Mangaluru: NEET-UG was held smoothly across Dakshina Kannada Sunday under tighter security and stricter entry procedures than last year. A total of 8,323 students out of 8,587 registered appeared for the test held in 18 centres in the district.Most centres were in govt and aided colleges. Despite harsh weather, candidates, parents and guardians turned up from late morning.At St Agnes College, candidates arrived as early as 11 am. Entry was allowed only after verification of the admit cards. Similar arrangements were in place at Govt PU College for Women in Balmatta, St Aloysius PU College and St Aloysius (deemed to be university), where officials monitored entry and orderly movement of students.Candidates travelled from Moodubidire, Belthangady, Puttur and neighbouring Kerala. Authorities and support staff managed crowds outside centres, helping the test begin on time without disruption.Traffic congestion was reported in parts of the city and on its outskirts, attributed to the examination and major functions Sunday.MA Khan, vice-chancellor of Karnatak University, Dharwad, who came to drop his daughter at a centre, said the pattern had changed this year: more statement-based, assertion-reason and conceptual questions across subjects, and all 180 questions compulsory, with section A/section B and optional questions removed.Students appeared aware of the revised pattern and increased difficulty this year. One candidate, revising until the last minute, said many aspirants prepared more thoroughly after last year’s difficult paper and that the tougher previous examination prompted him to study more seriously this time. The process in Mangaluru remained orderly, with strong attendance and enhanced security.
