Mangaluru: The test centre for students from undivided Dakshina Kannada has been relocated to Bengaluru for the PG-CET, scheduled on June 14, due to an inadequate number of registered candidates. Officials from the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) stated that only about 400 students from coastal districts registered, whereas a minimum of 1,000 candidates is required to establish an examination centre. Despite having a centre in the district last year and the year before, aspirants now must travel to Bengaluru. A total of 30,542 candidates for MBA and 22,262 for MCA will take the PG-CET across the state, which this year has centres in four districts.
Reason for the Shift
A KEA spokesperson explained that Dakshina Kannada, which typically saw a good number of PGCET applicants, received fewer than 400 applications this time. The entrance test is for MBA and MCA courses. “We expect at least 1,000 students to be registered to have examination centres in each district. However, as numbers are less than half of the requirement, we decided to shift centres to Bengaluru. In fact, it was communicated during the registration itself. The Bengaluru centre for candidates from Dakshina Kannada is chosen as it has good connectivity by both rail and road, and is convenient for them to appear,” said the spokesperson.
Impact on Other Districts
He also added that in other districts with fewer applications, centres have been shifted to nearby locations. For example, candidates from Shivamogga will appear for the PG-CET in Davanagere. Sources from KEA also noted that there are no takers for seats allocated through PGCET.
Student Inconvenience
Students from Dakshina Kannada appearing for the test expressed that traveling to Bengaluru is inconvenient. “It would have been better if the exam centre was in Mangaluru itself. We are already in between ongoing final-year UG semester examinations, and travelling so far to appear for the test will be expensive as well as take up a lot of time,” said an aspirant.
College Management Concerns
Heads of college managements added that shifting the test centre far away may discourage many candidates from taking the test. “We may likely see a lot of absentees on the exam day,” said a government first grade college principal.
