Karnataka hikes II PU exam fees by 50% after eight-year freeze

Students appearing for second-year pre-university examinations in Karnataka will now pay significantly more in fees, with the state government approving a 50% increase across examination, admission, and marks card charges effective this academic year.

The Department of Pre-University Education and the Karnataka State Examination and Assessment Board (KSEAB) had proposed the revision, which comes after fees remained unchanged since 2018. The hike affects students in both government and private colleges across the state.

Paper and printing costs drive fee revision

A KSEAB official explained that the proposal was first made two years ago but was delayed for various reasons. "The same fee has continued since 2018. Now that the paper and printing costs have increased, the fee had to go up too," the official said.

The admission fee for examinations has increased from ₹400 to ₹600, while the migration fee has risen from ₹480 to ₹720.

Repeaters face steeper charges

Students reappearing for examinations will bear a heavier burden. Repeaters must now pay ₹210 instead of ₹140 for one subject. For two subjects, the fee has increased from ₹270 to ₹405, and for three subjects, it has gone up from ₹400 to ₹600.

The practical examination fee has also increased from ₹110 to ₹165 for one subject. In a new addition, the department has introduced a ₹2,000 charge for II PU marks card verification for the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and for foreign universities.

Students from modest backgrounds express concern

Karthik M, studying at the Government PU college in Rajajinagar, said the increase would strain his family. "My father and mother are flower vendors and this hike is going to burden us," he said.

Likitha, a student at a private college in Vasanth Nagar, highlighted the compounding effect of the fee rise. "My father is a private bus driver and my mother is a homemaker. Amidst financial constraints, they have admitted me to private college where my fee is ₹95,000 per year. Increasing exam fee, marks card fee by almost 50% is burden to my parents," she said.

She added that private college students face additional difficulties in seeking relief. "As private college student, I cannot even oppose or request the administration to wait until I pay the fee," Likitha said.

Lecturers demand evaluation fee increase

Meanwhile, there is demand from lecturers to increase evaluation fees. A.H. Ningegowda, President of the PU Lecturers Association, said the remuneration for evaluating answer scripts has remained stagnant. "The salary for evaluation depends on the number of papers evaluated. For one answer script evaluation, it is ₹36, which has remained the same for five years," he said.

Ningegowda also pointed to payment delays. "Lecturers across the State have not received a single penny of the second round of exam paper evaluation of II PU exams conducted recently," he said.

Source: The Hindu