The Indian Express (Delhi Edition)
TN resolution urges Centre to scrap NEET
UNANIMOUSLY PASSING a resolution against the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) on Friday, the Tamil Nadu Assembly urged the central government to scrap the test on a nationallevelandapprovethestate’s NEET exemption Bill.
The development comes at a time when alleged irregularities over this year’s NEET medical entrance test has kicked up a massive political storm. The resolution, proposed by Chief Minister MK Stalin, once again reiterates thestate’slongstandingobjection to the exam.
Friday’s resolution called for the abolition of the NEET examinationsystem,whichitdescribed as “severely affecting the medical education opportunities of rural andunderprivilegedstudentsand making school education unnecessary”. “The Union Government should immediately approve the NEET exemption draft bill unanimously passed by this Legislative Assembly to admit medical studentsbasedon12th-grademarks. Given that several states are now opposing this examination system which has led to numerous malpractices, the Union Government should amend the Nationalmedicalcommissionact to abolish the NEET system at the nationallevel,”theresolutionsaid.
The NEET exemption Bill, formally called the Tamil Nadu Admission to Undergraduate Medicaldegreecoursesbill,2021, proposes making Class 12 marks the criteria for medical school admissions. A major flashpoint between the DMK government and the office of the Tamil Nadu Governor, it is currently pending approval from the President of India.inhisspeech,stalinsaidthat thewidespreadirregularitiesvindicated Tamil Nadu’s opposition to the medical entrance exam. According to him, introduction of NEET in 2017 had drastically alteredthelandscapeofmedicaleducation in the state. “…Rural and underprivileged students who cannotattendcoachingclassesare unable to succeed in this exam," he said, adding that the national entranceexamwouldmakeitdifficult for students in rural areas to pursue a medical education.