Students protesting against the 70th Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) examination reportedly broke through police barricades as they marched towards Raj Bhavan from Gandhi Maidan in Patna on August 25. The demonstration was sparked by allegations of irregularities and concerns regarding the conduct of the exam. Despite police measures aimed at restricting access to certain areas, protesters attempted to advance, leading to tensions between the two groups.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Kamakhya Narayan Singh stated that the police were prepared to halt the marchers if they moved further. He conveyed optimism that discussions with senior officials would yield a satisfactory outcome for the students. Singh indicated that previous dialogues had been constructive and expressed hope that the number of protesters would diminish as a result of these discussions.

Demands and Issues Raised by Students

During the protests, Congress leader Sushil Kumar articulated the students’ demands, which included the cancellation of the 70th BPSC exam and reforms to the Teacher Recruitment Examination (TRE) 4.0. Kumar emphasised the necessity for the implementation of a single-stage examination for the TRE, alongside calls to abolish negative marking. Concerns were also raised about issues related to the BPSC, Bihar Staff Selection Commission (BSSC), and Sub-Inspector recruitment processes.

Kumar highlighted that the government had not provided assurances regarding these matters, asserting that their protests should not have escalated if officials had engaged in dialogue sooner. He urged the Chief Minister to meet with the protesting group to address their concerns, further noting that they had been on hunger strike for nine days without any response from the administration.

The ongoing agitation is largely focused on demands related to the alleged mismanagement of the BPSC exam process. Students specifically called for transparency in the examination procedures and the immediate release of the official TRE-4 advertisement, expressing frustration over the proposal to conduct TRE-4 exams in two phases.

Political Reactions and Calls for Dialogue

The situation has prompted political responses, with Bihar Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav writing to Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary regarding the concerns raised by the students. Yadav urged the government not to overlook the protesters’ demands and to engage in constructive dialogue for a swift resolution. He reiterated claims regarding discrimination faced by Hindi-speaking candidates in the BPSC Civil Services Main Examination and during the interview process.

Yadav’s letter highlighted the need for complete transparency across all competitive examinations, including the BSSC and Constable recruitment processes, and urged for a high-level, independent inquiry into past examinations to address allegations of irregularities. Additionally, he called for immediate announcements of time-bound schedules for all outstanding recruitment examinations.

Overall, the protests in Patna reflect a growing discontent among students regarding examination processes and recruitment practices within the state. As tensions persist, the calls for dialogue and reform continue to resonate among student groups and political leaders alike.

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