SSLC exam to be held; schools in Karnataka to re-open after Aug: Minister
Bengaluru: A decision on reopening schools in Karnataka would be taken after August but class X board exams would be held on June 25 as per the recent schedule announced by the state government, Minister for Primary and Secondary Education S Suresh Kumar said on Tuesday.
Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry have canceled the class X exams and decided to promote the candidates to the next level because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
On the re-opening of schools in Karnataka, Suresh Kumar said, "At the most, we may decide after August in this regard (about opening the schools). In our cabinet meeting too, we shall discuss it and then take a call."
The Minister made these announcements while speaking to reporters in Udupi.
Clarifying that there is neither an intention nor a decision to re-open the schools at this juncture, Kumar said even if the state government wishes so, it would be done in a phased manner - High school first, then middle school or higher primary school.
"We will keep everyone's interest in mind before taking a decision," he said.
Regarding the SSLC examination, the minister said, "After deliberating with many experts, we kept the interest of children in mind and are holding the examination taking all precautions."
He added that the issue of holding the SSLC examination was discussed in the High Court as well.
Kumar said the Human Resource Development Ministry and Ministry of Home Affairs have given green signal to hold the exam.
He appealed to the people not to create any confusion among children about the examination when they are seriously preparing for it.
The examination was supposed to take place on March 27 and was put on hold due to coronavirus lockdown, and it was decided it would be conducted on June 25.
In the meanwhile, many schools insisted to reopen and start the classes.
There were reports of a good number of schools conducting online classes.
Opportunity in Supplementary Examination:
Minister Suresh Kumar said that if the students in the Containment Zones are not able to take appear for the exam from June 25, they will be allowed to write the exam as Fresh Candidate in the Supplementary Examination.
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Body of UP man killed in Riyadh missile attack brought to native village
Sitapur (UP) (PTI): The mortal remains of a 26-year-old man from Uttar Pradesh, who was killed in a suspected missile attack in Riyadh earlier this month, was brought to his native village in Sitapur on Wednesday, his family members said.
Ravi Gopal, a resident of Baghain village under Mahmudabad police station limits, had been working as a driver in a plastic factory in the Saudi capital since September 2025. He was killed on the night of March 18 in what his family described as a missile strike near his workplace.
His elder brother, Manmohan Dayal, told PTI that the mortal remains were handed over to him in Lucknow on Wednesday morning with the help of the administration.
"The body was received around 9.30 am. We are now taking it to our village in an ambulance and expect to reach by noon," he said earlier this morning.
"The cremation will be held today and preparations are already underway in the village," he said.
Dayal said Rakesh Kumar, Naib Tehsildar from Mahmudabad, has been deputed to facilitate the process and was accompanying the convoy.
He added that the family had been informed earlier by embassy officials and the local administration that the body would be flown from Riyadh to Lucknow, arriving on Wednesday morning.
Earlier, the family had claimed that Ravi died after being buried under debris following a missile strike near the factory where he worked. He was later taken to a hospital where doctors declared him dead.
The Ministry of External Affairs had said it received information on March 18 regarding the "tragic demise of an Indian national" in Riyadh and expressed condolences to the bereaved family. The Indian Mission in Riyadh coordinated with local authorities to facilitate the repatriation of the body.
Ravi, the sole breadwinner of his family, is survived by his wife and a four-year-old son. The family has sought compensation and assistance from the administration.
Officials said the district administration remained in touch with the family to ensure smooth completion of formalities.
