Bihar Makes Formal Dress Mandatory for Government School Teachers

On 30 October 2026, the Bihar Education Department made formal dress mandatory for teachers and non-teaching staff in government schools. Additional Chief Secretary CK Anil issued the directive to District Education Officers (DEOs) across the state.

Dress code, school events and attendance

Staff are prohibited from wearing jeans and T-shirts on school premises. The department said the dress code is intended to support discipline and a dignified school environment. Dance and music programmes may be held only on special occasions listed in the education calendar; the department also directed schools to act against events such as DJs and discos. Education Minister Mithilesh Tiwari was involved in the initiative.

District Education Officers and District Programme Officers (DPOs) were asked to provide detailed teacher-attendance reports within two days. The department sought daily attendance data recorded on the e-Shiksha Kosh portal, including the number of teachers marked present and those who had not recorded attendance. It also requested figures for teachers using the “Mark on Duty” option. The department said irregular attendance could lead to action.

Important Facts for Exams

• Workplace dress rules: Employers may set private workplace dress standards; a carefully drafted code applied consistently is generally acceptable if it does not favour one gender.
• Digital attendance records: Attendance-management software can replace paper timesheets, reducing administrative work and helping organisations maintain accurate records.
• RTE teacher duties: Section 24 of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, requires teachers to maintain regularity and punctuality in attendance.
• Constitutional division of education powers: Education falls under Concurrent List Entry 25, subject to Union List Entries 63–66, which cover specified institutions and Union-level roles in higher-education standards.