Tamil Nadu’s Campaign Against NEET

Context: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister has criticised the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) following the declaration of controversial NEET-UG results. The National Testing Agency (NTA) and the Education Ministry have set up a committee to review the results of those who got grace marks.

Why have the results been contested?

• An unusually high number of toppers (67) scoring the maximum possible marks.
• Awarding “grace marks” to some candidates for claimed time loss.
• Grace marks to candidates who answered a question incorrectly based on an inaccuracy in a textbook.

Justice A.K. Rajan Committee

• TN government established Justice A.K. Rajan committee to study the impact of NEET on admissions.

Findings

• NEET disadvantages students from rural areas, Tamil medium schools, and lower-income families.
• Significant rise in seats secured by English medium and wealthier students after NEET’s introduction.
• NEET benefits students from CBSE boards at the expense of Tamil Nadu state board students.
• NEET scores are not as reliable indicators of merit as state board exam scores.
• Average pre-NEET HSC scores for admitted students were higher than post-NEET average NEET scores.
• Nearly all students admitted in 2019-20 had received coaching before NEET, creating a financial barrier for underprivileged students.

Recommendations

• Eliminating NEET from the admission process.
• Using HSC scores, normalised across boards, as the admission criteria.
• Re-profile scores to account for socioeconomic and demographic challenges.

National Testing Agency

• It is an autonomous and self-reliant testing organisation established by the Ministry of Education.
• To conduct entrance examinations for admission/fellowship in higher educational institutions.
• The major exams conducted are Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main, National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), Common Management Admission Test (CMAT), Graduate Pharmacy Aptitude Test (GPAT).

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