Patna, June 5, 2025: Thousands of students took to the streets of Patna on Thursday demanding the implementation of a domicile policy in Bihar’s government recruitment process.
The protest coincided with the observance 0of Sampoorna Kranti Diwas, intensifying its symbolic significance in the state capital.
Under the leadership of student activist Dilip Kumar, the demonstrators gathered in large numbers, raising slogans against the government and accusing it of denying local youth their fair share of government employment and resources.
The demand for reservation based on domicile policy:
The students are demanding that Bihar adopt a policy giving preferential treatment to local candidates in state government jobs, based on residence certificates.
They cited existing policies in Jharkhand, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh, where similar systems have been successfully implemented.
“Youth in Bihar are being forced to migrate due to lack of opportunities at home. It’s time the government acts in favor of its own people,” said one protester.
Clashes with police, warnings of a larger movement: the protest, while largely peaceful, saw mild clashes between the students and police forces, as authorities tried to prevent the crowd from breaching barricades around high-security areas including the Chief Minister’s residence.
Despite the tension, student leaders emphasized the non-violent nature of their movement but warned that the protests could escalate statewide if their demands continue to be ignored.
“This is just the beginning. If our voices are not heard, we will launch a full-scale movement across Bihar,” Dilip Kumar stated.
Growing pressure on state government:
The demonstration has added pressure on the Nitish Kumar-led government to respond to the growing unrest among the youth.
As unemployment remains a key concern in the state, the demand for a domicile policy could become a major political issue in the coming months.
The administration has not yet issued an official statement on Thursday’s protest or on the possibility of considering the students’ demands.
EOM.