The Uttarakhand government is preparing to compile academic records of madrasa students through the Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry, known as APAAR. Muslim organisations have raised concerns about the autonomy of religious schools as the state changes how it regulates minority education.
According to a News18 report, the Education Department is building a database of student details. Dr Surjeet Singh Gandhi, chairman of the Uttarakhand State Authority for Minority Education, said authorities have often failed to establish where children from other states study. He said the new authority will bring clarity on students enrolled in madrasas.
The report said officials visited a registered madrasa in Dehradun’s Kishanpur area. Many students there were reportedly from Bihar. The report also noted a low number of girls in the institutions visited.
APAAR was introduced under the National Education Policy 2020 as part of the One Nation, One Student ID initiative. It gives each student a unique 12-digit number linked to academic records and DigiLocker. Government guidelines require informed consent from the student, or from a parent or guardian in the case of a minor. The state has not publicly detailed how it will collect and protect madrasa student data.
The proposal follows the abolition of the Madrasa Board. The state replaced it with the Uttarakhand State Authority for Minority Education.