The Bihar government has enforced new regulations governing the use of social media by its employees, emphasizing strict disciplinary action for any breaches. These rules, known as the Bihar Government Servants’ Conduct (Amendment) Rules, 2026, were approved in January this year. The regulations aim to uphold discipline and safeguard institutional integrity in the digital era.
The amendment, sanctioned by the Governor under Article 309 of the Indian Constitution, applies statewide and became effective upon its publication in the Official Gazette on a Friday evening. Government employees are now prohibited from expressing personal opinions on platforms like Facebook, X, and Instagram concerning government policies, schemes, or judicial verdicts without prior authorization, with violations classified as misconduct.
The guidelines also forbid the use of official email IDs or phone numbers for personal social media accounts and strictly prohibit the creation of fake profiles, anonymous identities, or pseudonyms for posting content. Furthermore, sharing photos, videos, documents, or live streams from office premises is completely banned, subject to severe disciplinary measures.
Employees are not allowed to show support for or opposition to any political party, media outlet, or public figure on social media. Additionally, posting provocative or offensive content on caste, religion, or other sensitive topics is explicitly forbidden. Notably, the government has revised norms for competitive exams, permitting government employees to appear only once during their service tenure, with a mandatory No Objection Certificate (NOC), a departure from the previous allowance of up to five attempts.
The implementation of these rules has instilled a sense of caution and increased vigilance among government departments. Employees, ranging from senior officials to junior staff, are now exercising great care in their online interactions.
