Chennai:
The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly on Tuesday passed a resolution in agreement asking the government at the center to stop using the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) for students who want to study medicine at the level. The resolution wants the state to admit students based on their marks from the Class 12 board exams.
The resolution was proposed by Health, Medical Education and Family Welfare Minister K.G. Arunraj. He said that Tamil Nadu has always been against this entrance exam.
Why Tamil Nadu Wants to End NEET
When the minister introduced the resolution in the house he said that NEET has made it harder for people from social and economic backgrounds to get into medical school. He added that it has made the old system of admission based on school grades less important. He explained that the issue is not about how the entrance exam works. It is about fairness and the rights of states to make their rules.
The resolution lists reasons for wanting to stop NEET. These include problems with how the exam’s run, the fast growth of expensive places where students get help to prepare and some students who have died because of the stress of the exam. It said that students from areas those who speak Tamil and those from poor families suffer the most because they do not have access to expensive help.
What the Resolution Asks For
The resolution specifically asks the state to be allowed to fill its seats for MBBS, BDS and AYUSH courses based on Class 12 grades of NEET scores. It also wants the government to move education from the list of things that both the state and central governments control to the list of things only the state controls. This would let states make their rules for admissions that fit their needs.
To do this the resolution asks the government to change some laws. These include the National Medical Commission Act, 2019 the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine Act, 2020 the National Commission for Homoeopathy Act 2020 and other similar laws.
BJP Leaves During the Debate
Members from the DMK AIADMK, Congress, PMK and Left parties including the CPI and CPI(M) supported the resolution during the discussion. A BJP MLA named M. Bhojarajan did not. Left before the vote happened.
Minister Arunraj also said that not doing well on NEET should not be seen as a sign that a student’s not smart. He called for help for students who are struggling with the pressure of the exam.
Tamil Nadus Past Fight Against NEET
This is not the time that Tamil Nadu has tried to stop using NEET. The state had passed a law called the Tamil Nadu Admission to Undergraduate Medical Degree Courses Bill, 2021. It asked for an exception to NEET. Wanted to use Class 12 grades instead. However the president did not agree to this law. Then the state government took the decision to court saying it was not fair.
The new resolution brings back Tamil Nadus demand. Does not change the current laws. NEET is still needed for admissions, in the country unless the central laws are changed.
