Tamil Nadu Assembly Passes Resolution Seeking Abolition of NEET

The Tamil Nadu legislative assembly passed a resolution on Tuesday urging the Union government to abolish the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) for undergraduate medical admissions. The resolution, moved by state health minister KG Arunraj under the government of Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, proposes that admissions to medical courses in the state be based on Class 12 examination marks. The resolution was supported by the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), the Congress, the DMK, and the AIADMK, while the lone BJP MLA staged a walkout in opposition.

Minister Arunraj argued that NEET undermines social justice, equality, and the rights of states. He stated that the test diverts student focus from school curricula toward expensive coaching centres, which disproportionately affects rural, socio-economically disadvantaged, and Tamil medium students. The resolution also cited irregularities and question paper leaks, noting that the cancellation and re-conduct of the NEET-UG exam caused distress to students and eroded trust in the system. Some reports linked this distress to student suicides.

To implement these changes, the resolution calls for the Union government to amend the National Medical Commission Act of 2019 and other relevant laws. This move follows a history of legislative attempts by Tamil Nadu to seek exemption from the test, including a 2021 bill that remains pending without presidential approval. The state government has also challenged the president's decision to withhold assent to a previous bill in the Supreme Court.

Opposing the resolution, BJP MLA M Bhojarajan argued that NEET encourages students and questioned why the state government is not providing coaching facilities instead of seeking the test's abolition. The resolution comes amid an ongoing anti-NEET hunger strike in Chennai, which has entered its 11th day.