Mangaluru (TNN): Dakshina Kannada witnessed a smooth start to the Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) examinations on Friday. The Kannada language exam was held across 98 centres in the district.

DR Naik, DDPI, Dakshina Kannada, said that 28,506 candidates, including 27,996 freshers, had registered for the Kannada examination. Among them, 244 candidates, including 189 freshers, remained absent. Naik added that no case of malpractice was reported from any place. "The first day went off smoothly without any glitches. The second examination will be held on Monday,” he said.

In order to check the arrangements at the examination centres, Zilla Panchayat CEO Kumar visited an exam centre in Mani, Puttur.

On many fresh candidates remaining absent, a senior official said that many of the fresh candidates who remained absent were chronic absentees. “They register for the examination but never show up to take the admission ticket or write the examination,” the official said.

In Dakshina Kannada district, a total of 29,572 candidates, including 28,705 fresh ones, have registered for the SSLC examinations.

In Udupi district, as many as 13,235 students appeared for the exam held in 55 centres while 75 students remained absent. Deputy Commissioner Kurma Rao M visited an examination centre at Board High School to check the arrangements in place.