Patna: The Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) is preparing to conduct the fourth phase of the Teacher Recruitment Examination (TRE 4.0) from December 16 to December 19, 2025, to fill approximately 27,910 teaching positions in government schools across the state.
Education minister Sunil Kumar announced these dates in a recent press conference, signaling a significant step toward addressing the state’s teacher shortage. The official notification for TRE 4.0 by the BPSC is yet to be released but is expected soon, likely in September or October 2025. Results for the examination are anticipated between January 20 and January 24, 2026, providing candidates with job prospects early in the new year.
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STET 2025 to be held in October
Before TRE 4.0, the Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) will conduct the State Teacher Eligibility Test (STET) from October 4 to October 25, 2025. Online applications for STET will be accepted from September 8 to September 16, 2025, through the BSEB website. The STET results are expected by November 1, 2025. This test is a mandatory eligibility requirement for teaching aspirants in Bihar. However, candidates appearing for STET 2025 will not be eligible for TRE 4.0 due to the timing of the results, which will likely fall after the TRE application window.
Recruitment details and eligibility
The TRE 4.0 aims to recruit teachers for primary (Classes 1-5), middle (Classes 6-8), secondary (Classes 9-10), and senior secondary (Classes 11-12) levels under the Education Department and the Scheduled Caste & Scheduled Tribe Welfare Department. The selection process includes a written exam with three papers—Language, General Studies, and a subject-specific paper—comprising 150 multiple-choice questions over 2 hours and 30 minutes, with a 1/4 mark penalty for incorrect answers. No interviews will be held.
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Eligibility criteria vary by level. Primary teachers need a 12th-grade certificate with 50% marks and a Diploma in Elementary Education, while middle and secondary teachers require a Bachelor’s degree with a B.Ed. Senior secondary teachers need a Master’s degree with 55% marks (50% for reserved categories) and a B.Ed. Candidates must also qualify for CTET or STET and meet age limits: 18-37 for men and 18-40 for women, with relaxations for reserved categories.
Addressing Bihar’s teacher shortage
Bihar faces a shortage of approximately 1.35 lakh teachers, with 5.65 lakh employed against a requirement of 7 lakh. TRE 4.0’s 27,910 vacancies are a step toward closing this gap, though earlier projections suggested 1.1 to 1.6 lakh vacancies, indicating possible adjustments due to roster clearance or transfers. Previous recruitment phases, like TRE 3.0 in July 2024, filled 84,587 to 89,581 posts but faced challenges, including a paper leak in March 2024 that led to its cancellation. A 35% reservation for women domiciled in Bihar continues to promote gender inclusivity.
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Challenges and preparations
The recruitment process has faced hurdles, including delays in notifications and discrepancies in vacancy numbers, causing uncertainty among candidates. The TRE 3.0 paper leak underscored the need for robust exam protocols, and BPSC has promised stricter measures for TRE 4.0. Candidates are advised to prepare by studying the syllabus, which includes General Studies, language proficiency, and subject-specific topics, and practicing past question papers. Regular updates on the BPSC website (bpsc.bih.nic.in) will provide critical information on notifications, admit cards, and results.
Significance and outlook
The TRE 4.0 and STET 2025 are pivotal for strengthening Bihar’s education system by addressing teacher shortages and ensuring qualified educators. Timely execution, transparent processes, and adherence to schedules are essential to avoid past issues like delays and malpractices. These examinations offer significant opportunities for teaching aspirants and promise to enhance the quality of education in Bihar’s government schools.
