Patna witnessed heightened tension on Tuesday as students protesting the 70th Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) examination broke through police barricades while marching from Gandhi Maidan towards Raj Bhavan. The protesters are demanding cancellation of the examination, alleging irregularities and concerns over the integrity of the recruitment process.
The demonstration intensified after police stopped the marchers from entering a restricted area. Security personnel had erected barricades along the route to prevent the protesters from proceeding towards Raj Bhavan. Despite warnings from the police, several students pushed through the barricades, leading to a tense confrontation between the two sides.
Students Demand Cancellation of 70th BPSC Exam
The primary demand of the protesting students is the cancellation of the 70th BPSC examination. They have raised allegations of irregularities and paper leaks and are seeking action from the state authorities to address their concerns.
The latest demonstration is part of a continuing agitation by students and job aspirants in Bihar over competitive examinations and recruitment procedures. Protesters argue that examinations for government jobs must be conducted transparently and under conditions that ensure equal opportunity for every candidate.
The students have also raised demands linked to the proposed Teacher Recruitment Examination (TRE) 4.0. They are opposing the proposal to conduct the examination in two phases across Bihar and have called for a single-stage recruitment examination.
They are also demanding the release of the official TRE-4 recruitment notification and changes to the examination pattern, including the removal of negative marking.
Police Deploy Heavy Security in Patna
Authorities had made extensive security arrangements to prevent the protesters from moving towards the restricted zone. Heavy barricading was put in place, particularly around Dak Bungalow Chowk, while a large police contingent was deployed in the area.
Reports said more than 200 police personnel were deployed at the key intersection as authorities attempted to control the movement of protesters. Large iron barricades were positioned across routes leading from Gandhi Maidan.
Despite the security arrangements, protesters continued advancing and eventually broke through the barricades. The confrontation created tension on the route towards Raj Bhavan as police attempted to stop the march.
Police also used water cannons to disperse protesters as the situation escalated.
Police Appeal for Dialogue
DSP Kamakhya Narayan Singh said the police would prevent protesters from entering the restricted area but indicated that discussions with senior officials had been positive.
According to the officer, students had raised several concerns with senior officials and authorities were hopeful that the dialogue would help resolve the situation. Police maintained that protesters would not be permitted to move into areas where their entry had been restricted.
The administration’s response reflects the challenge of balancing the students’ right to protest with security requirements around sensitive government locations.
Students Raise Wider Recruitment Concerns
The protest is not limited to the 70th BPSC examination. Students have also highlighted concerns regarding the BPSC, Bihar Staff Selection Commission (BSSC) and Sub-Inspector recruitment processes.
Their demands reflect wider concerns among government-job aspirants over recruitment delays, examination procedures and allegations of irregularities. For many candidates, competitive examinations represent a crucial pathway to secure government employment, making questions about transparency and fairness particularly sensitive.
Congress leader Sushil Kumar, who was present at the protest, backed the students’ demands. He called for TRE-4 to be conducted in a single stage and supported the demand to remove negative marking.
He also urged Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to meet a delegation of the protesting students. According to the protesters, some students have been on hunger strike for several days as part of the wider agitation.
Opposition Seeks Government Intervention
The agitation has also drawn political attention in Bihar. Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav wrote to Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary, urging the state government to engage directly with the protesting students and address their grievances.
Yadav supported the demand for a single-stage TRE-4 examination and also raised concerns regarding the treatment of Hindi-speaking candidates in the BPSC Civil Services Main Examination and interview process.
The involvement of opposition leaders has added another political dimension to the student movement, putting additional pressure on the Bihar government to respond to the demands.
BPSC Row Intensifies in Bihar
The latest confrontation in Patna underscores the growing frustration among students over competitive examination procedures in Bihar. What began as a demand for accountability over the 70th BPSC examination has expanded into broader calls for reforms in the state’s recruitment system.
For the protesting candidates, the issue goes beyond a single examination. They are demanding assurances that recruitment examinations will remain transparent, predictable and free from irregularities.
The situation in Patna remained tense as students continued pressing their demands and authorities sought to prevent the march from entering restricted areas. The confrontation between protesters and police has once again brought the BPSC examination controversy into focus and increased pressure on the Bihar government to engage with the students.
The immediate focus now remains on whether the government will open further dialogue with the protesters and whether the demands surrounding the 70th BPSC examination and TRE-4 recruitment process can be resolved without further escalation.
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