Patna: Tension flared in the Bihar capital on Tuesday when hundreds of teaching aspirants marching from Gandhi Maidan towards the Raj Bhavan demanded the rollback of a proposed two‑tier format for the BPSC Teachers Recruitment Examination (TRE‑4). Security personnel deployed water cannon and ordered a mild lathi‑charge to disperse the crowd, leading to injuries to two police personnel and the brief detention of around 25 students, officials said.
What happened at the protest
Protesters, who have been demonstrating for the last three weeks against the introduction of a preliminary examination for TRE‑4, clashed with police during the march. Authorities said a wooden stick was thrown from the crowd, injuring Patna Town Deputy Superintendent of Police (II) Kamakhya Narayan Singh and a woman constable. The injured were given on‑site first aid and later taken for medical attention, according to official updates.
Police detained about 25 students during control measures. All were released later the same day; officials said no formal charges or arrests were made following the detentions. Security sources described the dispersal as calibrated, using non‑lethal means including water cannon and baton action to prevent escalation near the CM residence.
Protesters' demand and background
Demonstrators are opposing the Bihar Public Service Commission's (BPSC) proposal to conduct TRE‑4 as a two‑tier exam with a preliminary stage, tentatively scheduled for December 2026 or January 2027. The previous three TRE exercises (TRE‑1, TRE‑2 and TRE‑3) were held as single‑stage competitive tests.
Candidates argue that many aspirants have already cleared national or state eligibility tests — the Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) or the State Teacher Eligibility Test (STET) — and that adding a prelims stage would be an additional burden, increase delay in recruitment and add financial costs for applicants.
Political and administrative fallout
The demonstration also drew political attention. Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief and Union minister Chirag Paswan met the protesting students in Patna and later held discussions with Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, taking up the aspirants' demands, party sources confirmed.
Separately, the state government has suspended BPSC Examination Controller Rajesh Singh after he made a public remark while responding to questions about the protests. In his comment he used the Hindi proverb
"Hathi chale bazaar, kutta bhaunke hazaar"— a line that sparked further controversy and was followed by the suspension, officials reported.
- Protest location: Gandhi Maidan to Raj Bhavan, Patna
- Key demand: Rollback of preliminary test for TRE‑4
- Action taken: Water cannon, mild lathi‑charge; about 25 detained and later released
- Injuries: Patna Town DySP (II) Kamakhya Narayan Singh and one woman constable
- Political response: Chirag Paswan met protesters and later the Chief Minister
- Administrative step: Suspension of BPSC Examination Controller Rajesh Singh
Timeline of recent developments
| When | What |
|---|---|
| Last three weeks | Intense agitation across Bihar by teaching aspirants against preliminary test for TRE‑4 |
| Tuesday | March from Gandhi Maidan towards Raj Bhavan; clash with police, water cannon used; two personnel injured; ~25 detained and later released |
| Following the remarks | BPSC Examination Controller Rajesh Singh suspended after using a Hindi proverb in public comments |
Impact and outlook
The protests highlight continuing anxiety among large numbers of aspirants about procedural changes in teacher recruitment that could affect timelines and costs. If the two‑tier format proceeds, candidates warn of longer waiting periods for appointments and an extra round of examination expenses. Administratively, the suspension of a senior BPSC official points to political sensitivity around both the change in exam format and public messaging by officials.
For now, authorities appear to be balancing containment with outreach: detentions were short‑lived and political leaders engaged with students. Whether that calms the agitation will depend on formal decisions by the BPSC and any assurances the state government gives on the structure and schedule of TRE‑4.
Further official communications from the BPSC or the state government are awaited to clarify the exam format and the timeline for TRE‑4.
