Bihar Teacher Recruitment Scam

In March 2025, the Bihar Teacher Recruitment Scam unfolded as one of India's largest examination frauds. The Bihar Economic Offences Unit uncovered a criminal network headed by Sikandar Yadvendu that leaked the Bihar Teacher Eligibility Test question paper. The syndicate bribed officials from the Bihar School Examination Board and sold answer keys to thousands of candidates for amounts ranging from 500,000 to 1,000,000 rupees each. Raids across multiple districts led to the arrest of Yadvendu, key aide Sanjeev Kumar, and several intermediaries, while cash and assets worth millions were seized. The state government was forced to annul the examination results and promise a fresh, secure test. The scandal triggered a political firestorm and exposed deep-rooted vulnerabilities in the public recruitment framework.

By late 2025, the Patna Special Court convicted prime accused Sikandar Yadvendu and Sanjeev Kumar, sentencing them to rigorous imprisonment and imposing substantial fines. Several examination board employees were dismissed and permanently barred from public service. The court ordered the confiscation of properties acquired through the scam. Appeals against the convictions are pending before the Patna High Court.

The principal controversy revolved around the complete breakdown of examination integrity, the alleged complicity of board insiders, and the failure of administrative safeguards to prevent systemic fraud. The question of fairness for millions of unemployed youth became central, intensifying calls for a central agency probe into the nexus between criminals, coaching mafias, and government employees.

The scam devastated public trust among educated youth in state recruitment procedures, sparking massive protests across Bihar. It forced the state legislature to enact a stringent anti-paper leak law with severe penalties and mandated digital encryption and GPS-tracked transport for future examination materials. The case became a national symbol of corruption in competitive exams and significantly influenced political discourse in the run-up to the state elections.