Archive · 25 Aug 2026
Bihar Students Breach Barricades Over BPSC Exam Dispute
Students in Bihar are protesting over government recruitment examinations.
They say the 70th BPSC examination had irregularities and may have involved a paper leak.
They want that examination cancelled.
They also want the next teacher recruitment test, called TRE-4, to happen in one stage without negative marking.
Some protesters want government jobs and teaching posts reserved entirely for people from Bihar.
During a march in Patna, students pushed through police barricades.
Police used water cannons, and several students were detained.
The BPSC rejected the paper-leak claims, while the government offered new ways for students to submit complaints.
Separate research scholars also reached an agreement with the Governor over assistant-professor recruitment rules.
Hundreds of students marching from Gandhi Maidan toward Raj Bhavan and the Chief Minister’s residence broke through police barricades in Patna.
Police used water cannons and detained several protesters after clashes at Dak Bungalow Chowk; reports said some police personnel were injured.
Students want the 70th Bihar Public Service Commission examination cancelled over alleged irregularities and paper leaks.
They are also demanding a single-stage TRE-4 examination, no negative marking, 100% Bihar domicile-based recruitment, and the release of the official notification.
The government announced monthly student-support camps, an online portal and helpline, while Tejashwi Yadav called for dialogue and an independent inquiry.
- Who
- Students and student groups, police, Bihar Public Service Commission officials, Congress leader Sushil Kumar, Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary and opposition leader Tejashwi Yadav.
- What
- A student march escalated into clashes after protesters breached barricades while demanding cancellation of the 70th BPSC examination and changes to recruitment tests.
- When
- Tuesday, August 25, 2026; the Gardanibagh sit-in began on August 18.
- Where
- The march began at Gandhi Maidan in Patna and moved toward Raj Bhavan or Bihar Lok Bhavan, with clashes reported at Dak Bungalow Chowk.
- Why
- Students allege irregularities, paper leaks, delays and insufficient transparency in recruitment examinations and oppose the proposed TRE-4 format.
Students and Opposition Leaders
BPSC and Government Authorities
70th BPSC examination
Students and Opposition Leaders
Students and their supporters want the examination cancelled, alleging administrative irregularities and a paper leak.
BPSC and Government Authorities
The BPSC rejected the allegations, called a circulating examination copy completely fake and said answer sheets would be made available to candidates.
TRE-4 format
Students and Opposition Leaders
Protesters and Tejashwi Yadav want TRE-4 conducted as a single examination without negative marking and oppose a two-stage process that could involve normalisation.
BPSC and Government Authorities
The BPSC plans a two-stage process and says negative marking will continue in objective examinations because it discourages guessing.
Domicile and language concerns
Students and Opposition Leaders
Student groups seek exclusive Bihar domicile-based recruitment, while Tejashwi Yadav has called for an end to alleged discrimination against Hindi-speaking candidates.
BPSC and Government Authorities
The BPSC says domicile policy belongs to the state government and that it does not collect data on whether candidates studied in Hindi or English; it says answers are assessed for quality.
Protest response
Students and Opposition Leaders
Student representatives and Sushil Kumar say the government has not provided sufficient assurances or dialogue on their demands.
BPSC and Government Authorities
Police said discussions with students had been positive, while the state announced support camps, an online portal and a helpline to address grievances.
- TRE-4 vacancies
- The Bihar Public Service Commission announced 32,388 teaching posts for primary, middle and senior secondary schools.
- TRE-4 schedule
- Applications are scheduled from September 1 to September 30; the examination may be held in December or January, with the schedule expected in October.
- Students’ TRE-4 demands
- Protesters want a single-stage examination, removal of negative marking and release of the official advertisement.
- BPSC response
- The Commission rejected the paper-leak allegation, described a circulating copy as fake and said candidates would be able to access their answer sheets.
- Domicile issue
- Students are seeking 100% Bihar domicile-based recruitment; the BPSC said domicile policy is a state-government matter and that about 72% of its candidates are from Bihar.
- Government measures
- Bihar announced monthly Vidyarthi Sahyog Shivir camps, the Vidyarthi Sahyog Portal and helpline 1100 for student complaints.
- Assistant-professor agreement
- After a 21-day hunger strike, research scholars agreed to withdraw it; assistant-professor recruitment regulations will remain suspended while a review committee considers proposed amendments.
Sources
Patna Protest: Students Clash With Police, Break Barricades Over 70th BPSC Exam Row
BPSC protest intensifies in Patna as students breach barricades, demand 70th exam cancellation
Bihar: Students Break Barricades During March To Raj Bhavan
Dispute, domicile, and ‘dog’: What’s behind fresh student protests in Bihar