Kalaburagi, August 9, 2025: The psychometric and technical online employability assessment for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) graduates under the Nipun Karnataka programme was successfully conducted at Shetty Institute of Technology, off Kalaburagi–Shahabad Road. More than 500 candidates participated in the test.
Deputy Commissioner B. Fouzia Taranum and Kalaburagi Mayor Varsha Jane visited the venue to oversee the assessment process. Joint Director of the District Industries Centre Abdul Azeem, District Skill Development Officer Nagubai, Kiran Deshmukh, and Shiba Mehta were also present. Additional Deputy Commissioner Rayappa Hunasagi, Assistant Commissioner Prabhu Reddy and Kalaburagi Tahsildar Anandasheela supervised the arrangements to ensure smooth conduct of the test.
The test, managed by Unstop, was organised by the Department of Information Technology and Biotechnology and the Karnataka Skill Development Corporation to address the growing gap between education and employment in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.
This pilot project, being implemented for the first time in Karnataka, targets 2,500 STEM graduates shortlisted from among 10,000 candidates who had participated in the mega job fair held in Kalaburagi in April this year.
“Over 1,700 students have already registered and around 500 participated on the first day. Each student will receive a scorecard highlighting areas that need improvement. We will provide targeted assistance to strengthen those skills and make our graduates truly employable. Industry partners are also being engaged to train and recruit candidates,” said DC Fouzia Taranum.
The initiative is spearheaded by Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, IT & BT, and Kalaburagi district in-charge Priyank Kharge, Medical Education and Skill Development Minister Sharan Prakash Patil, and Kalaburagi MP Radhakrishna Doddamani.
The 90-minute test evaluated aptitude, communication skills, digital literacy, and behavioural readiness. According to organisers, this approach will not only enhance student employability but also help employers access job-ready talent and enable educational institutions to align training with industry requirements.
