The Union Ministry of Human Resource Development will link madarsas with the National Institute of Open School and introduce Mathematics, Social Sciences, Hindi, English and other regular subjects as part of the modernisation process of the religious schools.

"As a part of the modernisation process, it is certain that we would introduce additional subjects like Maths, Science, Social Sciences, English and Hindi at all the madarasas and maktubs. A regular curriculum of a madarsa and maktub includes courses in Arabic, Tafsir(Quranic interpretation), Shariah (Islamic law), Hadith (recorded sayings and deeds of Prophet Mohammad), Mantiq (logic), and Muslim History. Government will not fund these subjects," a senior HRD Ministry official said.

Depending on the educational demands, some madarsas also offer advanced courses in Arabic literature, English and other foreign languages, as well as science and world history.

People of all ages attend madarsas and many often become Imams. The education of an 'alim' (religious teacher) requires approximately 12 years of study.

Evening classes are also held in madarsas and many of them also have dormitories.

There are demands to treat madarsa degrees at par with those of public schools.

"The HRD Ministry had discussions with religious teachers and institutions associated with the madarsas. The Ministry made it clear to them that to put their degrees at par with public school certificates, assessment is required. And the students have to study additional subjects to make their degrees valid as per rules," highly placed sources said.

The course will incorporate standard content that is being offered by the NIOS.

"The students will also have to appear for examinations in all these additional modern subjects that would soon be taught," sources confirmed.

The examinations will be conducted by NIOS.