The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly is set to pass a resolution calling on the Centre to scrap the uniform NEET system for undergraduate medical admissions, arguing that the examination has created additional hurdles for students from rural, economically weaker and Tamil-medium backgrounds.
The proposed resolution will urge the Union government to amend the relevant central laws and allow states to determine their own admission process for undergraduate medical courses.
Tamil Nadu Raises Concerns Over NEET Coaching Culture
The state government has argued that the growing influence of private coaching institutes has made NEET preparation increasingly expensive for families.
According to the resolution, students are being pushed towards costly coaching programmes, often at the expense of their regular school curriculum. The government has also questioned the practice of making a single entrance examination the decisive factor in determining a student’s medical education prospects after 12 years of schooling.
Tamil Nadu has maintained that the current system places students who cannot afford expensive coaching at a disadvantage, particularly those from rural and financially weaker sections.
2021 NEET Exemption Bill Still Pending
The Assembly is also expected to highlight Tamil Nadu’s earlier attempt to secure an exemption from NEET.
The state legislature had unanimously passed Bill No. 43 of 2021, seeking to exempt Tamil Nadu from NEET for undergraduate medical admissions. However, the state government has pointed out that the legislation remains pending without presidential approval.
The proposed resolution is expected to reiterate Tamil Nadu’s demand for greater autonomy in determining the admission process.
Exam Irregularities Fuel Opposition To NEET
The resolution also refers to alleged irregularities and question paper leaks surrounding competitive examinations.
Tamil Nadu has cited the NEET-UG 2024 controversy, when the examination was re-conducted for affected candidates, as an example of how examination-related problems can create significant uncertainty for students.
The state has further raised concerns over the severe pressure faced by aspirants, including reports of student suicides linked to examination-related distress.
State Wants Class 12 Marks To Decide Medical Admissions
Under Tamil Nadu’s proposed alternative, admission to undergraduate medical courses in the state would be based on students’ Class 12 examination marks rather than a common national entrance test.
The resolution will call upon the Centre to amend laws including the National Medical Commission Act, 2019, along with legislation governing Indian systems of medicine and homoeopathy, to discontinue NEET at the national level.
FCRA Bill Also Faces Opposition In Tamil Nadu Assembly
The Assembly is also set to pass a separate resolution opposing the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, in its present form.
Tamil Nadu has raised concerns over provisions that could give the government greater powers over assets belonging to organisations whose FCRA registration expires, is cancelled, surrendered or is not renewed.
The state has argued that such provisions could affect the functioning and autonomy of charitable, educational, medical, religious and social welfare organisations.
The resolution will urge the Centre to withdraw the proposed legislation in its current form and hold wider consultations with state governments and stakeholders before making changes to the FCRA framework.
It will also call for safeguards relating to property rights, natural justice, proportionality, federalism and transparency.
Tamil Nadu Government Pushes State Identity Agenda
The latest resolutions come shortly after the Assembly unanimously approved a separate measure concerning the singing of ‘Tamil Thai Vazhthu’, the state song, before programmes held in educational institutions, government offices and other public institutions.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay welcomed that decision and emphasised the importance of Tamil language and culture.
“Tamil is not merely a language; it is a thought-culture-civilisation, and moreover, Tamil is our life; Tamil is our emotion,” Vijay said in a post on X.
He described the resolution as a significant step towards protecting the identity and sentiments associated with the Tamil language.
With the Assembly now preparing to take up resolutions on both NEET and the FCRA Amendment Bill, the Tamil Nadu government is once again positioning itself for a direct political and policy confrontation with the Centre.
