Hold Central govt job exams in Kannada & not just in English, Hindi: Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah to write to PM Modi

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah Wednesday said he would write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to pitch for holding competitive examinations for Central government jobs in Kannada. He said it is not possible to conduct them in Hindi or English alone. In his address on the occasion of 68th Karnataka Rajyotsava, at Kanteerava Stadium, Siddaramaiah said he would write to PM Modi to take a relook at the medium of language for these exams. “Shivaji Nagar MLA Rizwan Arshad has rightly said that the Central government conducts the exams only in Hindi and English. We need to oppose it,” he said. According to him, it is not possible to hold the competitive exams in Hindi and English alone. “Our children will write the exams in the language they know. I will request our Prime Minister to take a relook (at the mode of language),” Siddaramaiah said. The Chief Minister also noted that only government schools have Kannada as the medium of instruction and not private schools and lamented there was a “misconception among people that those studying in private English medium school alone were talented and secure a decent job.” Siddaramaiah also pointed out that the state produced many eminent scientists who studied in the Kannada medium. “The Supreme Court has said that parents have the right to get their child educated in the medium of instruction of their choice…,” the Karnataka CM added. Siddaramaiah also emphasised the need to upgrade government schools so that the students studying there receive quality education. In this regard, he felt the need to make Kannada compulsory till 10th standard in Karnataka. The Chief Minister announced free electricity and water for government schools from Wednesday onwards to improve their condition. With inputs from PTI