St. Agnes College Students Protest Exam Schedule During Dussehra

Undergraduate students from St. Agnes College in Mangaluru staged a protest against their semester exams scheduled during the Dussehra festival. The students argue that the exam dates, set from October 12 to October 28, conflict with traditional celebrations, forcing them to choose between academics and festivities. They have sought support from the Deputy Commissioner of Dakshina Kannada, but no changes have been made to the schedule. The protests, supported by the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), continue as exams proceed on campus, raising concerns among students about potential academic setbacks.

By Ambika Singh Oct 13, 2026, 08:32 IST

Protest Against Exam Dates

On Monday, a group of undergraduate students from St. Agnes College in Mangaluru organized a protest outside their institution, refusing to take their scheduled exams. The students are voicing their concerns over the exam dates, which coincide with the Dussehra festival.

Students' Concerns

In Mangaluru, Karnataka, students have raised objections to the college's decision to hold semester exams during the Dussehra holidays. Many students gathered outside the college premises to express their dissatisfaction and boycott the exams. They argue that the exam schedule, set from October 12 to October 28, conflicts with the Dussehra celebrations, hindering their ability to partake in traditional festivities. In an effort to seek a resolution, they have approached the Deputy Commissioner of Dakshina Kannada, but no changes to the exam schedule have been announced yet.

Support from ABVP

The protesting students received backing from the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), who joined them in presenting their demands to the Deputy Commissioner. The students are urging a reconsideration of the exam schedule that overlaps with Dussehra, as they feel compelled to choose between their academic responsibilities and cultural celebrations. As of now, there has been no official response from the college administration regarding their requests.

Exams Proceed Despite Protests

While the protests unfolded outside, the college continued with the examinations as planned. Students who opted to take the exams entered the campus and completed their papers, while those boycotting remained outside in protest. Despite police efforts to mediate and disperse the crowd, the demonstration persisted. Students who chose not to participate in the exams are now worried about the implications for their academic progress, especially with the semester exams scheduled to run until October 28. They continue to call for intervention from the Deputy Commissioner.