Patna, August 20: Student protests in Patna have intensified as candidates demand the implementation of BPSC TRE 4.0. The ‘Student Justice Satyagraha’ movement, taking place at the Gardnibagh protest site, has entered its 13th day, with participants on an indefinite hunger strike under the banner of the ‘All Ph.D. Holder and Research Scholar Association of Bihar.’
The protesters are advocating for various demands, including the application of UGC Regulation 2018 for assistant professor recruitment, the enforcement of domicile policy in Bihar, and the cancellation of the 70th BPSC examination. Initially focused solely on the notification for teacher recruitment, the movement has expanded to encompass 13 key demands, prompting increased political activity in the region.
The protests began on July 14, when candidates demonstrated outside the BSSC office, voicing their concerns regarding delays in recruitment and competitive examinations. Following this, students across Patna and other locations protested against issues related to paper leaks and examination processes.
On August 6, STET candidates also protested outside the Bihar School Examination Board office, demanding opportunities for STET candidates in TRE-4, biannual STET examinations, adherence to the examination calendar, and the announcement of the 2026 examination date.
In response to the protests, the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) has issued a notification for the teacher recruitment examination (TRE-4), which will fill a total of 32,388 positions. Online applications will commence on September 1, with the last date set for September 30. However, students have vowed to continue their demonstrations, led by student leader Dilip Kumar.
On August 19, Tejashwi Yadav, the leader of the opposition in Bihar, led a march addressing student issues and protesting against alleged police violence during student demonstrations in Siwan. This event is seen as a significant political display by the RJD amidst ongoing student movements, focusing on police action against students, the AK-47 firing incident, paper leaks, unemployment, and demands for judicial investigations.
The protests are still ongoing today, with students advocating for the examination to be conducted in a single phase and for the elimination of negative marking. The movement, which started with demands for the TRE-4 notification, has now escalated to 13 demands that the protesters seek to fulfill.
In light of the growing pressure from students, Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary has convened a meeting with education department and BPSC officials to discuss increasing seats in TRE-4 and addressing other student demands. The protests are also raising concerns about the examination system, paper leaks, and transparency in government jobs, with reports of police action and violent clashes emerging during the demonstrations.