Tamil Nadu assembly passes resolution urging Union government to abolish NEET

The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly on Tuesday passed a resolution urging the Union government to scrap the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), with the DMK, AIADMK, Left parties and PMK supporting the move. The lone BJP MLA staged a walkout during the proceedings.

Moving the resolution, health minister K G Arunraj said NEET was against social justice, equality and general rights of states. He said the examination had undermined medical education opportunities for students from rural and socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

The minister said NEET had led to the proliferation of coaching centres and the charging of exorbitant fees. He also said the examination had shifted students' focus from the school curriculum to coaching. Arunraj said a single-day NEET examination was determining students' access to higher education instead of their 12 years of school education.

The resolution also cited "paper leaks, loss of young lives, forfeiture of students' trust" as concerns associated with NEET. According to the resolution, scrapping NEET would allow medical admissions to be made on the basis of Class 12 marks.

Earlier, the Tamil Nadu government had urged the Union government to scrap NEET and introduce a medical admission system based on Class 12 marks in the state. Tamil Nadu finance minister Marie Wilson reiterated the demand while presenting the state Budget for 2026-27. The state government has allocated Rs 8,393 crore to the higher education sector for 2026-27.