Patna: The Bihar government has initiated a process to reform the conduct of competitive and recruitment examinations across the state, appointing Patna High Court Judge Justice Harish Kumar as chairperson of an expert committee constituted for the purpose.
The appointment was announced through a notification issued by the General Administration Department. The committee has been tasked with examining various aspects of the examination system and submitting recommendations to the state government for comprehensive reforms.
Committee to examine examination system
According to the notification, the expert committee is intended to facilitate reforms in examinations conducted by various boards, commissions, universities and other recruitment agencies functioning under the state government.
The committee is expected to examine issues related to the organisation and conduct of examinations, examination procedures and transparency, among other aspects. Its recommendations are expected to form the basis for possible changes to make the examination and recruitment process more organised and effective.
The notification refers to Clause 7 of General Administration Department Notification No. 15441, issued on August 23, 2026, under which the arrangement for constituting an expert committee for examination reforms was established.
High Court proposal preceded appointment
The appointment followed correspondence between the General Administration Department and the Patna High Court.
The department had sought a proposal for appointing Justice Harish Kumar as chairperson through Letter No. 15498 dated August 24, 2026. The Patna High Court subsequently forwarded its proposal through Letter No. 78985 dated August 28, 2026.
Following receipt of the proposal, the state government issued the notification appointing Justice Harish Kumar to head the committee.
Major recruitment bodies brought into focus
Copies of the notification have been circulated to several departments and institutions that are likely to be relevant to the examination reform process.
These include the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC), Bihar Staff Selection Commission (BSSC), Bihar Technical Service Commission (BTSC) and Bihar State University Service Commission, besides the Bihar Police Service Commission.
The notification has also been sent to the Finance Department, Accountant General, heads of departments, the Additional Chief Secretary to the Governor, the Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister and the Registrar General of the Patna High Court.
The General Administration Department has directed its IT Manager to upload the notification on the department’s website.
Recommendations could shape future examinations
The committee’s specific terms of reference and the recommendations it will ultimately make will become clearer as its work progresses. The notification does not, at this stage, specify individual reforms or a detailed implementation framework.
The formation of the committee comes against the backdrop of recurring challenges surrounding competitive and recruitment examinations in the state. Its recommendations could potentially address examination procedures, transparency and the overall organisation of recruitment examinations.
Any changes to the existing system, however, will depend on the committee’s recommendations and subsequent decisions by the state government.
