1. Patna: Bihar School Examination Board Sends STET 2024 Result Cards to DEO Offices
Patna, March 19, 2025: The Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) has dispatched the result cards for the Secondary Teacher Eligibility Test (STET) 2024 to the District Education Officer (DEO) offices across all districts. This initiative has been taken to facilitate candidates eagerly awaiting their chance to become teachers. The board has issued instructions to all DEOs to make proper arrangements for the distribution of these result cards and ensure they reach the candidates efficiently. Additionally, the BSEB has emphasized that the distribution process must be transparent and well-organized. Along with the result cards, a register has also been sent to each DEO office to maintain a detailed record of the distribution process.
Candidates are required to bring specific documents to collect their result cards. The board has clarified that the cards will only be handed over after candidates present a photocopy of their admit card, a web copy, and the original copy of a valid photo ID issued by the Government of India or the state government. These documents will be verified by the DEO office before issuing the result cards, a measure put in place to prevent any irregularities or fraudulent activities. The Bihar School Examination Board has been consistently working to make the teacher recruitment process transparent and reliable, and this step is being seen as a significant move in that direction.
2. Begusarai: Fraud Uncovered During TRE-3 Counseling, Three UP Teacher Candidates Arrested
Begusarai, March 19, 2025: A major case of fraud came to light during the counseling process for the Teacher Recruitment Examination (TRE-3) at the District Registration and Counseling Center (DRCC) in Begusarai district. Four teacher candidates from Uttar Pradesh attempted to participate in the counseling using fake Aadhaar cards. Of these, three were caught on the spot, while one managed to flee the scene. This incident has raised serious questions about the transparency of the teacher recruitment process in Bihar. The District Education Officer (DEO), Rajdev Ram, took swift action by registering a First Information Report (FIR) against all four candidates. The three apprehended individuals were handed over to the police, while a search is underway for the absconding candidate.
The arrested candidates have been identified as Pappu Kumar Bharti (Ballia, UP), Akhilesh Kumar (Ballia, UP), and Shivshankar Gond (Kushinagar, UP). Investigations revealed that all four are originally residents of Uttar Pradesh but had fabricated Aadhaar cards with fake addresses from various districts in Bihar. Pappu Kumar Bharti used an address from Siwan, Akhilesh Kumar claimed residency in Bhojpur, and Shivshankar Gond listed addresses in West Champaran and Gopalganj. The fourth candidate, Deepak Kumar (Ghazipur, UP), fled during the verification process, leaving behind his certificates. DEO Rajdev Ram stated that these candidates resorted to fraudulent means to secure teaching jobs in Bihar.
Further scrutiny of Akhilesh Kumar’s Aadhaar card revealed shocking details. He had initially obtained his Aadhaar card in Ballia on September 24, 2015, with a birth date of July 1, 1997. However, to secure a job in Bihar, he updated his demographic details on November 16, 2024, changing his address to Khwaspur (Bhojpur) and altering his birth date to July 1, 1998. Similarly, Shivshankar Gond manipulated his Aadhaar card to reduce his age by eight years. The DEO emphasized that this incident has put the education department on high alert, and strict measures will be implemented to prevent such fraud in the future.
3. Patna: Patna University to Implement Online Attendance for Teachers
Patna, March 19, 2025: Patna University (PU) and its constituent colleges will now record the attendance of teachers and non-teaching staff online. This system is being introduced on the lines of government schools in Bihar to monitor the presence of university staff and ensure transparency. The Additional Chief Secretary of the Education Department, Dr. S Siddharth, has written a letter to the Vice-Chancellor of Patna University on Wednesday, directing the immediate implementation of this new arrangement.
A dedicated mobile application will be developed for this purpose, which teachers and staff will need to install on their phones. Using this app, they can mark their attendance with a live photograph within a 500-meter radius of the university campus. Meanwhile, the attendance of students will be recorded inside classrooms using a tablet-based biometric system. This new technology will not only digitize attendance but also make it more secure and reliable. The letter also mentioned that salary payments will be linked to this online attendance system. If required, additional biometric methods may also be employed to enhance the process.
This move is part of a broader effort by the education department to promote digital technology across educational institutions in the state. Officials believe that this will save time and curb irregularities effectively. The Patna University administration has welcomed the directive and has begun preparations to implement the system at the earliest.
4. New Delhi: Supreme Court Asks – How Long Will Free Schemes Continue?
New Delhi, March 19, 2025: During a hearing on the free ration case on Wednesday, the Supreme Court posed a stern question to the central government: how long will free schemes continue? The case stems from a suo motu petition initiated during the COVID-19 pandemic regarding the plight of migrant workers. The bench, comprising Justice Suryakant and Justice N Kotiswar Singh, directed the central government to submit a detailed response on the status of free rations distributed to the poor and adjourned the hearing.
Justice Suryakant remarked during the proceedings that some states boast of rising per capita income, yet when it comes to the Below Poverty Line (BPL) category, they issue ration cards to 75 percent of their population. He expressed concern over whether benefits meant for the genuinely poor are reaching those who do not deserve them. The court also noted that ration cards have now become a “popularity card,” prone to misuse. Sharing a personal perspective, Justice Suryakant said, “I have not detached myself from my roots. I always want to understand the struggles of the poor.”
The petitioner’s counsel informed the court that migrant workers registered on the e-Shram portal need free rations. The bench stressed that subsidies must reach the actual beneficiaries and that it is the government’s responsibility to ensure this. The court urged the center to take concrete steps and clarify the situation, potentially sparking a larger debate on poverty alleviation and the effective implementation of government schemes.
5. New Delhi: UPI Transactions Up to ₹2000 Remain Fee-Free for Another Year
New Delhi, March 19, 2025: The central government has extended the fee-free status for Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions up to ₹2000 for an additional year. This decision was made during a Union Cabinet meeting on Wednesday. Alongside this, the government approved an incentive scheme worth ₹1500 crore to promote Merchant Discount Rates and cost-free digital transactions for the current financial year and the upcoming financial year 2025-26.
Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, addressing a press conference, stated that this scheme aims to encourage small merchants to adopt digital payments. Under the plan, an incentive of 0.15 percent of the transaction value will be provided for UPI (Person to Merchant or P2M) transactions up to ₹2000. This amount will be reimbursed on a quarterly basis to ensure regular benefits for merchants. Vaishnaw highlighted that this step will not only strengthen the digital economy but also empower small businesses financially.
The initiative is seen as a crucial step toward promoting cashless transactions in India. The government believes that technologies like UPI have made financial transactions easier and safer for both the public and merchants. This decision is expected to further accelerate the Digital India campaign.
