In a significant overhaul of madrasa education in Uttar Pradesh, the state government is all set to discontinue Kamil (graduate-level) and Fazil (postgraduate-level) courses in madrasas, restricting their academic recognition to Class 12 (Alim level).
The move follows the Supreme Court’s 2024 ruling that held the Madrasa Board does not have the legal authority to award higher education degrees, as such powers rest exclusively with universities recognised under the University Grants Commission (UGC) Act.
The Uttar Pradesh Board of Madrasa Education (UPBME) has directed all recognised madrasas to stop admitting students to Kamil and Fazil programmes.
While religious instruction may continue privately, these courses will no longer enjoy state recognition or be treated as equivalent to university degrees. The state’s proposed amendments to the Uttar Pradesh Madrasa Education Act are aimed at aligning the madrasa system with the country’s mainstream education framework.
The policy traces its origins to the Supreme Court’s landmark judgment delivered on November 5, 2024. While the apex court upheld the constitutional validity of the Uttar Pradesh Board of Madrasa Education Act, 2004, it struck down the provisions that allowed the Madrasa Board to grant Kamil and Fazil qualifications.
The court ruled that awarding graduate and postgraduate degrees falls within the jurisdiction of universities established under the UGC Act.
Consequently, the Madrasa Board can legally regulate education only up to the senior secondary (Class 12) level.
The decision is expected to impact nearly 37,000 students who were enrolled in Kamil and Fazil courses across Uttar Pradesh. Many students have expressed uncertainty over their academic future, particularly those already pursuing these programmes. Reports indicate that the government has yet to announce a comprehensive transition policy for all affected students, although discussions on linking madrasa students with state universities have taken place.
Earlier this year, state authorities had explored affiliating eligible madrasa students with state universities so that higher studies could continue within the formal university system. The proposal would require legislative amendments and coordination between the Madrasa Board and universities.
The Uttar Pradesh government has maintained that the reforms are intended to bring madrasa education in line with the national education system while ensuring that students receive qualifications recognised across India.
Officials argue that limiting the Board’s role to school-level education will remove legal ambiguities regarding degree recognition and provide students with greater opportunities to pursue higher education through universities.
Minority Welfare Minister Danish Azad Ansari has previously said that the government is examining legal options to safeguard students’ interests following the Supreme Court verdict.
The decision has drawn mixed responses. Supporters believe the move will integrate madrasa students into mainstream higher education and ensure that degrees comply with national academic standards.
However, madrasa administrators and sections of the Muslim community have voiced concern over the future of students enrolled in Kamil and Fazil programmes. They argue that thousands of learners pursuing advanced Islamic studies now face uncertainty unless a clear alternative pathway is created.
With legislative amendments expected to formalise the changes, Uttar Pradesh’s madrasa education system is set to undergo one of its most significant structural transformations since the enactment of the Madrasa Education Act in 2004.
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