32,388 posts. Read that against TRE 3.0's number from 2024, which came in somewhere between 86,000 and 88,000 depending on which BPSC revision you go by, and the drop is stark — roughly a 60-63% fall in vacancy count. If you were banking on this cycle matching the scale of the last one, recalibrate your expectations now, not after results come out.
But the more interesting story isn't the total number, it's how those 32,388 seats are split. Classes 11-12 (PGT level) alone account for 16,101 posts — that's basically half the entire drive. Classes 6-8 comes next at 8,563, then Classes 9-10 at 3,877, and Classes 1-5 trails behind at just 3,847. Compare that to TRE 3.0, where Primary (Classes 1-5) was the biggest chunk at 28,026 posts and PGT sat at 22,373. The hierarchy has flipped. If you're a B.Ed holder with a postgraduate degree eyeing senior secondary subjects, this cycle genuinely favours you more than it has in recent memory. Primary-level aspirants, on the other hand, are looking at a noticeably thinner pool this time.
Age eligibility also isn't one-size-fits-all here, and a lot of candidates skim past this. The upper limit sits at 37 for UR-Male, 40 for UR-Female, 40 for BC/EBC candidates of either gender, and 42 for SC/ST candidates. If you're a general-category male candidate pushing 38, you're already out regardless of how strong your STET score is — worth checking this before you spend money on the ₹100 fee.
Worth noting: the application window wasn't originally slated for 21 September. BPSC had first scheduled it to open around 1 September 2026, then pushed it back through a revised notice. If you'd bookmarked the earlier date, throw it out and go by 21 September to 21 October instead.
How TRE 4.0 Compares to Other State Teacher Recruitments Running Right Now
Bihar isn't the only state hiring teachers this year. Rajasthan's REET-linked recruitment and Delhi's DSSSB drive are both active too, and stacking them side by side tells you something about where BPSC sits in the broader picture.
| Parameter | BPSC TRE 4.0 (Bihar) | REET Level 1 & 2 (Rajasthan) | DSSSB TGT (Delhi) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Vacancies | 32,388 | ~10,208 (combined Level 1 & 2, revised upward mid-2026) | 838 (this specific TGT notification) |
| Application Fee | ₹100 (flat, all categories) | Varies by level; broadly ₹300-600 range historically | ₹100 (Gen/OBC/EWS); Nil for SC/ST/PwD/Female |
| Age Limit (Upper) | 37-42 yrs, category-dependent | Typically up to 40 yrs with relaxation | 30 yrs, with category relaxation |
| Eligibility Test Required | CTET/BTET/STET, level-wise | REET (Level 1 or Level 2) | CTET Paper II mandatory |
| Selection Stages | Preliminary Exam → Mains Exam → Merit List → Document Verification | REET qualifying score → Mains → Document Verification | Single-tier CBT → Document Verification |
What jumps out is the age window. Delhi caps its TGT hiring at 30, which quietly filters out a huge chunk of experienced B.Ed holders who've been teaching in private schools for years. Bihar's 37-42 bracket keeps the door open much longer, and that's probably why BPSC drives pull applicants from well outside the state — candidates from West Bengal, UP, and Jharkhand have historically shown up in decent numbers for TRE cycles, since Bihar doesn't restrict this to state domicile holders the way some other states quietly do.
Notification at a Glance
Important Dates
| Event | Date / Status |
|---|---|
| Online Application Start | 21 September 2026 |
| Online Application Last Date | 21 October 2026 |
| Fee Payment Last Date | 21 October 2026 |
| Correction Window | Not specified in the notification yet — watch for a separate BPSC notice |
| Exam Date | Not officially announced ("Notify Later" per BPSC). Some unofficial reports have floated 22-27 September 2026, others suggest a window as late as December 2026-January 2027 — treat both as unconfirmed until BPSC issues the actual schedule |
| Admit Card | Will be released before the exam; exact date pending |
| Result Date | Not yet announced |
Application Fee
- All categories: ₹100/- (flat fee, no category-based exemption mentioned in the notification)
- Payment modes: Debit Card, Credit Card, Internet Banking, IMPS, Mobile Wallet
Age Limit (As on 01 August 2026)
| Category | Minimum Age | Maximum Age |
|---|---|---|
| All candidates (Classes 1-5 & 6-8 posts) | 18 years | — |
| All candidates (Classes 9-10 & 11-12 posts) | 21 years | — |
| UR-Male | — | 37 years |
| UR-Female | — | 40 years |
| BC / EBC (Male & Female) | — | 40 years |
| SC / ST (Male & Female) | — | 42 years |
Further relaxation applies as per BPSC's standard rules, which aren't itemised in the short notification — the detailed PDF should carry the exact breakup.
Total Vacancies & Class-Wise Breakdown
| Post Level | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| School Teacher (Classes 1 to 5) | 3,847 |
| Middle School Teacher (Classes 6 to 8) | 8,563 |
| School Teacher / TGT (Classes 9 to 10) | 3,877 |
| 10+2 School Teacher / PGT (Classes 11 to 12) | 16,101 |
| Total | 32,388 |
Educational Qualification (Post-Wise)
| Post Name | Eligibility Criteria |
|---|---|
| School Teacher (Class 1 to 5) | Bachelor's degree with 50% marks + B.Ed, OR Bachelor's degree in any stream with Diploma in Elementary Education, OR 10+2 with 50% marks + 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education/Special Diploma, OR 10+2 with 45% marks (2002 norms) + 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education, OR 10+2 with 50% marks + 4-year B.El.Ed degree, OR Master's degree with 55% marks + B.Ed-M.Ed 3-year degree. CTET Paper I or BTET Paper I must be cleared. |
| Middle School Teacher (Class 6 to 8) | Graduate with 2-year D.Ed, OR Graduate/Postgraduate with 50% marks + B.Ed, OR Graduate with 45% marks + B.Ed (NCTE norms), OR Graduate with 50% marks + BA B.Ed/B.Sc Ed, OR Graduate with 50% marks + B.Ed Special, OR Postgraduate with 55% marks + 3-year B.Ed-M.Ed course. Refer to the official notification for full detail. |
| School Teacher (Class 6 to 10) | Graduate/Postgraduate in the related subject with minimum 50% marks + B.Ed, OR minimum 45% marks (2002 norms) + B.Ed, OR 4-year BA Ed/B.Sc Ed degree. STET Paper I must be cleared. |
| Secondary School Teacher / TGT (Class 9 to 10) | Graduate/Postgraduate in the related subject with minimum 50% marks + B.Ed, OR minimum 45% marks (2002 norms) + B.Ed, OR 4-year BA Ed/B.Sc Ed degree. STET Paper I (subject-wise) must be cleared. |
| Secondary School Teacher / TGT-Special (Class 9 to 10) | Same as above — Graduate/Postgraduate + B.Ed at 50% (or 45% under 2002 norms), or 4-year BA Ed/B.Sc Ed, with subject-wise STET Paper I cleared. |
| 10+2 School Teacher / PGT (Class 11 to 12) | Postgraduate in the related subject with minimum 50% marks + B.Ed, OR minimum 45% marks (2002 norms) + B.Ed, OR 4-year BA Ed/B.Sc Ed, OR Master's degree with 55% marks + B.Ed-M.Ed 3-year degree. STET Paper II must be cleared. |
Selection Process
- Preliminary Exam
- Mains Exam
- Merit List preparation (the notification refers to this stage as "Merit List 01 to 05," which most likely means separate merit lists get drawn up for each of the different post categories rather than one combined list — worth confirming this once the detailed syllabus PDF is out)
- Document Verification
Salary (Based on Secondary Reporting, Not Detailed in the Short Notification)
| Post Level | Approximate Basic Pay | Pay Level (7th CPC) |
|---|---|---|
| Classes 1-5 | ~₹25,000 | Level 6 |
| Classes 6-8 | ~₹28,000 | Level 7 |
| Classes 9-10 | ~₹31,000 | Level 8 (reported) |
| Classes 11-12 | ~₹32,000 | Level 8/9 (sources vary) |
These figures come from post-notification media coverage, not the official BPSC PDF itself, so treat them as indicative until the detailed advertisement confirms the exact pay matrix.
Official Links
- Apply Online: activates 21 September 2026
- Detailed Notification PDF: available on BPSC's official site
- Syllabus & Exam Pattern PDF: available separately
- Official Website: bpsc.bih.nic.in
Preparing for TRE 4.0: What Actually Matters
Your first checkpoint isn't the exam — it's your eligibility test. CTET/BTET Paper I for Classes 1-5, STET Paper I for Classes 6-10, and STET Paper II for Classes 11-12. If you haven't cleared the relevant paper yet, that's the actual bottleneck, not the BPSC written exam itself. Bihar has run STET cycles fairly regularly, so check if a valid scorecard is sitting with you already before you assume you need to start from zero.
Once eligibility's sorted, the Mains exam is where the real competition happens. Previous TRE cycles have generally treated the preliminary round as a qualifying screen rather than something that adds to your final merit score, with Mains marks alone deciding the cutoff. That pattern seems likely to hold here too, though it's worth double-checking against the syllabus PDF once BPSC drops it, since these things do occasionally get revised.
Given how PGT (Classes 11-12) has swelled to 16,101 seats this cycle, candidates with a postgraduate degree and STET Paper II clearance should treat this as their strongest window in years. Don't let a smaller Class 1-5 vacancy count discourage primary-level aspirants either — 3,847 posts is still a meaningful number, it's just proportionally smaller against this cycle's total.
One thing that trips people up every cycle: matching your specific degree combination to the exact qualifying clause. BPSC's eligibility table runs multiple "OR" pathways for each post, and candidates sometimes assume they're ineligible when they actually qualify through a less obvious route, like the 4-year B.El.Ed or BA Ed degree option. Read every OR clause for your post level before writing yourself off.
Should You Apply? A Quick Gut-Check
If you're STET/CTET Paper II qualified with a strong postgraduate score and you've been eyeing PGT roles, this is genuinely one of the better cycles to try — 16,101 seats is close to half the total drive, and that ratio hasn't shown up in recent BPSC cycles.
If you're a UR-category male candidate above 37, don't bother — you're simply not eligible this time around, and that's worth confirming before you invest prep time.
If you already hold a Bihar STET certificate from an earlier cycle and it's still within its validity window, you've got a real head start over candidates who need to clear it fresh. Check your certificate's validity date first; STET scorecards don't stay valid indefinitely.
Honestly, if you're a primary-level (Classes 1-5) aspirant sitting on the fence because the vacancy count looks smaller than TRE 3.0's, apply anyway. 3,847 is still a real number of openings, and BPSC's history suggests final vacancy counts sometimes get revised upward closer to the exam.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the last date to apply, and is the fee payment deadline different?
Both fall on 21 October 2026 — there's no separate window for fee payment this time, unlike some BPSC cycles that give a day or two extra just for the fee.
How many total vacancies are there, and which level has the most seats?
32,388 in total, and Classes 11-12 (PGT) leads by a wide margin with 16,101 posts — nearly half the entire drive, which is unusual compared to earlier TRE cycles.
Why is this cycle so much smaller than TRE 3.0?
TRE 3.0 in 2024 filled somewhere around 86,000-88,000 posts across all levels, so TRE 4.0's 32,388 marks a drop of roughly 60%. BPSC hasn't given an official explanation for the reduced scale, so treat this as a reported number, not a stated policy shift.
Is the age limit the same for every category?
No, and this catches people off guard. It ranges from 37 for UR-Male up to 42 for SC/ST candidates, with BC/EBC and UR-Female both capped at 40 — check your specific bracket before applying.
Do I need to be a Bihar resident to apply?
The notification doesn't state a domicile restriction, and BPSC's earlier TRE cycles have historically drawn applicants from outside Bihar too, so this looks open to candidates from other states as well.
Which eligibility test do I need for my post level?
CTET or BTET Paper I for Classes 1-5, STET Paper I for Classes 6-10, and STET Paper II specifically for Classes 11-12 — these aren't interchangeable, so double-check which one your target post requires.
Has the exam date been announced?
Not officially. BPSC's own notice still says "notify later," even though a few unverified reports have circulated a September or a December-January window — don't lock in your prep schedule around either until BPSC confirms it directly.
Before you apply: This post reflects the notification and related updates available at the time of writing. Several fields — the exam date, the correction window, and the final salary structure among them — hadn't been confirmed by BPSC as of publishing. Always cross-check against the official BPSC website and the detailed notification PDF before submitting your form.