Bihar Education Department Bans Social Media Reels for School Staff and Students

Bihar education department on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, ordered teachers, non‑teaching staff and students in government schools to stop creating or uploading short video reels on any social media platform without explicit permission from the concerned officials. The directive follows a dress‑code order issued on October 30, 2026, that required all school personnel and pupils to adhere to a prescribed uniform. Officials said the measures aim to curb distractions and protect the image of government schools, which have recently drawn national criticism over poor infrastructure and management. Bihar runs more than 76,000 government schools, including about 47,000 primary, 25,000 upper‑primary and roughly 5,000 higher‑secondary institutions. Around 6.6 lakh teachers are employed across these schools. Since the BJP‑led NDA government took office, it has begun painting all 551 government‑model schools in saffron, promising modern facilities for the children attending them. The new rules require any reel‑related activity to be cleared by the school head or district education officer before posting. Violation may attract disciplinary action as per state service rules. The department urged parents and community members to support the policy, saying it will help maintain a focused learning environment. ## Context The ban reflects a broader push by several Indian states to regulate social‑media use in schools, citing concerns over cyberbullying and academic disruption. The saffron‑painted model schools are part of the ruling party’s effort to showcase development in education infrastructure.