Tamil Nadu Assembly adopts resolution seeking abolition of NEET for undergraduate medical courses
The lone BJP MLA M. Bhojarajan opposed the resolution and staged a walkout before the voting
On August 11, 2026, the Tamil Nadu Assembly unanimously approved a resolution calling for the abolition of the NEET (National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test) for admission to undergraduate medical courses. The resolution was introduced by Health, Medical Education and Family Welfare Minister K.G. Arunraj, who urged the Union government to amend relevant central acts and prioritize admission based on Class XII examination marks.
The Tamil Nadu government has consistently argued that NEET is against social justice and equality and infringes on states' rights regarding medical education. The resolution highlighted the negative impact of NEET on rural and socio-economically disadvantaged students, leading to a proliferation of expensive coaching centers and a shift of students' focus from school education to NEET-oriented coaching.
The Assembly had previously adopted similar resolutions in 2021, but they were reserved for the President's consideration, with presidential assent subsequently withheld. The resolution criticized repeated irregularities in the examination, including question-paper leaks, and the loss of lives due to the test's significant consequences.
The minister emphasized that shifting education from the Concurrent List to the State List would be the permanent solution to the NEET issue.
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