Bihar State Government Sets Aside 84.4% Teaching Positions for Candidates with Bihar Residency in Preparation for Assembly Elections
In a significant move to boost local employment and consolidate electoral support, the Bihar Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, has approved a proposal to reserve 84.4% of teacher recruitment posts for residents of the state [1][2][3]. This decision comes ahead of the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections and reflects a clear push to prioritize local candidates in the state's education sector.
The implications of this policy are far-reaching. It provides increased opportunities for Bihar residents, especially local youth, to secure government teaching jobs, which is expected to benefit the state's demographic substantially, particularly the younger population [2].
This reservation is over and above the existing quotas, such as the 60% reservation based on caste or economically backward classes. An additional substantial portion of the general (unreserved) seats is now earmarked for domiciles who have passed matriculation or intermediate from Bihar boards. This reduces open competition for outsiders to about 15% of the total seats [3].
This move aligns with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's "Bihar First" policy agenda, giving precedence to locals in state government recruitment. It may consolidate support among local voters who see this as a win for Bihar’s youth and employment [2][3].
The new rules came into effect immediately after the cabinet approval and official notification, reflecting the government’s commitment to enforce domicile preference strictly [1][3]. There is specific emphasis on female candidates from Bihar, with certain reservations specially benefiting them in the recruitment process [4].
From the remaining 65% of the general category seats, 40% will be reserved for candidates who have passed matriculation (Class 10) and intermediate (Class 12) from any board within Bihar. This leaves just 15% of the total seats open to all candidates, including those from outside Bihar. However, the 15% open category in the teacher recruitment policy may face legal and political challenges from non-domiciled aspirants [5].
The decision to prioritize local candidates in the education sector aligns with growing calls for local job preference and echoes similar policies in other Indian states. Additionally, the Cabinet has doubled the honorarium of physical education teachers, cooks, and night watchmen [6].
[1] The Indian Express
[2] The Times of India
[3] NDTV
[4] The Hindu
[5] The Print
[6] Business Standard
- This policy shift in Bihar, focusing on reserving 84.4% of teacher recruitment posts for state residents, signals a commitment to education-and-self-development and learning, as it aims to boost local employment and prioritize the youth in the state.
- The implementation of this policy also includes policy-and-legislation and politics, as it may face legal and political challenges from non-domiciled aspirants, while alignment with "Bihar First" policy agenda and potential doubling of honorarium for certain positions showcases the interplay between general-news and politics.
