Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (NJC)
Mangaluru, Feb 19: A total of 37,337 candidates, including 18,745 boys and 18,592 girls, are set to appear for the upcoming II PUC exams across 59 centres in Dakshina Kannada (DK) district. Providing details at a press conference held at the Zilla Panchayat office on Wednesday, deputy commissioner Darshan H V outlined the extensive arrangements made for the smooth conduct of the examinations.
The 59 examination centres include 15 government, 22 aided, and 22 unaided private colleges. Taluk-wise distribution of centres is as follows: Mangaluru (21), Bantwal (6), Beltangady (8), Puttur (5), Sullia (2), Kadaba (5), Moodbidri (6), Ullal (4), and Mulki (2).
The science stream saw the highest number of registrations in the district, with 18,559 candidates, including 8,983 boys and 9,576 girls. This includes 18,401 regular students and 158 repeaters. In the commerce stream, 15,054 candidates have registered, including 8,085 boys and 6,969 girls. This includes 988 private candidates and 207 repeaters. A total of 3,724 candidates have registered under the arts stream, including 1,677 boys and 2,047 girls, comprising 3,326 regular students, 92 repeaters, and 306 private candidates.
To ensure the safe transport of question papers, 16 routes have been identified, each monitored by a three-member committee. GPS tracking and vehicle facilities have been provided for the district vigilance squads. Biometric attendance has been mandated for all officials and staff involved in exam duties. Furthermore, 24x7 CCTV surveillance has been installed inside and outside the treasuries to monitor the movement of confidential materials, the DC stated.
The II PUC examinations will be held from February 28 to March 17, 2026, and a prohibitory zone of 200 metres will be enforced around all examination centres. Free travel for students in government buses has been arranged, and MESCOM has been directed to ensure uninterrupted power supply during the examination period.
The deputy commissioner also shared details regarding the SSLC examinations scheduled to begin on March 18. A total of 29,397 candidates from 524 high schools have registered, including 27,633 regular students, 979 private candidates, 632 regular repeaters, and 153 private repeaters. The SSLC exams will be conducted at 91 centres, comprising 22 cluster and 38 non-cluster locations. Approximately 1,265 rooms have been prepared, with a seating capacity of 24 students per room.
Each centre will have a chief superintendent, a custodian, and a local vigilance officer. Centres with more than 350 students will be assigned an additional deputy chief superintendent, the DC added. He emphasized that special arrangements, including ground-floor seating, would be provided for differently-abled students. Students have already undergone two preparatory exams, with a third final preparatory test scheduled for February 23.
Zilla panchayat CEO Vinayak Narvade, superintendent of police Dr Arun, DDPI Shashidhar G S, and DDPU Rajeshwari were present at the press conference.