In a major push for transparency and accountability in minority educational institutions, the Uttar Pradesh government has made Aadhaar-based biometric attendance compulsory for students, teachers, and non-teaching staff in all government-aided madrasas across the state.
The Uttar Pradesh Madrasa Education Board has issued clear directives to District Minority Welfare Officers to ensure swift implementation. In institutions where biometric devices are not yet installed, officials have been asked to prioritise setup and make the system fully operational at the earliest.
Why This Move Was Needed
The decision follows reports of alleged attendance manipulation in several madrasas. Videos from districts like Barabanki and Jaunpur highlighted cases where plastic cards with teachers’ names were reportedly used to fake biometric thumb impressions, allowing absent staff to mark attendance and draw salaries.
Earlier, biometric attendance was required for staff in aided madrasas, but the lack of strict Aadhaar linkage created loopholes. The new system is expected to eliminate offline record tampering, enable accurate daily tracking, and bring greater administrative efficiency.
Strong Support from Muslim Clerics
The initiative has drawn positive responses from prominent Muslim religious leaders, who view it as a forward-looking step.
Maulana Khalid Rasheed Farangi Mahli, Chairman of the Islamic Centre of India, welcomed the move: “Making biometric attendance compulsory in madrasas in Uttar Pradesh is a good step. It will help ensure teachers’ attendance and make sure that classes start and end on time.” He added that the reform would contribute to delivering quality education to madrasa students.
Maulana Qari Abrar Jamal, President of Jamiat Himayatul Islam, described the decision as encouraging for nation-building. “It is a matter of great happiness. If the government wants madrasas in the state to not remain confined only to religious education but also become active participants in nation-building, then it is a matter of pride and happiness for all of us.”
He also aligned the reform with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Muslim children holding a laptop in one hand and the Quran in the other, while promoting patriotic values such as reciting the national anthem in minority institutions.
Expected Outcomes and Monitoring
The Madrasa Education Board has instructed officials to continuously monitor the biometric systems and resolve any technical or administrative hurdles promptly. This reform is part of the state government’s broader efforts to modernise madrasa education, improve regularity of attendance, and ensure proper utilisation of public funds.
The move is likely to bring better governance to thousands of madrasas in Uttar Pradesh while addressing long-standing concerns regarding transparency and accountability in these institutions.
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