Candidates and students began an indefinite hunger strike at Patna’s Gardanibagh protest site on Tuesday, August 18, demanding the immediate release of the Bihar Public Service Commission’s (BPSC) Teacher Recruitment Examination (TRE-4) notification. The protest comes after months of uncertainty over the recruitment process and repeated assurances from the state government.
Sources indicate that BPSC may release the TRE-4 examination advertisement by Tuesday evening, potentially providing clarity to thousands of aspirants waiting for the recruitment cycle to begin. The Bihar government has already sent a requisition for 32,388 teacher posts to the commission, but candidates say the recruitment process cannot move forward meaningfully until the official advertisement, application dates and examination schedule are announced.
32,388 Vacancies, But Notification Still Awaited
The latest recruitment exercise is expected to fill 32,388 teaching positions across government schools in Bihar. According to details, the vacancies include 3,847 posts for Classes 1 to 5, 8,563 for Classes 6 to 8, 3,877 for Classes 9 and 10, and 16,101 for Classes 11 to 12. The Education Department sent the requisition to BPSC on July 29, a move the Chief Minister described as an important step towards providing employment to young people and strengthening the state’s education system. Choudhary said the government remained committed to creating more employment opportunities for Bihar’s youth.
However, for aspirants, sending the requisition was only one part of the process. They have been waiting for the formal BPSC advertisement, which is expected to specify eligibility requirements, the application process, important dates and the selection procedure. The delay has become a major source of frustration among candidates who have spent months, and in some cases years, preparing for government teaching jobs.
The issue is particularly significant for aspirants facing age limits and the financial pressure associated with prolonged exam preparation. Earlier, Education Minister Mithilesh Tiwari had indicated that the TRE-4 process would move forward in July and told the state Assembly that the requisition would be sent to BPSC that month.
Months Of Protests Lead To Hunger Strike
Tuesday’s hunger strike is the latest escalation in a campaign that has seen repeated demonstrations by teacher aspirants. Candidates have previously taken to the streets in Patna, demanding that the recruitment notification be issued without further delay. In May, a large protest over the delay resulted in police action, with four people, including student leader Dilip Kumar, being arrested and around 5,000 unidentified protesters booked, according to reports. The protesters had been demanding immediate clarity on the recruitment process.
The agitation has also included demands beyond the immediate release of the notification. Student representatives have previously called for the recruitment process to be completed through a single examination and sought greater clarity over the number of vacancies. In May, a delegation led by Dilip Kumar also met former Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and urged the government to expedite the TRE-4 advertisement. The candidates told him that repeated recruitment stages and delays were making the process longer and more difficult for aspirants.
The state government, meanwhile, has maintained that the recruitment process is moving ahead. The Education Department’s submission of the 32,388-post requisition to BPSC was presented as a step towards addressing teacher shortages and creating employment opportunities. The key development now rests with the commission, with sources indicating that the advertisement could be released by Tuesday evening. Until it is officially published, however, candidates remain uncertain about when applications will open and when the examination itself will take place.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
For young people preparing for competitive examinations, a recruitment notification is more than an administrative document. It determines how they plan their studies, finances and professional futures. Months of uncertainty can take a significant emotional and financial toll, particularly when candidates have repeatedly been given expected timelines. At the same time, protests and hunger strikes carry their own risks, making timely communication between authorities and students essential.
The government and BPSC should ensure that candidates receive clear, verified information about vacancies, eligibility, applications and examination dates, while protesters should be able to raise their concerns peacefully and safely. If the notification is released as expected, can this become the beginning of a more transparent and predictable recruitment process for Bihar’s aspirants?
Also Read: ‘Fix Ghapla Or I’ll Protest Again’: Ramdev Warns Modi Government Over Students’ Education
Patna, Bihar: Hundreds of TRE-4 aspirants began a three-day hunger strike at the Gardanibagh protest site, demanding the early release of the TRE-4 notification along with a single examination pic.twitter.com/N5m55dBhuW
— IANS (@ians_india) August 18, 2026
