Overview

• On August 18, teacher-job aspirants gathered at Dak Bungalow crossing in Patna to press for the State Teacher Eligibility Test to precede the Bihar Public Service Commission’s TRE-5.
• Demonstrators disrupted traffic and tried to breach police barricades before Patna SP Diksha ordered the use of mild force to disperse the crowd.
• Protesters highlight that the Bihar School Examination Board has skipped STET for roughly 18 months despite its twice-yearly mandate.
• The Bihar government has announced TRE-5 dates while deferring the next STET exam until 2026, a decision aspirants say will disenfranchise eligible B.Ed graduates.
• This marks the second major demonstration in Patna within fifteen days, following a lathi-charge on aspirants during protests on August 7.