Chief Minister MK Stalin informed the state Assembly of the rejection, highlighting that the bill had been passed twice by the Tamil Nadu legislature—once in 2021 and again in 2022—and had been pending with the union government ever since.
NEET Controversy: Tamil Nadu Faces Setback As Centre Rejects Exemption Bill
Tamil Nadu라이브 바카라 struggle for an exemption from the NEET suffered a major setback on Friday, as President Droupadi Murmu rejected a bill that aimed to exclude the state from the all-India entrance exam and allow the use of Class XII marks for medical admissions instead.
In June of the previous year, the Tamil Nadu Assembly had also passed a resolution unanimously, urging the central government to abolish the NEET system and permit states to determine admission criteria based on school marks.
Reacting to the rejection, Stalin, who has had ongoing disputes with the BJP-led central government on various issues, including the delimitation exercise and the 'Hindi imposition' controversy ahead of next year's elections, stated that Tamil Nadu had been "insulted" by the decision. He also referred to this as a "black phase in federalism," further escalating the tensions between the state and the centre.
Despite the Tamil Nadu government providing all necessary clarifications... the union government has rejected the exemption from NEET," Mr Stalin said in the Assembly.
The Chief Minister then called on all legislature parties to meet to decide on the next steps. He said the struggle for exemption from NEET - made mandatory for admissions in 2017 - will continue.
The meeting of all MLAs will likely be on April 9, sources have said.
"The union government may have rejected Tamil Nadu's request... but our fight is far from over. We will consult legal experts on lawful measures we can take to challenge this decision," he also said.
The state's challenge to the NEET system is a long-running one.
The primary argument is that it benefits students from richer families and sections of society as they can better afford the intensive coaching and prep needed to pass the exam. Switching to using Class 12 marks as the admission criteria will, the state has argued, ensure social justice.
The furore over NEET also comes amid multiple controversies in recent years, including young people dying by suicide because they can't clear the exam and the leak of exam papers.
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