Tamil Nadu and NEET Exams

Tamil Nadu and NEET Exams

News: The recent conflict between Tamil Nadu and the Central government over NEET has broader implications related to equity and federalism.

Background:
• The Tamil Nadu government has passed several bills in the state assembly to exempt the state from NEET, but they have not received the assent of the governor or the president, who have the final authority to approve them.
• The governor has recently stated that he will never clear the anti-NEET bill, as he believes that NEET is beneficial for the students and the country.

What are NEET exams?
• NEET (National Eligibility Entrance Test) is the qualifying test for MBBS and BDS programs in Indian medical and dental colleges. It was introduced to standardize admissions across the country.

Why is Tamil Nadu government opposing the exams?
• NEET is unfair to the students from the state board, who have a different syllabus and medium of instruction than the students from the CBSE board, who have an advantage in the exam.
• NEET is against the social justice and reservation policies of the state, which aim to provide equal opportunities to the students from the backward and oppressed communities, who may not have access to quality education and coaching facilities.
• NEET is detrimental to the rural and poor students, who cannot afford the high fees and travel expenses of the private medical colleges, which have increased their seats after NEET was introduced.
• NEET is a violation of the state’s autonomy and federalism, as it encroaches upon the state’s right to decide its own admission criteria and standards for medical education.
• NEET is a threat to the quality and diversity of medical education and healthcare in the state, as it disregards the importance of student aptitude, personality, and social commitment, which are essential for a good doctor.