Amid Hindi row with Centre, Tamil Nadu suffers setback as President rejects anti-NEET bill

Chief Minister MK Stalin informed the Assembly of the rejection of the bill, which had been passed twice by the state legislature in 2021 and 2022 and had been awaiting approval from the union government since.

In June last year, the Assembly also unanimously passed a resolution urging the union government to abolish NEET and allow states to determine admissions based on school performance.

Reacting to the rejection, Stalin, who has ongoing disputes with the BJP-led central government on key issues like the delimitation exercise and "Hindi imposition" ahead of next year's elections, said Tamil Nadu had been "insulted" and called this a "black phase in federalism."

"Despite the Tamil Nadu government providing all necessary clarifications, the Union government has rejected the exemption from NEET," Stalin said in the assembly.

He then called for a meeting of all legislature parties—similar to discussions held over protests against the delimitation exercise, which the ruling DMK argues will reduce southern states' representation in the Lok Sabha and weaken their influence at the center—to determine the next course of action.

Stalin reaffirmed the state's commitment to its long-standing fight against NEET, which has been mandatory for medical admissions since 2017.

"The Union government may have rejected Tamil Nadu’s request, but our fight is far from over. We will consult legal experts on the lawful measures available to challenge this decision," he declared.

What is the Tamil Nadu NEET issue?

Tamil Nadu’s opposition to NEET is rooted in concerns over social justice. The state argues that the exam disproportionately benefits students from affluent backgrounds who can afford specialised coaching, while students from disadvantaged sections struggle to compete. Admitting students based on Class 12 marks, the government insists, would create a fairer system.

The controversy surrounding NEET has intensified in recent years, with reports of exam paper leaks and tragic cases of students dying by suicide after failing to clear the test.

Last year, the Supreme Court considered petitions calling for a re-test or cancellation of the 2024 NEET-UG exam following allegations that the question paper had been leaked 45 minutes before the test.

However, the court dismissed the petitions, stating there was no conclusive evidence that the 'sanctity' of the examination had been compromised.