Centre Rejects Tamil Nadu’s Anti-NEET Bill: Stalin’s Reaction

A Blow for Tamil Nadu

CHENNAI: The Central government has turned down Tamil Nadu’s assembly resolution to be exempted from the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). Chief Minister MK Stalin announced this setback on Friday. Despite providing necessary clarifications, the Union government rejected the plea for NEET exemption.

Stalin’s Appeal to PM Modi

• Last year, Stalin wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requesting him to exempt the state from NEET for medical college admissions.
• Stalin proposed using Class 12 marks as the sole criterion for professional course admissions, arguing that it would alleviate unnecessary stress on students.

The NEET Debacle

The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) UG 2024 was embroiled in controversy last year due to allegations of question paper leaks, the awarding of “grace marks,” and other systemic concerns. These issues sparked legal battles that lasted for nearly two months.

Supreme Court’s Decision

• On July 23, the Supreme Court announced its verdict on the NEET case, dismissing petitions seeking the cancellation and re-conduct of the exam.
• The court concluded that there was no systemic failure in the NEET UG 2024 process.
• Following the Supreme Court’s decision, the union education minister welcomed the verdict.

Ongoing Dissatisfaction with NEET

Dissatisfaction with NEET continues in several states. A day after the ruling, the West Bengal Assembly passed a resolution advocating for scrapping NEET in favor of a state-based medical entrance test. This move follows Karnataka’s recent Cabinet resolution opposing NEET. Similarly, last month, the Tamil Nadu Assembly passed a resolution urging the Union Government to exempt the state from NEET.