Karnataka extends civil services cash prize to all Kannadigas

To increase success rates of Kannadigas in central services and to motivate more of them to take up the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) exams, the state government has planned to dole out more rewards.

The reward, which was confined to candidates from Kannada medium, has now been extended to all academic mediums in the state. It will cover those who emerge successful from Karnataka in IAS, IPS, IFS, and IRS services.

Govind Karjol, minister for Kannada and culture, said, “With a view to encourage Kannadigas to take up competitive exams, the state has decided to award cash prize of Rs1 lakh.”

After BJP came to power in the state, it had announced Rs50,000 cash prize for successful candidates. Though every year, more than 25 students from the state emerge successful in central services, in the last two years, however, not a single student was found to be from Kannada medium.

“In 2010-11, however, one student from Dharwad, Somanna, was successful in IRS and was awarded Rs50,000. Now, we have liberalised the rule and decided to reward all Kannadigas who got through in central services. Students may utilise this amount for training,” said Karjol.

According to Upendra Shetty, head of Universal Coaching Centre, “The state government’s initiative of awarding Rs1 lakh is really attractive, and it will definitely motivate students to take the exams. It will be more beneficial for rural students,” he said.

Every year, 350 t0 400 students take the UPSC main exams. However, only 30- 35 students emerge successful. “The success rate is now around 10%. However now, given the state government’s efforts, it may go up further,” he added.

“Most of them wanted to take up competitive exams in Kannada medium. But owing to the non-availability of materials in Kannada, they opt for English medium,” Shetty said.