TN CM Vijay opposes NEET, seeks MBBS admissions based on class 12 marks
New Delhi: Addressing the recently held 11th Governing Council meeting of NITI Aayog, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay urged the Central Government to allow the state to admit students to undergraduate medical courses, including MBBS, based solely on their Class 12 board examination marks.
During the meeting, he reiterated Tamil Nadu's long-standing opposition to NEET. He stated that this entrance exam disproportionately affects students from rural backgrounds and economically and socially backward communities.
"The Government of Tamil Nadu is committed to protecting the rights of our students. The introduction of NEET has adversely impacted rural students and those from underprivileged families," he said, quoted by ETV Bharat.
Therefore, he urged the Centre to allow Tamil Nadu to fill all seats under the state quota for MBBS, BDS, and AYUSH courses based solely on Class 12 public examination marks.
Additionally, the Chief Minister requested the establishment of a second 'All India Institute of Medical Sciences' (AIIMS) in Coimbatore to improve healthcare delivery and medical education in the state. He stated that the Tamil Nadu government would provide the land required for the proposed institute.
Chief Ministers and representatives from states and Union Territories across India participated in this meeting held in New Delhi under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Meanwhile, Vijay's statement has once again drawn attention to a key issue regarding Tamil Nadu's education policy. Various state governments have repeatedly sought an exemption from NEET and advocated for admissions based on higher secondary examination marks.
While the central government has consistently supported NEET, as the system ensures transparency and uniform admission standards, Tamil Nadu's recent stance indicates that disagreement regarding the exam persists.
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