Students affiliated with the All PhD Holders and Research Association, who had been staging a continuous hunger strike at Gardanibagh in Patna for the past 21 days, have officially announced the withdrawal of their protest. The breakthrough came after a delegation of protesting scholars held a detailed two-hour meeting with the Governor of Bihar. During the discussions, both sides reached a consensus to form a special committee within 15 days to thoroughly examine the demands raised by the academic aspirants. This committee will be established by the Governor after due consultations with the Chief Minister of Bihar and will include prominent educationists along with administrators possessing rich experience in the education sector.
The six-member delegation representing the protesting association presented their grievances directly during the lengthy dialogue at the Raj Bhavan. Following the assurances given by the Governor, the student leaders agreed to give up their hunger strike. The delegation included MLC and teacher representative Jeevan Kumar, guest assistant professors Dr. Kundan Singh, Dr. Umesh Kumar, and Dr. Vibha Rani, alongside research scholars Ashish Kumar and Monu Kumar Rai.
Recruitment Rules Put on Hold
As per the agreements finalized during the meeting, the Assistant Professor Recruitment Ordinance 2026 has been put on hold. No regular or contractual recruitment under this specific ordinance will proceed until necessary amendments are introduced and incorporated. The newly proposed committee will review all related guidelines to ensure transparency and fairness in future academic appointments across the state.
Proposed Changes in Selection Criteria and Exam Format
The upcoming committee will specifically deliberate on several key recruitment parameters. Key proposals include setting the upper age limit for assistant professors at 55 years. Additionally, the selection process is expected to feature a written examination consisting of objective-type questions. Candidates qualifying the written test will be evaluated through a combined merit list created by merging their written exam scores and their Academic Performance Index (API). Shortlisted candidates based on this consolidated list will then be called for an interview, which will also incorporate a teaching demonstration.
API Calculations and Guest Faculty Norms
The administration has also assured consideration of multiple demands concerning the calculation of the API score. It was agreed that marks obtained in matriculation and intermediate examinations will be excluded from the API evaluation. While the weightage for NET and JRF may be capped at up to 11, the weightage awarded for a PhD degree must not be reduced below 30. Furthermore, research publications and professional experience will continue to count towards the API score, but these parameters will be clearly defined to prevent any ambiguities or misuse.
Special attention was also dedicated to the concerns of guest assistant professors. The committee will evaluate proposals to grant guest faculty members a minimum pay scale along with dearness allowance, similar to the benefits enjoyed by currently appointed contractual assistant professors. Uniform renewal procedures across all universities and proper verification of educational certificates, research papers, and experience are being reviewed to allow them to serve up to the age of 65. The delegation also suggested lowering the maximum age limit gradually rather than abruptly, while ensuring annual recruitment drives against existing vacancies, a proposal that received positive consideration.
