Tensions rose in Patna on Tuesday as students protesting the 70th Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) examination broke through police barricades during a march from Gandhi Maidan towards Raj Bhavan. The protesters are demanding the cancellation of the examination, citing alleged irregularities and paper leaks.
Police had placed barricades along the route to prevent the protesters from entering a restricted area. However, the students attempted to move ahead, leading to a confrontation with security personnel.
According to news agency ANI, police warned the protesters that they would not be permitted to proceed further. DSP Kamakhya Narayan Singh said discussions with senior officials had been positive and expressed hope that the students would call off the march.
Why are Bihar students protesting?
The students are seeking the cancellation of the 70th BPSC examination over allegations of irregularities and paper leaks. They are also demanding changes to the proposed Teacher Recruitment Examination (TRE) 4.0.
Among their key demands is that TRE-4 be conducted as a single-stage examination instead of in two phases. Protesters are also opposing negative marking and seeking the release of the official recruitment notification.
Congress leader Sushil Kumar, who joined the protest, said students were also raising concerns related to BPSC, the Bihar Staff Selection Commission (BSSC) and Sub-Inspector recruitment.
He urged Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to meet a delegation of protesting students, claiming that some students had been on hunger strike for nine days.
Tejashwi Yadav backs students’ demands
Bihar Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav wrote to Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary, urging the state government to hold talks with the protesters and address their concerns.
Yadav backed the demand for a single-stage TRE-4 examination and raised concerns about what he described as discrimination against Hindi-speaking candidates in the BPSC Civil Services Main Examination and interview.
He also called for greater transparency in competitive examinations, including BPSC, BSSC, Sub-Inspector and Constable recruitment. Yadav sought an independent probe into alleged irregularities in previous examinations and strict action against recruitment mafias.
Bihar government announces student support camps
Amid the protests, the Bihar government announced the launch of monthly ‘Vidyarthi Sahyog Shivir’ (student support camps) from Tuesday.
Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary said the initiative would provide students with a platform to raise grievances directly with government officials. The camps will be held at educational institutions on the fourth Tuesday of every month.
Students will also be able to submit complaints online and track their status through a dedicated portal and helpline 1100, Choudhary said.
The latest confrontation in Patna comes as student groups continue to press for greater transparency in government recruitment examinations and action over their allegations concerning the 70th BPSC exam.
