Dakshina Kannada District Expands Exam Centres for PU Final Examinations
The Dakshina Kannada district in Karnataka has significantly increased its preparation for the upcoming final II Pre-University (PU) examinations, which are scheduled to commence on February 28. Authorities have readied a total of 59 examination centres across the district, marking an increase of five centres compared to the previous year. This expansion is a direct response to the steady rise in the number of candidates, ensuring that all students have adequate facilities to take their exams.
Rising Student Numbers Drive Centre Expansion
Officials from the pre-university education department have confirmed that the increase from 54 centres in 2025 to 59 this year was necessitated by the prescribed cap on seating capacity. According to established norms, an examination centre typically cannot accommodate more than 500 students. To adhere to this guideline while managing the growing candidate pool, the administration proactively identified additional venues that meet the required criteria.
Jayanand Suvarna, principal of Government PU College in Shakti Nagar and president of the Dakshina Kannada Pre-University Colleges Principals' Association, provided details on the new centres. In Mangaluru, three new locations have been established at Jeppinamogaru, Bondel, and Yeyyadi. Additionally, two more centres have been set up in Moodbidri and Belthangady, further decentralizing the examination process to reduce overcrowding.
Challenges in Centre Selection and Infrastructure Concerns
Selecting appropriate centres for the II PU examinations has not been without its challenges. A department official highlighted that some colleges attempted to avoid being designated as examination centres by citing inadequate infrastructure. Interestingly, these same institutions reportedly conducted internal midterm and preparatory examinations without any issues. The official suggested that reluctance increased when external candidates were allocated to these colleges, indicating a possible preference for handling only their own students.
To address capacity constraints, Rajeshwari HH, deputy director of the Dakshina Kannada pre-university education department, explained that the department made exceptions in certain cases. In four or five major colleges, up to 1,000 candidates were permitted to write the exam, deviating from the usual 500 limit, as the necessary infrastructure was available. For other centres, the permitted strength remained at 500 or, in some instances, was increased to 750 to better manage the student influx.
Distribution of Centres and Student Statistics
The distribution of examination centres across the district reveals Mangaluru as the hub with the largest share, hosting 21 centres. This is followed by Belthangady with eight centres. Other areas include Bantwal and Moodubidire, each with six centres, while Puttur and Kadaba have five centres each. Ullal is allocated four centres, and Sullia and Mulki have two centres each.
Overall, the 59 centres in Dakshina Kannada comprise a diverse mix of educational institutions:
- 15 government colleges
- 22 aided colleges
- 22 unaided colleges
In terms of student enrollment, the district will see a total of 37,337 candidates appearing for the final II PU examinations. The breakdown by stream is as follows:
- Arts: 3,724 students
- Commerce: 15,504 students
- Science: 18,559 students
This data, sourced from the pre-university education department, underscores the significant scale of the examinations and the district's efforts to ensure a smooth and organized process for all participants.
