Unanimous assembly resolution by Tamil Nadu to scrap NEET

The Tamil Nadu assembly on Friday unanimously passed a resolution against the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test and urged the Union government to scrap the test. The resolution called for state governments to be allowed to undertake medical admissions based on class 12 marks, as was done before NEET was introduced.

The resolution was introduced by chief minister MK Stalin. The resolution was passed with support from legislators from the ruling alliance parties, including MMK, DMDK, TVK and the CPI(M), as well as PMK, amid a boycott by BJP. The resolution also nudged the Union government to approve a bill passed by the House in 2022 seeking exemption from NEET for students from the state.

Abolition of NEET has also been one of MK Stalin's and the DMK's election promises.

The state assembly passed two bills seeking exemption from NEET for Tamil Nadu in 2017 and 2021, with the Union government rejecting the former which was piloted by the then AIADMK government. The 2021 bill was based on a recommendation from a panel headed by Justice (retired) AK Rajan but was returned to the assembly in 2022 by governor RN Ravi.