Bengaluru, Oct 4 : Seeking divine intervention in trying times is not unusual and cracking an examination could be one of those.

However, the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences in Karnataka has not taken kindly to students making godly pleadings on answer sheets.

With quite a few examinees writing 'Om', a sacred symbol in Hinduism, or the names of Gods before attempting to answer questions, the university has in a circular to all affiliated colleges called it an examination malpractice.

The first among the eight "don'ts" mentioned in the October 1 circular issued by Registrar (Evaluation) Dr M K Ramesh is the direction on the mention of the names of Gods.

"Do not write any word/sentence - starting from page 03 like names of Gods of your faith etc.," reads the first "don't".

Writing one's name, PTO at the end of a page, irrelevant messages, numbers or sentences, signs, symbols, letter or word and tampering with answer books would also be construed as revealing the identity of the examinee and will be treated as a malpractice, it says.

Sandhya Avadhani, deputy director (pre-exam), at the university said some students try to reveal their identity to the evaluators.

"These directions have been issued to ensure the identity of students taking an exam is not revealed to evaluators," she said.

Avadhani said some examinees might be doing it unintentionally but many resort to it with the intention that when they approach an evaluator for more marks they could identify them with those signs and symbols. "It's an indication indirectly," she said.

The university official said such instructions have already been in place and the circular is only a reiteration so the students, invigilators and college managements know these exist.

"From time to time we need to keep telling people because each year new students join," said Avadhani.

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Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Tuesday said he, along with Ministers H K Patil and M B Patil, will discuss with MPs from the state on pending approvals for the state's irrigation projects.

Speaking to reporters at Kempegowda International Airport before leaving for Delhi, he said the Centre has kept clearances for several irrigation projects pending.

"The Central government has kept approvals pending for the state's irrigation projects. Therefore, H K Patil, M B Patil and I will meet all the MPs from Karnataka and hold discussions," Shivakumar said.

He added that the outcome of the deliberations would be shared later and that a collective effort would be made to press the Centre to take a decision.

"We will inform you about the details of the discussions after we return. We will collectively urge the central government to decide on irrigation issues," he said.