Explained: 32,388 Vacancies in Bihar's TRE-4! Note the Changes in Exam Pattern

The new recruitment notification for BPSC TRE 4.0 in Bihar is the result of a major student protest in Patna. This was not a routine recruitment process; rather, the government had to yield following student opposition.

The Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) has released a new notification for TRE-4.0, the fourth phase of the teacher recruitment examination. Online applications for this recruitment will commence on September 25, 2026, and remain open until October 26, 2026. The recruitment covers a total of 32,388 vacant posts, including positions for teachers across classes 1–5, 6–8, 9–10, and 11–12. This notification has been issued directly as a consequence of the massive student protest in Patna and the subsequent agreement reached with the government. Let us take a closer look at this major recruitment drive...

First, understand the background of the matter:

On August 18, 2026, the Bihar Public Service Commission had issued Advertisement No. 14/2026 for the recruitment of 32,388 posts under TRE-4.0. Subsequently, that advertisement was cancelled, and a new one has been issued in its place.

This time, the Commission has clarified that no applications will be accepted after the deadline. Therefore, candidates are advised to complete the application process well in time rather than waiting for the last day.

The highest number of vacancies is for the Higher Secondary level (Classes 11–12), while the fewest are for primary classes. It is worth noting that the Bihar government had previously spoken of recruiting 45,000 teachers under TRE-4.0, including 7,000 special educators. The currently released notification lists 32,388 posts; however, the possibility of adding more posts later cannot be ruled out.

Who is eligible to apply?

Candidates must meet certain criteria to apply for this recruitment:

Educational Qualification: Candidates must hold a bachelor's degree from a recognized university. Additionally, a teacher training qualification such as B.Ed or D.El.Ed is mandatory. Candidates must also have qualified in the CTET, BTET, or STET for the relevant level.
Age Limit: The maximum age limit is 37 years for general category males, 40 years for general category females, 40 years for BC/EBC candidates, 42 years for SC/ST candidates, and 47 years for persons with disabilities (PwD).

What will the exam pattern be?

BPSC has introduced significant changes to the TRE-4.0 examination this time. For the first time, the exam will be conducted in two stages:

Preliminary Exam: This will consist of 150 multiple-choice questions worth 150 marks. It must be completed within 2 hours.
Main Exam: This will also comprise 150 questions totaling 150 marks. The duration for this exam will be 2 hours and 30 minutes.
Another major change is the introduction of negative marking; one-fourth of a mark will be deducted for every incorrect answer. Additionally, a fifth option—'E'—has been included in the objective-type exam.

Why was the application process postponed earlier?

BPSC had announced that the application process would begin on September 1, 2026, but it was postponed on August 31, 2026. The Commission cited "procedural changes" and "administrative reasons" for this decision. Opposition from candidates was also a significant factor.

Aspirants seeking teacher recruitment were protesting against the changes in the exam pattern and the introduction of negative marking. They argued that negative marking would reduce their chances of selection. Furthermore, some candidates were demanding that those who had qualified for CTET be allowed to participate in TRE-4. Due to these factors, the application process had to be postponed.

What happens next?

According to the new schedule, online applications will commence on September 25, 2026, and candidates will be able to fill out their forms until October 26, 2026. The deadline for submitting the application fee is October 25, 2026; essentially, the fee must be paid one day prior to the form submission deadline.

Regarding the exam dates, the BPSC calendar had originally scheduled the TRE-4 examination between September 22 and September 27, 2026; however, due to delays in the application process, the exam dates may be postponed. Results are expected to be declared in November 2026.

Important advice for candidates

If you intend to apply for this recruitment drive, keep the following three points in mind:

Read the advertisement thoroughly before applying.
Keep all necessary documents ready while filling out the form.
Do not wait until the last date to apply.
All information regarding this recruitment is available on the official BPSC website: bpsc.bihar.gov.in. Candidates can download the advertisement and clarify any doubts there. This recruitment offers a significant opportunity to become a government teacher in Bihar, so do not be lax in your preparation.