Kamal Ghorui
The Karnataka School Examination and Assessment Board (KSEAB) will begin the Pre-University Certificate (PUC) II examinations 2026 from February 28. The exams will start with Kannada and Arabic papers on the first day and will continue till March 17, 2026.This year, a total of 7,10,363 students from 5,174 Pre-University colleges have registered for the Class 12 board examinations. Among them, 2,92,645 students are from the science stream, 2,11,174 students from commerce, and 1,42,982 students from the arts stream. The examinations will be conducted across 1,217 centres in Karnataka.
Passing criteria relaxed
In a major relief to students, the board has relaxed the passing criteria. The minimum qualifying marks for PUC II have been reduced from 35 per cent to 30 per cent for the 2026 examinations.
Warning against fake question papers
The Karnataka government has also announced strict monitoring measures to prevent the circulation of fake question papers on social media. Recently, fake PU II question papers were shared online, creating confusion among students. Clarifying the issue, Prakash Nittali, president of KSEAB, confirmed that the circulating paper was fake and stated that a complaint will be filed with the cyber police.
Social media monitoring during exams
To further strengthen exam security, the School Education and Literacy Department has said that social media platforms will be closely monitored during both Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) and PUC examinations.
Free bus travel for students
To help students reach exam centres without difficulty, the state government has announced free bus travel for Class 10 and Class 12 students on exam days. Students can avail the facility by showing their hall tickets on Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation and Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation buses. Free travel will also be arranged in private buses in the coastal and Malnad regions.Meanwhile, the Karnataka SSLC examinations 2026 will begin on March 18 with the first language paper. This year, 9,02,889 students will appear for the Class 10 exams, including 8,12,855 fresh candidates, 62,845 repeaters, and 27,189 private candidates.Students are advised to rely only on official updates issued by Karnataka School Examination and Assessment Board and avoid unverified information circulating on social media.
