Bihar students have announced an indefinite hunger strike starting from 18 August and are protesting recruitment problems, examination problems, and the opacity of the state’s education system. The proposed agitation will be at a particular place in Patna, reports say.
The decision was taken following a meeting of students preparing for different competitive exams. Dilip, the student leader of the group, said that the protesters are demanding the resignation of Bihar Education Minister Mithilesh Tiwari and the release of the long-awaited notification for the Teacher Recruitment Exam (TRE) 4.
The students have been waiting for the TRE 4 notification for a long time. This notification, which was promised earlier, has not yet been delivered despite assurances that it will be released, they say. With August already underway, the delay has compounded the frustration of students aspiring for government teaching jobs.
The hunger strike is not limited to the TRE 4 notification. Students have also listed a number of demands on recruitment and exams. This includes recruitment for vacant posts and a one-stage examination for TRE 4 and strict implementation of domicile policies.
They are also seeking changes in contractual service weightage used in Bihar Staff Selection Commission recruitments.
The protesters have also called for the early conduct of the AEDO examination and faster recruitment of librarians. Another critical demand is that there be transparency in the examination process. Students want answer keys and carbon copies of answer sheets for all candidates to make the examination process more accountable.
Students say the agitation could escalate if their demands are not met. The student leader said if the government does not respond to their demands within five days of the hunger strike beginning, protesters might march to the Bihar Legislative Assembly and continue their hunger strike in Gardanibagh.
TRE4 के विज्ञापन, शिक्षा मंत्री के इस्तीफे सहित अन्य मांगों को लेकर 18 अगस्त से पटना में आमरण अनशन pic.twitter.com/Jyf26xcddb
— Dileep kumar - Student Leader (@DileepY51270176) August 13, 2026
The recruitment issue comes as the Bihar Education Department has sent a requisition to the Bihar Public Service Commission for the recruitment of 32,388 teacher posts.
But it is being reported that the distribution of vacancies among different classes has changed from earlier plans. The timing of other examinations such as the State Teacher Eligibility Test could also affect the schedule for TRE 4.
The recent development is only the latest in a growing movement of student-led protests in India that has unearthed examination delays, alleged irregularities, recruitment issues, and demands for greater transparency as big issues. Recent student protests in other states have also been focused on recruitment exams and alleged irregularities.
So the hunger strike on August 18 would be closely watched by thousands of Bihar candidates.
The government’s response in the next few days could determine whether the protest remains restricted to Gardanibagh or grows into a larger student mobilisation across the state.
