New Year Relief for 600,000 Bihar Teachers: Education Department to Finalize New Transfer Policy Within a Month

Patna, December 12, 2025: In a major relief for nearly six lakh government school teachers in Bihar, the state’s Education Department is fast-tracking a new teacher transfer policy that is expected to be submitted to the state cabinet within a month. The long-awaited policy aims to streamline transfers, ensure transparency, and address concerns that have persisted for over a decade.

Under the proposed rules, a uniform transfer framework will apply to all categories of teachers, including regular teachers, special teachers, school instructors, headmasters, and principal teachers across the state’s 79,000 schools. The system will introduce online transfer applications, ending the need for teachers to run from office to office for approvals.

A Solution to a Long-Standing Problem

For years, the absence of a clear and permanent transfer policy has caused significant inconvenience to teachers and led to repeated litigation against the Education Department. Since the recruitment of contractual teachers began in 2006, transfer-related disputes have been a major source of administrative challenges.

Once implemented, the new policy is expected to benefit over one lakh teachers seeking transfers, bringing structure, predictability, and fairness to the process. An earlier attempt to introduce the policy ahead of the assembly elections was stalled following objections from teachers’ unions. This time, the department is reviewing all concerns before finalizing the policy.

Teacher Convenience at the Core

The upcoming policy places strong emphasis on teacher welfare. After the notification is issued, transfer requests will be accepted exclusively through an online platform—saving time, reducing manual intervention, and minimizing potential irregularities.

The policy also proposes that teachers will generally not be eligible for transfer within the first five years of their appointment. However, exceptions will be considered in cases of serious illness or other compelling circumstances, allowing optional transfers before completing five years. Officials believe this provision will encourage continuity and improve teaching quality at the school level.

Strengthening the Education System

Departmental officials say that the structured policy will help reduce court cases and ensure smoother academic functioning in schools. With clear guidelines, transfers will become more transparent and predictable, ultimately improving the overall education ecosystem.

Bihar currently has 40,270 primary schools, 27,903 middle schools, and 391 basic schools. The new transfer framework, once approved by the cabinet, is expected to become one of the most significant reforms in the state’s education sector in recent years.