The Tamil Nadu Assembly on Tuesday, August 11, passed a resolution urging the Union Government to abolish the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET), with the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), DMK, AIADMK, Congress and other parties backing the move.
Health Minister K Arunraj, who moved the resolution, argued that NEET disadvantages rural and economically weaker students, while the BJP opposed the move, with its lone MLA M Bhojarajan walking out of the House.
The state has proposed that undergraduate medical admissions be based on Class 12 marks instead of a single national entrance examination.
Why Tamil Nadu Wants NEET Scrapped
Arunraj said the examination is “against Social Justice, Equality, and State Rights”, arguing that a single-day test after 12 years of schooling places students from rural, government-school and Tamil-medium backgrounds at a disadvantage.
The state government also pointed to the growing dependence on expensive coaching centres, saying NEET has shifted students’ focus away from school education and created additional financial pressure on families.
The government’s proposed alternative is to use Class 12 examination marks for admissions to undergraduate medical courses in the state.
The opposition to the resolution was led by BJP MLA M Bhojarajan, who argued that NEET can provide students with a common opportunity irrespective of their school or location. Citing students from Pollachi who had cleared the examination, he questioned why the government was not instead expanding affordable coaching support.
“The state government should come forward to provide a special scheme for students,” he said, before choosing not to participate in the vote and walking out. AIADMK, meanwhile, backed the resolution, with MLA O S Manian reiterating that the party remained firm in its opposition to NEET. DMK MLA Muthuraja also supported the resolution.
A Long-Running Battle Over Medical Admissions
Tuesday’s resolution is the latest chapter in Tamil Nadu’s long-running opposition to NEET. The state Assembly had earlier unanimously passed the Tamil Nadu Admission to Undergraduate Medical Degree Courses Bill, 2021, seeking an exemption from NEET and proposing Class 12 marks as the basis for medical admissions.
However, President Droupadi Murmu withheld assent to the Bill in March 2025, after which the Tamil Nadu government approached the Supreme Court challenging the decision.
The state has repeatedly argued that NEET undermines its existing approach to medical education and disproportionately affects students who cannot afford extensive coaching.
Similar concerns have gained political attention following controversies surrounding examination irregularities and paper leaks. At the same time, supporters of NEET argue that a common entrance test creates a uniform standard and can reduce differences between state-level admission systems.
The central question therefore remains whether medical admissions should prioritise a common national benchmark or allow states greater control over a system they argue must reflect local educational and social realities.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The debate over NEET should ultimately remain centred on students rather than political rivalry. Whether the answer is abolition, reform or stronger public coaching, the system must ensure that a student’s family income, location or access to private coaching does not decide their chances of becoming a doctor.
Tamil Nadu’s latest resolution also shows that issues affecting young people can bring political rivals together, even when they disagree on almost everything else.
The next step should be a constructive dialogue between the Centre and states, backed by evidence and focused on fairness, accessibility and student welfare. Do you think NEET should be abolished, reformed, or strengthened with better support for disadvantaged students?
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