What's your qualification? The degree drama conversation in Bihar polls

In the lead-up to Bihar's 2025 assembly elections, prominent political leaders have become deeply entangled in a heated controversy over their educational qualifications, sparking public debates on merit, transparency and leadership capability. It has become one of the ‘must’ questions in TV and social media debates, who holds what degree and whose credentials are fraudulent, linking back to the ongoing degree controversy surrounding Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Earlier, it was Tejashwi Yadav, the leader of the opposition and the RJD/Mahagathbandhan’s chief ministerial candidate, who was vehemently attacked by BJP leaders, taunting him as a '9th fail'. But the tables have turned, and now it is the senior BJP leader and Deputy Chief Minister in the Nitish Kumar-led NDA government who is being forced to defend his own educational qualifications and degree.

The row was reignited by political strategist and Jan Suraaj Party chief Prashant Kishor, who launched sharp attacks on figures like Tejashwi Yadav and Samrat Chaudhary, accusing them of inadequate or dubious credentials while ironically facing scrutiny over his own background. This has drawn in other stalwarts such as Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and RJD patriarch Lalu Prasad Yadav, with analyses from groups like the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) amplifying calls for greater accountability in Bihar's political arena.

Prashant Kishor has accused Yadav of lacking formal education, specifically labelling him a '9th fail', implying that Yadav failed or dropped out after the 9th grade. This jab is often tied to broader attacks on Yadav's capability to lead Bihar’s development, with Kishor arguing that someone without adequate education cannot effectively address complex issues like economic growth. For instance, Kishor has publicly stated that a '9th fail' individual whose parents held high political positions shows a disregard for education and is unfit to guide the state's progress, even questioning Yadav's understanding of basic concepts like GDP versus GDP growth.

In defence, Tejashwi Yadav has emphasised that formal education is not the sole measure of capability or success. He has highlighted his background in professional cricket, noting that he left formal studies to pursue a career in sports, where he played for teams like Delhi and Jharkhand in domestic cricket. Yadav has claimed that prominent players, including Virat Kohli, played under his captaincy during his time in age-group cricket, positioning this experience as a form of practical education in leadership and teamwork.

Additionally, Yadav has drawn comparisons to global figures like Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg and Dhirubhai Ambani, who achieved immense success despite limited formal schooling. He argues that 'gyaan aur shiksha alag cheez hai' (knowledge and formal education are different things), suggesting that real-world experience, wisdom and performance in governance matter more than academic degrees.

Yadav has also shifted focus to critiquing Bihar's education system under rival governments, pointing out systemic failures rather than personal shortcomings. This defence has drawn mixed reactions, with some praising his emphasis on merit beyond academics, while others have ridiculed the comparisons as overreaching.

The debate extends to Samrat Chaudhary, Bihar's Deputy Chief Minister and a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, with Prashant Kishor accusing him of dubious educational credentials. Kishor has questioned how Chaudhary could hold a D.Litt (Doctor of Letters, often honorary) degree from a university in California without even clarifying whether he completed Class 10.

This accusation implies potential fabrication or exaggeration of qualifications, especially in election affidavits and ties into broader claims of dishonesty in Chaudhary's political career, including name changes and legal issues. Chaudhary's father has defended him, slamming Kishor for these remarks and suggesting they are politically motivated ahead of Bihar's assembly elections. The issue has fuelled demands for transparency, with Kishor urging Chaudhary to publicly disclose his full educational records to resolve the doubts.

Ironically, Prashant Kishor, who has been vocal about others' qualifications, faced backlash when questioned about his own education. During a recent interview, Kishor became infuriated and abruptly walked out when pressed on his credentials, refusing to provide details on the spot. Critics have pointed out inconsistencies in his reported background, such as enrolling in but not completing degrees from institutions like Delhi University or an engineering programme in Hyderabad and unverified claims of a public health degree from Johns Hopkins University. Supporters, however, defend him by noting his professional experience, including work with the United Nations, arguing that such roles validate his expertise regardless of formal degrees. This incident has been labelled hypocritical by opponents, intensifying the overall debate on educational transparency in Bihar politics.

This multi-faceted controversy highlights the growing emphasis on educational qualifications in Bihar's political discourse, especially as the state approaches its 2025 assembly elections with figures like Kishor positioning themselves as reformers against established leaders.

Nitish Kumar, the current Chief Minister of Bihar and leader of the Janata Dal (United), holds a Bachelor of Engineering (BE) degree in Electrical Engineering. He graduated in 1972 from the Bihar College of Engineering, Patna, which is now known as the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Patna. This technical background has often been highlighted in his political career, particularly in relation to infrastructure and development initiatives in Bihar, contrasting with the ongoing debates about education in state politics.

Lalu Prasad Yadav, founder of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and former Chief Minister of Bihar, has a background in arts and law. He completed his matriculation in 1965 from Miller High School (now Devipad Choudhary Shaheed Smarak Ucchya Madhyamik Vidyalaya) in Patna. In 1966, he obtained an Intermediate in Arts (I.A.) from B.N. College, Patna University. He then earned a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) from Patna University, after which he worked briefly as a clerk at Bihar Veterinary College. Yadav completed his Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) in 1976 from Patna Law College. Despite his formal qualifications, Yadav has faced scrutiny over his governance style, but he often emphasises grassroots experience over academic credentials, similar to the defences made by his son Tejashwi.

The Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), in collaboration with Bihar Election Watch, released an analysis in October 2025 of the criminal, financial, educational, gender and other details of 241 out of 243 sitting Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) in Bihar, based on affidavits from the 2020 assembly elections and subsequent by-elections. This report, timed ahead of the 2025 Bihar assembly elections, provides insights into the educational profiles of current leaders, highlighting disparities that fuel ongoing political debates.

According to the latest media reports, in the first phase of the Bihar elections, both the NDA and the Mahagathbandhan alliances have given preference to highly educated candidates in their selection process. Around 62 per cent of the candidates fielded by both alliances hold a graduate or higher degree. Among them, about two dozen possess engineering or PhD qualifications.

Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary, along with two other candidates, holds a D.Litt degree. This information came to light from the affidavits submitted to the Election Commission along with the nomination papers. Seventeen candidates have LLB degrees, twelve have engineering degrees, twelve hold PhDs, five are MBBS graduates, three have MBAs, and two possess MPhil degrees.

Together, both major alliances have around eight per cent candidates who are non-matriculates. Among them, seven are literate but not formally educated, while about a dozen have studied only up to class seven, eight or nine. In total, among the candidates of both alliances, 24 have matriculation, 47 have intermediate, 66 have graduation and 28 have postgraduate degrees.