📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Singh PreetManak
Politics
Tamil Nadu Assembly Votes to Abolish NEET, Backed by DMK, AIADMK, PMK
✍️ The Times of India
🗓 12 Aug 2026, 09:22 AM
👁 19
The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly approved a resolution to abolish the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), with the ruling DMK, opposition AIADMK, and PMK all supporting the move.
In a unanimous decision, the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly voted to pass a resolution calling for the abolition of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). The motion received backing from the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), the main opposition All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), and the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), marking a rare bipartisan consensus on the issue.
The resolution, introduced by the Chief Minister, cites concerns over the test’s fairness, the financial burden on students, and the need for a more inclusive medical entrance system. It urges the central government to consider alternative assessment methods that reflect regional educational contexts.
The decision follows years of debate and protests by student groups and political parties who argue that NEET disproportionately disadvantages students from rural and economically weaker backgrounds. The resolution is now pending approval from the Union government, which will determine whether the central exam can be modified or replaced.
If enacted, the move would make Tamil Nadu the first state to formally reject NEET, potentially prompting other states to reassess their participation in the national exam. The government has promised to explore state-level entrance examinations that align with local educational standards.
The resolution also calls for a review of the medical admission process to ensure transparency and equity, aiming to reduce the reliance on a single high-stakes test.
The resolution, introduced by the Chief Minister, cites concerns over the test’s fairness, the financial burden on students, and the need for a more inclusive medical entrance system. It urges the central government to consider alternative assessment methods that reflect regional educational contexts.
The decision follows years of debate and protests by student groups and political parties who argue that NEET disproportionately disadvantages students from rural and economically weaker backgrounds. The resolution is now pending approval from the Union government, which will determine whether the central exam can be modified or replaced.
If enacted, the move would make Tamil Nadu the first state to formally reject NEET, potentially prompting other states to reassess their participation in the national exam. The government has promised to explore state-level entrance examinations that align with local educational standards.
The resolution also calls for a review of the medical admission process to ensure transparency and equity, aiming to reduce the reliance on a single high-stakes test.