Karnataka police exam disrupted by OMR-paper mismatch

Protests and confusion over examination procedures disrupted a police recruitment test in Karnataka's Vijayapura district on Sunday, August 2, 2026, leading to a walkout by dozens of candidates and a subsequent clarification from state authorities. The incident occurred at the Sharadamba PU College examination centre in Tikota during the written test for Civil Police Constable posts conducted by the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA).

Candidates staged a protest outside the centre, alleging irregularities in the handling of question papers and OMR answer sheets. They claimed the distribution, scheduled for 10:30 a.m., was delayed by nearly 30 minutes and that the procedure varied between classrooms, causing confusion. The primary grievance, however, centered on a perceived mismatch between the serial numbers printed on the OMR sheets and those on the question papers. Many candidates refused to continue the exam, fearing their answers would not be evaluated correctly, and demanded a re-examination. Some protesters attempted to re-enter the campus by pushing the gates after leaving, but police intervened and controlled the situation.

District officials, including Deputy...