To simplify the verification of documents of candidates seeking reservation under the rural quota and Kannada medium quota in the Common Entrance Test (CET), and other recruitment examinations, the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) has decided to obtain Rural Certificates and Kannada Medium Certificates in digital form.

The move is also aimed at preventing creation of fake certificates.

Request submitted

KEA has submitted a request to the Department of School Education and Literacy (DSEL) to distribute these certificates to candidates in digital form.

The KEA, which conducts the CET for admission to various professional courses, including engineering, allocates seats to more than 2.5 lakh students every year, and through NEET counselling, to over 50,000 medical and related courses.

In addition, it conducts entrance tests for admission to residential schools run by the Social Welfare Department and the Backward Classes Welfare Department, and distributes thousands of seats.

It also conducts recruitment exams for various government departments, and fills thousands of vacancies every year.

It is mandatory for candidates seeking reservation under Rural quota and Kannada medium quota to submit relevant certificates. These certificates confirm that the candidates have studied in rural areas from classes 1 to 10, and in Kannada medium. Candidates obtain physical certificates attested by the head master of schools, and the Block Education Officer (BEO), scan them and upload them to the KEA portal.

KEA sends these documents to the department concerned for verification, during which it has been noticed that some candidates are submitting fake certificates.

The KEA already receives the caste and income certificates, and Aadhaar card of candidates in digital form. In addition, from the current academic year, the DSEL is distributing mark sheets, and Transfer Certificates (TCs) to SSLC and II PUC students in digital format.

Aimed at preventing malpractice

Prasanna H., Executive Director, KEA, told The Hindu, “Most of the documents of candidates applying for admission to professional courses and various recruitments are being obtained in digital form. This has effectively prevented fake certificates. It is also easy to verify the authenticity of digital certificates. Therefore, we have submitted a proposal to the DSEL to issue rural and Kannada medium certificates in digital form. If the department takes immediate action, we will also make the necessary modifications in the KEA portal.”