Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has once again urged the central government to exempt the state from the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) for medical college admissions and called for the abolition of the system nationwide. In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Stalin emphasized that professional course selections should be based on 12th standard marks rather than a separate entrance exam, which he described as an unnecessary source of stress for students.
"In this regard, we had passed a Bill unanimously in our Legislative Assembly to exempt Tamil Nadu from NEET and to provide medical admissions based on 12th standard marks. This has been sent for Presidential assent but the assent is still pending," Mr. Stalin wrote.
Stalin also reached out to the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, seeking his support for Tamil Nadu's demand for NEET exemption. He cited recent irregularities in the NEET exam as validation of the state's opposition to it. "Many other states have also started voicing their views on the need to do away with this selection process," Stalin informed the Prime Minister.
On Friday, the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly passed a unanimous resolution urging the Union Government to assent to the Bill exempting Tamil Nadu from NEET and to amend the National Medical Commission Act to abolish the NEET system at the national level. In separate letters to the Chief Ministers of Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Punjab, Telangana, and West Bengal, Stalin requested them to consider passing similar resolutions in their assemblies.
"Considering the importance and seriousness of the issue, I request you to consider passing a similar resolution in your state Legislative Assembly also to urge the Union Government to abolish the NEET exams in the interest of the students of our states," Stalin wrote.
In his letter to Rahul Gandhi, Stalin highlighted the resolution passed by the Tamil Nadu Assembly and discussed the detrimental impact of NEET on students, particularly those from rural and economically disadvantaged backgrounds. "The recent reports of irregularities in the examination conducted by the NTA have shattered the dreams of many hard-working aspirants of medical courses in the country. This system is also depriving the rural poor youth of fulfilling the dreams of becoming a medical graduate," Stalin wrote.
He urged Gandhi to voice this concern in Parliament and encourage states within the INDIA alliance to pass similar resolutions. "I request you to voice this concern and the demand of Tamil Nadu in the Parliament and also suggest to the states that are in the INDIA alliance to pass similar resolutions in the respective assemblies in the interest of the youth of the nation," Stalin urged.
