Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay has renewed the state's demand to scrap the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) following the latest paper leak controversy. He urged the central government to allow medical admissions based on Class 12 marks instead of a national entrance test.
Long-standing Opposition to NEET
Tamil Nadu has long opposed NEET, arguing that it disadvantages rural and vernacular-medium students while favouring urban candidates who can afford coaching. The state had earlier challenged the President's refusal to clear its NEET Exemption Bill in the Supreme Court.
Paper Leak Controversy Reignites Debate
The recent paper leak has reignited the national debate over fairness in medical admissions. Vijay emphasized that a single high-stakes exam is not a fair measure of a student's ability and that Class 12 board marks are a more equitable criterion.
The state government has been at the forefront of the anti-NEET movement, passing a bill in the state assembly to exempt Tamil Nadu from the test. However, the bill has not received presidential assent, leading to a legal battle in the Supreme Court.
Vijay's renewed push comes amid growing calls from various states and student groups to reconsider the entrance exam system. The controversy has highlighted concerns about the integrity of the examination process and the stress it places on students.
