Bihar Cabinet approves Government employee status for 3.5 lakh contractual teachers

• Bihar Cabinet approves the status of government employees for around 3.5 lakh contractual teachers
• He 'exclusive teachers' must clear mandatory 'competency examinations' to maintain their government employee status
• The decision comes ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, where Bihar, with 40 seats, plays a crucial role

The Bihar Cabinet, under the leadership of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, has granted government employee status to approximately 3.5 lakh contractual teachers working across government schools in the state. The decision, announced after a cabinet meeting, establishes these teachers as 'exclusive teachers' with government employee status.

The move, expected to impact the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, comes as the ruling Mahagathbandhan, comprising JD(U), RJD, Congress, and Left parties, prepares to face the BJP-led opposition in April-May 2023. To maintain their government employee status, these ‘exclusive teachers’ will have to clear mandatory ‘competency examinations,’ Siddharth stated, adding that the decision on which government agency will conduct these examinations, will be taken soon.

Three chances will be given to clear the tests, and the fate of those who still fail, will be decided by the Bihar government at a ‘later stage,’ the additional chief secretary added

Siddharth noted that for now, the salary structure will remain unchanged, but will be revised as per the guidelines set by the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) only after clearing the competency tests.