but also with mathematical formulas, scientific theories, and lines of computer code, it will be a sign that no section of society has been left behind. That is the India where Quran and keyboards go hand in hand, and where education walks hand in hand with empowerment. This change has begun in Uttar Pradesh, and it’s time the rest of the nation follows suit.
This is the real pro-Muslim face of the Yogi government – one that sees every child not as a vote, but as a future.
Asif Zaman Rizvi
