Arun Kumar is Senior Assistant Editor with Hindustan Times. He has spent two-and-half decades covering Bihar, including politics, educational and social issues.
Articles by Arun Kumar
BJP accuses Bihar govt of cutting school holidays on Hindu festivals
BJP leaders said that holidays on Hindu religious festivals have decreased while Muslim holidays have been increased in the Bihar education department’s new calendar
Published on Nov 28, 2023 07:08 PM IST
Sushil Modi cites SC, says laws under 9th schedule not above judicial review
The nine-judge bench had delivered a unanimous verdict on January 11, 2007 in Coelho v. State of Tamil Nadu and others case, upholding the ‘Basic Structure Doctrine’
Published on Nov 24, 2023 11:12 AM IST
Ban Halal certified products in Bihar, Giriraj tells Nitish
The BJP leader and union minister urged the Bihar CM to take a leaf out of the book of the Yogi Adityanath government in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh, which has banned such products.
Published on Nov 23, 2023 09:21 PM IST
Arun Kumar, Patna
Union minister Giriraj Singh writes to Bihar CM urging for ban on halal products
Singh said in a secular democracy like India, halal business is “not only against the Constitution but also treason”
Updated on Nov 23, 2023 04:00 PM IST
Special status demand like flogging a dead horse: Sushil Modi
“When the 14th Finance Commission has rejected the very concept of ‘special category status’ and it cannot be given to any state, the cabinet nod to send proposal to the Centre is a mere political stunt”
Published on Nov 22, 2023 09:30 PM IST
Arun Kumar, Patna
Bihar notifies increase in caste-based quota to 65%
To be sure, the total quantum of reservation in jobs and educational institutions will stand at 75%, after taking into account the 10% quota for economically weaker sections
Updated on Nov 22, 2023 08:56 AM IST
Arun Kumar, Patna
Bihar notifies quota hike after Governor signs bills
Under the new provisions, based on the findings of the landmark caste survey in the state, the quota for scheduled (SC) goes up to 20%, while that of scheduled tribe (ST) to 2%, extremely backward classes (EBC) to 25% and other backward classes (OBC) to 18%.
Updated on Nov 21, 2023 09:46 PM IST
Arun Kumar, Patna
Bihar government notifies quota hike after governor signs bills
Under the new provision the quota for Scheduled Caste (SC) goes up to 20%, while that of Scheduled Tribe (ST) to 2%, Extremely Backward Classes (EBC) to 25% and OBC to 18%
Published on Nov 21, 2023 04:25 PM IST
Became CM due to my foolishness: Nitish targets Manjhi in House
Manjhi become the chief minister in May 2014, when Kumar had stepped down owning moral responsibility for the JD(U)’s drubbing in the Lok Sabha elections
Published on Nov 10, 2023 01:33 PM IST
Bihar clears bill to raise caste quota from 50% to 65%
The proposal, however, may well end up before the courts since it breaches the 50% cap fixed by the Supreme Court in the 1992 Indra Sawhney case.
Updated on Nov 10, 2023 05:30 AM IST
Arun Kumar, Patna/new Delhi
Caste survey and quota hike: Bihar starts political churn ahead of 2024 polls
Experts weigh in on how the caste census data shared by Nitish Kumar can have an impact at a national level
Published on Nov 08, 2023 09:36 PM IST
Bihar: Assembly adjourned as sparks fly over CM’s remark
BJP legislators trooped into the well demanding resignation of CM for “obscene” remarks. Marshals were called in as some of the members also lifted reporters’ table and chair.
Published on Nov 08, 2023 09:25 PM IST
Arun Kumar, Patna
Nitish backs 75% total quota as survey outlines inequality
The Bihar CM announced plans to increase reservation to 75% after a landmark caste survey revealed the economic disparities among different communities.
Updated on Nov 08, 2023 05:12 AM IST
Arun Kumar, Patna/new Delhi
Bihar cabinet clears quota hike to 75%, Bill likely today
Chief minister Nitish Kumar told the state assembly that his government would bring a Bill in the ongoing winter session of the legislature to effect the quota hike
Published on Nov 07, 2023 10:26 PM IST
Arun Kumar, Patna
Bihar will bring bill to hike quota to 75%, says Nitish Kumar after caste survey
Bihar chief minister Nitsh Kumar said the increase in quota will allow OBC and EBC to have larger share in tune with their population
Updated on Nov 07, 2023 09:36 PM IST
Bihar releases fresh caste survey data, says 33% OBCs, 42% SCs are poor
The socio-economic report said more than 5 million people from Bihar were living outside the state in search of livelihood or better education opportunities
Published on Nov 07, 2023 03:03 PM IST
Designing the Metaverse: Need for students to upskill to meet this new challenge
Designing the metaverse however will require a unique mix of skills, many of which are only just beginning to emergd
Updated on Nov 02, 2023 01:17 PM IST
C.B Arun Kumar, New Delhi
Bihar: Row over teachers’ exam rages ahead of ‘job letter’ fair
On November 2, chief minister Nitish Kumar will distribute provisional appointment letters to the newly recruited teachers at a mega function at Patna’s Gandhi Maidan
Published on Oct 31, 2023 09:29 PM IST
Arun Kumar, Patna
Teachers’ recruitment exam: BPSC invites objections for 1st phase, applications for 2nd phase
Chief minister Nitish Kumar is scheduled to distribute appointment letters to around 25,000 newly recruited teachers at the Gandhi Maidan in Patna.
Published on Oct 28, 2023 08:56 PM IST
Arun Kumar, Patna
Lalu Yadav running Congress, our fight with RJD only: Bihar BJP chief
His comments came after the RJD chief said that the after-caste survey in Bihar, the countdown for the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government had begun
Published on Oct 27, 2023 01:13 PM IST
Bihar teachers’ recruitment: Opposition parties seek probe as protests continue
Chief minister Nitish Kumar will hand over 25,000 provisional appointment letters to the successful candidates at Gandhi Maidan in Patna on November 2 after the completion of counselling
Published on Oct 25, 2023 01:50 PM IST
CUSB Convocation: Prez praises Bihar youth for bit to ‘4th Industrial Revolution’
President Droupadi Murmu encouraged the youth of Bihar to set global standards at the local level, highlighting the achievements of the state's people in the fourth Industrial Revolution. She also praised the empowerment of girls in education and the rich legacy of Bihar in producing talented individuals. The President emphasized the importance of the youth in contributing to the country's progress and addressing challenges such as climate change. The Governor stressed the need for timely exams and results in state universities. The Central University of South Bihar received the highest A++ grade from NAAC and is striving for excellence in education.
Updated on Oct 20, 2023 08:43 PM IST
Arun Kumar, Patna
Finding qualified teachers remains difficult in Bihar despite vacancies
Despite the announcement of results by the BPSC in the single largest recruitment exercise, the quest for qualified teachers for Bihar schools will continue.
Updated on Oct 19, 2023 03:06 PM IST
Arun Kumar, Patna
BPSC TRE Result 2023: Nitish Kumar to hand over job letters to teachers on Nov 2
The appointment letters to the successful candidates will be distributed at a programme organised at the Gandhi Maidan in Patna on November 2.
Published on Oct 18, 2023 02:49 PM IST
Arun Kumar, Patna
Govt begins teachers’ counselling; Bihar CM to give appointment letters on Nov 2
The development comes a day after the BPSC started publishing the results of the teachers’ recruitment exam (TRE) in a phased manner from Tuesday
Updated on Oct 18, 2023 12:53 PM IST
After uproar, teachers’ training cancelled
The teachers' training in Bihar, which was criticized for clashing with the Navratri festival, has been cancelled due to "unavoidable reasons."
Updated on Oct 17, 2023 09:49 PM IST
Arun Kumar, Patna
Bihar: Teachers’ training during Durga Puja cancelled with immediate effect
The timing of the training, as it coincides with the 10-day Durga Puja that started on October 15, drew severe political backlash in the state
Published on Oct 17, 2023 04:47 PM IST
1st sitting of Bihar House since release of caste survey to commence on Nov 6
A notification for the session was issued on Monday days after chief minister Nitish Kumar said the educational and social-economic data of the survey would be tabled in the House
Published on Oct 17, 2023 10:47 AM IST
CNLU revamp on cards to make it a centre of excellence: VC
CNLU vice chancellor Prof Faizan Mustafa on Sunday presented the revamp plan for the institution both in terms of academics as well as infrastructure.
Published on Oct 16, 2023 10:40 AM IST
Arun Kumar, Patna
Rajvardhan Azad nominated to Bihar legislative council in place of Kushwaha
Azad is the son of former Bihar chief minister Bhagwat Jha Azad. He had also unsuccessfully contested the Lok Sabha election once in 2014 from Godda
Updated on Oct 14, 2023 12:12 PM IST
