Karnataka (Govt.) Polytechnic, Mangalore was started in the year 1946 under the erstwhile Madras state government in a rented building at Pandeshwar. The polytechnic started functioning at its present campus in Kadri Hills, Mangalore from 1954. At the time of starting there were four main diploma courses of three years duration in Civil engineering, Mechanical engineering, Electrical engineering and Automobile engineering. The diploma courses in Chemical engineering, Polymer technology, Electronics and Communication and Computer Science were added to the existing courses later. Institution focuses on the overall development of the students by encouraging them to participate in extracurricular activities like NCC, NSS, and Sports. The training will be in a Conductive environment of safety and care to take and by a set of qualified, dedicated staff who are keen on professional development and responsive to change. It also provides opportunity and leadership in continuing education to adults in the field of technician education by the way of a Continuing Education Cell, at reasonable charges.