Mysuru: Four UPSC Civil Services Exam rank holders from the district, who are set to become IAS officers, were felicitated at a function organised at the Institution of Engineers-India (IEI), Mysuru Local Centre, JLB Road in city yesterday.

B.M. Santosh, an Engineering graduate from T. Narasipur and Kempahonnaiah, a specially-abled Kannada lecturer serving at a Government PU College in city were felicitated, while the parents of Dr. Nimish, an MBBS graduate from city and Trinetra of Nanjangud, were honoured as the two could not attend.

Speaking on the occasion, former MP A.H. Vishwanath said that it was happy to note that four candidates from the district were successful in clearing the UPSC Civil Services Exam this year.

Pointing out that the performance of Kempahonnaiah, a visually-challenged candidate could inspire hundreds of students, Vishwanath said that he would appeal Chief Minister Siddharamaiah to prevail upon the Prime Minister to allot Karnataka Cadre to Kempahonnaiah so that his services are available to his Home State.

Former University of Mysore Vice-Chancellor Prof. K.S. Rangappa, who was the guest of honour, said that efforts must be made to ensure that more Kannadigas are successful in the Civil Services Exam.

Underling the need for prioritising higher education and indigenous research in the country, Prof. Rangappa called upon the Civil Services rank holders to serve the country to the best of their ability.

IEI Mysuru Chairman M. Chinnaswamy, Mysuru District Journalists Association (MDJA) President K. Deepak and others were present during the programme.