Bengaluru, April 8 – Often hailed as the Knowledge Capital, Science Hub, and India’s Silicon Valley, Bengaluru surprisingly failed to make the top 10 list in the science stream of the Karnataka II Pre-University (PU) exam results announced on Tuesday. Despite the city’s abundance of premier educational institutions, STEM exposure, and coaching centers, not a single student from the city made it to the top science scorers this year.
Adding to the concern, Bengaluru had just one student in the arts stream top 10 and two in commerce, raising questions about the city’s academic focus and educational environment in recent years.
Rural Karnataka Takes the Lead
While Bengaluru faltered, districts like Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, and Shivamogga dominated the science and commerce rankings. Vijayanagara district emerged victorious in the arts stream, highlighting a clear shift in academic dominance to the state’s rural and semi-urban areas.
Educationists and PU lecturers offered insights into this changing trend. AH Ningegowda from the Karnataka State PU College Lecturers’ Association pointed out that exam and paper randomization could have impacted urban toppers this year. A lecturer from a government PU college in Bengaluru echoed this view, saying distractions are higher in the city.
Bengaluru’s Saving Grace: Arts and Commerce
While the science stream drew a blank, three Bengaluru students brought some cheer:
KR Shri Jeya Darshini of Maharani Lakshmi Ammanni College for Women, Malleswaram, stood third in the arts stream with an impressive 595 out of 600.
In the commerce stream, Pratheeksha P from ASC PU College, Rajajinagar, bagged fifth place with 597 marks.
Amruthavarshini S followed closely with 596, securing the eighth position.
A Shocking Statistic: 90 Private PU Colleges Report Zero Pass Rate
In a worrying revelation, 90 private colleges across Karnataka reported zero student pass rates in this year’s PU board exams. In contrast, only 33 government, aided, and KREIS-run colleges recorded no passes. The state’s Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa called the figure “shocking” and promised corrective action.
“The department is evaluating how we can better guide private colleges and support them,” Bangarappa said. He also mentioned efforts to streamline the Student Achievement Tracking System (SATS) to identify and rectify systemic flaws.
KREIS Residential Schools Show the Way
In a refreshing contrast, Karnataka Residential Educational Institutions Society (KREIS) schools topped the pass percentage charts, despite having the lowest number of candidates appear for the exams. An impressive 86.2% of 8,929 students passed, with over 50% securing distinction or first class.
Streaming Details: Where to Check Karnataka PU Results 2025
Students and parents can check the full Karnataka II PU 2025 results and rankings via the official channels:
Official Website: https://karresults.nic.in
Mobile Apps: ‘Karnataka Results’ app (available on Android and iOS)
SMS Service: Type ‘KAR12 <Registration Number>’ and send it to 56263
