In a move aimed at easing the financial burden on job seekers across the state, the Bihar government has fixed the application fee for all preliminary examinations in recruitment tests at Rs 100. The announcement marks a substantial departure from the previous fee structure, under which candidates often had to pay significantly higher amounts to appear for competitive exams conducted by various state departments.
Under the new directive, main examination entries will be completely free of cost. This means candidates who clear the preliminary round will not be required to pay any additional fees to appear for the main written test, a policy that experts say could dramatically increase participation among economically disadvantaged aspirants.
The reform is expected to impact recruitment drives across multiple departments in the state, including those conducting examinations for police constables, school teachers, staff selection commission posts, and various other group C and D vacancies. Officials stated that the decision was taken after reviewing the financial constraints faced by candidates from lower-income families who often dropped out of the competition midway due to escalating exam fees.
Government sources indicated that the initiative aligns with the state's broader commitment to making public employment opportunities more inclusive and accessible. Several political leaders and civil society groups had been demanding fee reductions for years, arguing that exorbitant examination charges acted as a barrier for talented candidates from rural and economically weaker sections.
The Bihar Staff Selection Commission, which conducts some of the state's largest recruitment drives, is expected to implement the revised fee structure in its upcoming examinations. Employment welfare departments have been instructed to ensure compliance across all recruitment processes under their jurisdiction.
