The Bihar government has implemented the domicile policy in the TRE 4 and 5 teacher recruitment. Now, only permanent residents of Bihar will be able to sit for the exam.
Bihar Domicile Policy: Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has announced the implementation of the domicile policy in government teacher recruitments, a major decision taken ahead of the Assembly elections. This policy will now be applicable to the TRE 4 and TRE 5 teacher recruitment exams, in which only permanent residents of Bihar will be able to participate. This move is being seen as a direct electoral play, aimed at wooing the youth of the state.
What is the Domicile Policy?
The domicile policy means that preference is given to the original residents of a state in government jobs within that state. Following this decision by the Bihar government, only those candidates who possess a valid domicile certificate of Bihar will be able to sit for the teacher recruitment exams. This will limit the participation of candidates from other states and directly benefit the youth of Bihar.
Who will be Eligible?
Under this policy, those who are born in Bihar, whose parents are residents of the state, who have been educated in Bihar, who own property in the state, or who are married to a resident of Bihar will be eligible. Candidates fulfilling all these conditions can obtain a domicile certificate and participate in the recruitment process.
Nitish's Election Masterstroke
The announcement of this policy comes at a time when the election atmosphere is heating up in the state. Nitish Kumar has taken this step while acknowledging the long-standing demands of the youth. Students have long been demanding that candidates from outside states be restricted from Bihar's jobs. With this announcement, the Chief Minister has tried to send the message that the government is serious about the future of the youth.
Opposition's Reaction
The opposition has reacted sharply to this decision. RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav claimed that the domicile policy was his initiative and that the Nitish government has copied his policies. He alleged that the Nitish government has no vision of its own. Meanwhile, Prashant Kishor, calling it a victory for democracy, said that this decision was taken out of electoral compulsion. He also said that Nitish Kumar has done nothing significant for the youth in the past 20 years.
Government's Defense
JDU and BJP leaders have supported the Chief Minister's decision. JDU spokesperson Neeraj Kumar said that this decision has been taken in the interest of the youth of Bihar and will strengthen their future. BJP spokesperson Prabhakar Mishra also welcomed the domicile policy, calling it historic.
The Issue of Domicile has been Raised Before
The issue of domicile is not new in Bihar. In the 2020 assembly elections, Nitish Kumar had also promised to implement this policy. At that time, the policy was implemented, but it was removed in 2023, saying that qualified teachers for teaching science and maths were not available in the state. After this decision, students staged widespread protests and accused the government of prioritizing outside candidates.
Why is this Policy Necessary for the Youth of Bihar?
Unemployment has been a major problem in Bihar. A large number of candidates from states like Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh used to participate in exams like teacher recruitment. This reduced opportunities for the youth of Bihar. With the implementation of the domicile policy, local youth will now get priority, which will enable them to have better employment opportunities in their own state. Also, the quality of education will also improve because local teachers understand the language and culture of the students better.
Domicile is Already Implemented in Other States
The domicile policy is already implemented in states like Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra. Local residents are given priority in teacher recruitment and other government jobs there. In such a situation, implementing this policy in Bihar is being considered a logical step.
