Karnataka minister appears for Master's exam

Karnataka's Health and Family Welfare Minister U.T. Khader on Tuesday appeared for his Master of Arts (M.A.) examination in English at Austin College here in the state capital.

"Though I am a B.A., LL.B. from Mangalore University and have practical experience through public life as a politician and lawmaker, I wanted knowledge in subjects of my interest such as public administration, politics and governance," Khader told IANS after writing the first of the five papers for his Master's.

The 45-year-old Congress legislator from Ullal assembly segment near Mangaluru, about 360 km from here, enrolled as a student of the Karnataka State Open University in 2014 for post-graduation in public administration, 19 years after graduating in arts and law in 1996.

"I am keen on doing post-graduation in subjects that would widen my general knowledge and keep me abreast of the latest information in the field I have been involved over the last two decades," Khader said.

Like other students of an open university, Khader paid Rs.5,600 as fee for the two-year course and Rs.1,400 to write the first set of five papers.

"As I will be busy with the ensuing gram panchayat polls in my constituency next week, I may have to skip the other papers, as their dates are clashing with poll dates (May 29 and June 1)," he said.

"I will appear for them during the supplementary exams in the next six months with the university's permission," Khader said.

Admitting that he could not devote enough time to study the course material due to his occupation as a minister, Khader said he had, however, prepared for the exams by reading the subject text books thoroughly over the last five-six days.

"I have done well and am confident of getting through the papers. More than passing or failing, acquiring as much knowledge as possible is important," he said.