Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar declared that all state-level competitive examinations will now have a uniform preliminary test fee of Rs 100. This applies to exams conducted by various recruitment bodies, including the Bihar Public Service Commission, Bihar Staff Selection Commission, Bihar Technical Service Commission, Bihar Police Subordinate Service Commission, and the Central Constable Selection Board.
Under the new arrangement, candidates who qualify for the mains stage of these examinations will not be required to pay any fee for appearing in the mains.
The move, according to the Chief Minister, is aimed at reducing the financial burden on aspirants and encouraging more participation in government job recruitment processes.
BENEFITING LAKHS OF ASPIRANTS
Nitish Kumar, in a post on X, said the decision will directly benefit lakhs of young people in Bihar who aim for government jobs.
He highlighted that government recruitment has been a core priority of his administration and that several measures have been taken over the years to support job seekers in the state.
He noted that by standardising the preliminary examination fee and removing the mains fee altogether, the government hopes to make the recruitment process more accessible.
This policy applies uniformly to all state-conducted competitive exams, ensuring no commission or body charges more than the fixed amount for prelims.
PART OF A LARGER EMPLOYMENT POLICY
Recruitment examinations in Bihar have often been criticised for varying fee structures and high costs for multiple stages of selection. The latest decision, Kumar said, reflects his government’s focus on fair and equal opportunity.
He added that these measures are part of ongoing efforts to create pathways for youth employment and secure a stable future for the state’s younger generation.
With the state assembly elections approaching, the announcement is expected to be significant for a large section of the electorate—particularly young job aspirants.
While the change addresses examination fees, broader challenges in the recruitment process, such as timely notifications and result declarations, remain issues for further attention.
