Polity & Governance
Tamil Nadu Assembly passes resolution to abolish NEET, seeks Centre's approval for Class 12-based admissions
What happened
The Tamil Nadu Assembly on August 11, 2026 unanimously passed a resolution to abolish the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) for medical admissions in the state. The resolution urges the Central government to permit admissions based on Class 12 marks instead, citing concerns over fairness and accessibility.
Key facts
The resolution was passed unanimously by the Tamil Nadu Assembly on August 11, 2026.
The state seeks to replace NEET with admissions based on Class 12 marks for medical courses.
The resolution was moved by the Tamil Nadu Health Minister during the Assembly session.
The state has cited rural-urban divide and socioeconomic disparities as reasons for opposing NEET.
The Central government has not yet responded to the state's request.
Context
- NEET was introduced in 2016 as a single national-level entrance exam for medical admissions across India.
- Several states, including Tamil Nadu, have previously opposed NEET, arguing it disadvantages students from rural and government schools.
- Tamil Nadu had earlier passed a law in 2021 to exempt its students from NEET, but the law was stayed by the Supreme Court.
- The Central government has maintained NEET as the sole entrance exam for medical admissions nationwide.
Why it matters
- Tamil Nadu joins other states in opposing NEET, citing concerns over rural-urban disparities in medical education access.
- The resolution reflects ongoing debates over standardized entrance exams versus state-level admission criteria.
- Potential impact on medical admissions in Tamil Nadu if the Centre approves the state's request.
- Highlights tensions between state autonomy in education policy and centralized entrance exams like NEET.