Hundreds of competitive exam aspirants took to the streets of Patna on Tuesday, 15 September 2026, demanding the cancellation and re-conduct of the 70th Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) Combined Competitive Examination and the Bihar Police Subordinate Services Commission (BPSSC) Main Examination held for the recruitment of 1,799 Police Sub-Inspectors. The protesters gathered near JP Golambar, raising slogans against the state government and alleging serious irregularities in both examinations.

Protest Turns Confrontational

Carrying banners and placards, the aspirants demanded an impartial probe into alleged malpractice. One poster read: 'Neither will foul play in exams be tolerated, nor will playing with our future be accepted.' When the protesters attempted to march towards the Chief Minister's residence and Raj Bhavan, police personnel erected barricades near JP Golambar to block their advance.

The demonstrators broke through the barricades, leading to a scuffle between students and security personnel. Some aspirants were seen climbing over the barricades while continuing to chant slogans. More than 200 police personnel were deployed around Gandhi Maidan to prevent the march from proceeding. Security was also reinforced at Dakbungalow Crossing, where the route was sealed off with additional barricades.

What Triggered the Unrest

The BPSSC conducted the main written examination in May 2026 for the 1,799 Sub-Inspector posts, with around 35,857 candidates appearing. Following the examination, complaints of alleged malpractice surfaced at several centres. Suspicion mounted after a photograph of the question paper reportedly appeared on social media following the 27 May examination held at Government Girls' High School in Purnea.

Police subsequently arrested a teacher, Mrityunjay Kumar, who allegedly photographed the question paper after the exam had concluded and sent the image to a relative, according to police. The case was later transferred to the Economic Offences Unit (EOU), which has obtained photographs of the question paper and sought a response from the BPSSC regarding their authenticity and source.

Aspirants' Core Demands

The protesting students maintained that both the 70th BPSC Combined Competitive Examination and the BPSSC Main Examination must be cancelled and re-conducted if the investigation confirms wrongdoing. They insisted that the inquiry be conducted without interference and that appropriate action be taken against those found responsible.

Notably, this is not the first time Bihar's public examination process has come under scrutiny. The state has seen repeated controversies around competitive exam integrity, and each episode has galvanised a large cohort of aspirants who see government jobs as a primary livelihood path.

What Happens Next

The EOU investigation into the alleged question paper leak remains ongoing, and its findings are expected to determine whether the BPSSC examination result stands or is scrapped. The protesters have indicated they will continue their agitation until authorities announce a credible inquiry outcome or a decision on re-examination. The pressure is now squarely on the Bihar government to respond.