Neet Exam

The Tamil Nadu Admission to Undergraduate Medical Degree Courses Bill, 2021, was presented by the state government in order to exclude the region from the National Eligibility and Entrance Test (NEET). A stalemate developed between the state administration and the federal government as a result of the governor's refusal to sign the measure. Opposition to the NEET exam dates back to 2017, and it is perceived as a threat to the state's authority over healthcare, social fairness ideals, and educational standards. Consequently, a thorough examination of the benefits and drawbacks of the NEET is required.

In 2009, the Medical Council of India (MCI) released a notice to control MBBS and BDS admissions, despite having previously opposed the National Entrance Test (NEET). The NEET was declared unlawful by the Supreme Court in 2013, holding that the MCI lacked the authority to send out notices. Subsequently, the Union Government enacted an ordinance that lifted the one-year ban on state-run medical colleges from the Supreme Court's requirement. In 2016, NEET was implemented nationwide in India, with the Tamil Nadu government being exempted from NEET-based admission requirements at first.

Indian medical and dental institutes require the National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET), formerly known as the All-India Pre-Medical Test (AIPMT), as a qualifying exam for their MBBS and BDS programs. The National Testing Agency (NTA) now administers it, having first been established in 2013 by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).

• Single Entrance Test: To save time, money, and effort, NEET replaces several private and state-level examinations.
• Fairness and Transparency: NEET lowers question paper leaks, misconduct, and corruption.
• Equal Opportunity: All students nationwide are given equal access to NEET.
• No need for contributions or capitation fees to secure seats in private universities; the NEET test is administered in 13 languages, allowing students to select their chosen language and overcome linguistic hurdles.

• High level of competition: Each year, lakhs of candidates take the test, making it extremely competitive. Students may experience tension, worry, and sadness if they do not pass the exam.
• CBSE Syllabus: The exam is based on the CBSE syllabus, which might not be appropriate for every student. Students from other state boards could find the syllabus and exam complexity too challenging.
• Cost Factor: Due to costs associated with study materials, travel, and coaching, some students are unable to pay the exam price.
• Financial hardships may cause students to forgo classes or degrade the quality of their education.
• Language Barrier: NEET is conducted in 13 languages, affecting comprehension and accuracy.
• Social and Economic Factors: Challenges due to social and economic background, such as lack of access to quality education, coaching, resources, or guidance, can hamper preparation and performance.

• Federalism Violation: NEET destroyed the state's medical graduate in-service quota, compromising the provision of high-quality healthcare.
• Ignorance of uniqueness and Needs: The Center imposes NEET without first engaging state governments, ignoring the uniqueness of the area.
• Disadvantaged Students: The A.K. Rajan committee found that NEET discriminates against first-time candidates and favors coaches and repeaters disproportionately.
• Fostering a Coaching Culture: NEET faces criticism for encouraging a coaching culture that upholds prejudices against marginalized communities.
• Student Suicides: Outrage and demonstrations have resulted from the association between NEET and student suicides in Tamil Nadu.

• In February 2023, the Tamil Nadu government filed a petition with the Supreme Court contesting the constitutionality of NEET. They claimed that NEET went against the fundamental constitutional idea of federalism.
• NEET, according to the Tamil Nadu government, robs states of their authority to decide how best to educate their citizens.
• The Supreme Court may hear cases involving disagreements between the federal government and one or more states, as permitted under Article 131 of the Constitution, which is the basis for the petition.
• As it "discriminates against students from rural areas and state boards," the appeal said that NEET violates the right to equality guaranteed by Article 14 of the Constitution.
• According to the state, rural students are at a disadvantage because NEET is based on the CBSE/NCERT syllabus.
• In spite of their strong state board results, the state claimed that children from rural areas are more disadvantaged since they cannot afford coaching lessons.
• For a number of reasons, the Tamil Nadu government asked the Supreme Court to rule that Section 14 of the National Medical Commission Act, 2019, which mandates NEET, is "ultra vires" the Constitution.

It analyzed the effect of NEET on Tamil Nadu medical admissions. The committee disapproved of the "rote learning framework" and lack of consistent standards offered by NEET. It calls NEET's multiple-choice, content-oriented approach insufficient. The report claims that NEET gives preference to kids from wealthy metropolitan settings, private English-medium schools, and CBSE backgrounds. It also claims that prejudices based on socioeconomic position, geography, language, and culture are reinforced by NEET. Report recommended state legislation that would do away with the NEET requirement.

The Tamil Nadu Assembly passed the anti-NEET bill, also known as the Tamil Nadu Admission to Undergraduate Medical Degree Courses Bill, 2021, to abolish the national common entrance test and return to the previous system, which allowed medical admissions based on students' Class 12 exam scores.

• Vested Political Interests: The opposition to the NEET bill highlights issues about the influence of education on society dynamics.
• Discriminatory Reservation Policy: Class XII scores, not standardized admission exam results, would determine the filling of 85% of the seats.
• Prejudices and Biases: Upper-caste students are compelled to pursue education elsewhere due to the reservation quota (69%) in place.
• Deepening of Inequalities: By mandating a 7.5% reserve for kids attending government schools, the bill may exacerbate already-existing inequities.

• Shifting education to the State List: Education can be shifted from the Concurrent List to the State List of the Constitution, giving states more authority and flexibility to choose their own admittance standards and requirements.
  • This will also allow states to create their educational systems based on regional requirements and goals, avoiding disagreements with the Centre over common entry examinations such as NEET.
• Permit states to plan their educational systems in accordance with local goals and requirements.
• Create a comprehensive, inclusive admissions procedure that takes into account the rural service, regional diversity, aptitude, Class XII grades, NEET scores, and socioeconomic position.
• Uphold the legally mandated objective of protecting reservations for underrepresented populations.

A revision of the NEET test procedure is necessary to guarantee an equitable assessment of students' aptitude and knowledge. For a more varied medical education, alternative admission standards should take socioeconomic origins and environmental considerations into account. For competitive tests, state-run institutions have to raise the caliber of their instruction. It is recommended that state and federal authorities work together to create a transparent and inclusive medical admissions system. Equity should be the foundation of education rather than equality, particularly in medical studies.