Sat Mar 01 16:35:45 UTC 2025: ## Smooth Start to Karnataka II PUC Exams Despite Absences
**Bengaluru, March 1, 2025** – The first annual examination for Karnataka’s Second Pre-University Course (II PUC) students commenced smoothly on Saturday, with no reported irregularities across the state’s 1,171 examination centers. However, a significant number of students were absent.
Of the 528,600 registered candidates, 17,184 were absent for the Kannada and Arabic exams. Vijayapura district recorded the highest number of absentees (1,358), followed by Kalaburagi (1,218) and Raichur (1,186). Udupi (38) and Kodagu (77) had the lowest absentee rates.
School Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa visited several examination centers in Bengaluru and Mandya, wishing students well and observing the webcasting of the exams. He presented students with red roses.
A total of 713,862 students registered for the exams this year, comprising 335,468 boys, 378,389 girls, and 5 transgender students. As a preventative measure against malpractice, photocopy shops near examination centers were closed. The Karnataka School Examination and Assessment Board issued a warning against spreading misinformation regarding question paper leaks or rumors on social media.
First Piper 