Patna: The Government of Bihar has implemented a new set of conduct rules regulating the use of social media by its employees, significantly tightening oversight of their online activity.
The “Bihar Government Servants’ Conduct Rules, 2026”, which came into effect following their publication in the Bihar Gazette on Saturday, apply to government employees across the state and are expected to affect millions of workers.
Under the revised rules, employees are prohibited from posting content that criticises government policies, development programmes or official orders without prior permission. The regulations also bar employees from expressing personal opinions on judgments delivered by the Supreme Court of India and various High Courts of India.
Officials said any violation of these provisions could invite disciplinary action.
The guidelines extend to personal social media profiles, placing restrictions even on display pictures. Employees are not allowed to use images that may be interpreted as symbolic protest, such as black bands, or display logos of political parties or organisations. The government has said employees must maintain political neutrality and avoid any online activity that could suggest bias.
The rules also address online behaviour, warning employees against engaging in trolling, abuse or harassment on social media platforms. However, an exception has been made for those officially authorised to promote government schemes, whose posts in that capacity will not be treated as violations.
The move effectively limits the use of platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and X to official or promotional purposes, curbing the ability of employees to express personal opinions or dissent online.
Observers say the new rules mark a significant shift in how the state regulates the conduct of its workforce in the digital space, raising questions about the balance between professional discipline and individual expression.
