Hundreds of job aspirants from the Teacher Recruitment Examination (TRE-4) and Group D categories took to the streets of Patna on Tuesday, 29 September, pressing the Bihar government to resolve long-pending recruitment grievances. The twin demonstrations unfolded at separate locations across the city, drawing a heavy police presence and prompting the deployment of water cannons and riot-control vehicles.

TRE-4 Aspirants Outside Education Minister's Residence

TRE-4 candidates gathered outside the residence of Education Minister Mithilesh Tiwari, demanding that aspirants appearing for the Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) 2026 be permitted to participate in the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) TRE-4 recruitment process. The demand mirrors a concession already extended to candidates appearing for the State Teacher Eligibility Test (STET), and protesters argued that CTET-qualified candidates deserve equal treatment. This demand has reportedly been raised on multiple earlier occasions without a formal government response.

Group D March Halted at JP Golambar

Group D aspirants marched from Gandhi Maidan towards the Chief Minister's residence, carrying the Tricolour and displaying posters and banners with slogans demanding immediate appointments. Police erected barricades near JP Golambar, bringing the march to a halt. Around 500 protesters subsequently staged a sit-in at the spot, with some bringing folding cots, signalling their intent to sustain the demonstration.

Candidates Cite Years of Waiting

According to demonstrators, they have been protesting at Gardanibagh for approximately 30 days. One protester said he had applied for the recruitment after an advertisement was issued in 2012, promising employment to eligible candidates. He alleged that the examination — ostensibly designed for candidates with matriculation and Class 8-level qualifications — featured questions of a significantly higher difficulty level than warranted. Another candidate said the group comprises 9,720 candidates who submitted applications in 2023 and appeared for the examination in 2024, yet appointments have still not been made. The protesters alleged that no government representative had come forward to engage with them.

Security Arrangements and Police Response

In anticipation of the demonstrations, authorities erected barricades at multiple points along the protest routes. A large contingent of police personnel was deployed to regulate movement and maintain order. Water cannons and riot-control vehicles were kept on standby, though no escalation was reported. The scale of the security response reflects the sustained intensity of job-aspirant mobilisation in Patna in recent weeks.

Broader Context: Bihar's Recruitment Backlog

The protests come amid a pattern of recurring agitation by job aspirants in Bihar over examination delays and recruitment bottlenecks. The Bihar government had previously announced modifications to the TRE-4 process following earlier rounds of protests, including a decision to conduct the examination in a single phase. Critics argue that structural delays in Bihar's public recruitment machinery have left thousands of qualified candidates in prolonged uncertainty, eroding trust in the process. With no immediate resolution in sight, further demonstrations remain likely.