Tamil Nadu CM Demands NEET Cancellation, Seeks Admissions Based on Class 12 Marks

The cancellation of NEET-UG 2026 after the alleged paper leak has reignited Tamil Nadu's long-standing opposition to the national medical entrance exam, with Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay is demanding that the Centre scrap NEET-based admissions entirely. Calling the latest controversy proof of "structural flaws" in the examination system, Vijay urged the Union Government to allow states to fill MBBS, BDS, and AYUSH seats under the state quota solely on the basis of Class 12 marks. More than 22 lakh candidates, including nearly 1.4 lakh from Tamil Nadu, had appeared for the May 3 exam before it was cancelled by the NTA amid allegations of paper leaks and irregularities, according to The Wire.

Referring to the NEET-UG 2024 controversy, Vijay said the latest cancellation showed that earlier reforms had failed to restore credibility to the system. He alleged that NEET disproportionately affects students from rural areas, government schools, Tamil-medium backgrounds, and economically weaker sections. Meanwhile, the CBI has arrested five accused and conducted searches across multiple states in connection with the alleged leak. India currently has over 780 medical colleges with nearly 1.18 lakh MBBS seats, while Tamil Nadu alone has around 12,000 MBBS seats across government and private institutions.