Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Mar 20: State home minister G Parameshwara has raised concerns over the low representation of Dakshina Kannada (DK) candidates in police recruitment.
"Whenever we announce recruitment for constables, 90% of the applications come from Gulbarga, Raichur, and other areas, and these applicants are selected. In contrast, less than 10% of locals from Mangaluru and Dakshina Kannada apply," he stated.
He further pointed out that after serving in Mangaluru for seven years, many officers request transfers to their hometowns. "If we grant all these requests, there will be no police personnel left in Mangaluru, as the station will be empty," he added.
The minister raised this issue during a session, emphasizing the recruitment challenges specific to Mangaluru.
Despite 15,275 candidates from Dakshina Kannada (DK) and Udupi applying for police recruitment over the past three years, only 78 were selected, accounting for just 0.51% of applicants. According to Karnataka State Police recruitment data for Civil Police Constable (CPC) and Armed Police Constable (APC) positions, only 9.57% of the 815 selected candidates were from these two coastal districts. In contrast, 737 candidates (90.43%) from other districts secured police jobs.
Earlier, Legislative Council member Kishore Kumar Puttur had expressed concerns over declining local representation in police recruitment. He highlighted that over the past five years, the number of recruits from Dakshina Kannada and Udupi has remained below 10%. Data from recruitment notifications issued on May 21, 2021 (8,539 applicants), September 12, 2022 (3,937 applicants), and October 10, 2022, showed that while 2,799 applicants from these two districts applied, the selection rate remained disproportionately low. Notably, no candidates from these districts were selected in 2023.
The recruitment process includes a Physical Standard Test (PST), Physical Efficiency Test (PET), and a written examination. Candidates who fail the physical tests or score low in the written examination do not qualify for selection. A significant factor contributing to the low selection rate is the lack of pre-recruitment training among local candidates.
Many parents in coastal Karnataka prioritize careers in medicine, engineering, and IT over law enforcement, aiming for high-paying white-collar jobs. Consequently, fewer aspirants from the region pursue careers in police services, civil services (IAS, IPS, IRS, IFS), the armed forces, or even public sector transport roles.
Kishore Kumar Puttur also announced plans to write to the home minister, urging the government to introduce necessary facilities and incentives to encourage local participation in police recruitment. He emphasized the need for pre-recruitment training to help local candidates meet the required standards in physical and written tests.