Delhi, July 24: Several Indian states, including West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka have recently passed resolutions against the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) amid allegations of question paper leaks and unfair practices in the NEET-UG 2024 examination.

These moves come as students nationwide protest the alleged irregularities, arguing that NEET disadvantages certain demographics, particularly rural and economically disadvantaged students. Here’s a list of states that have passed resolution against NEET.  West Bengal Assembly Passes Resolution Against NEET, Wants to Revert to Old System.

West Bengal

On Wednesday, the West Bengal Assembly passed a resolution to scrap NEET and replace it with a state-level entrance exam for medical studies. State Education Minister Bratya Basu criticised the centralisation of exams, recalling initial opposition to NEET from Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he was Gujarat’s Chief Minister. Basu argued that NEET undermines the federal structure and disadvantages students from rural areas. NEET 2024 Row: Tamil Nadu Assembly Passes Resolution Again Urging Centre To Exempt State From National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test.

Tamil Nadu

The Tamil Nadu Assembly has urged the Union government to abolish NEET and revert to state-based medical admissions using Class 12 marks. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin argued that the pre-NEET admission method was more inclusive for rural students and made medical education affordable. The resolution emphasized that NEET affects students' opportunities from rural areas and diminishes state governments' rights to manage medical college admissions.

Karnataka

Karnataka’s Cabinet approved a resolution to scrap NEET, proposing a new entrance exam for undergraduate and postgraduate medical students. Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar highlighted the serious irregularities in NEET and called for states to conduct their own entrance tests. He emphasised that the Centre’s mishandling of NEET has jeopardized the futures of lakhs of students.

Kerala

The Kerala Legislative Assembly passed a resolution seeking a comprehensive investigation into NEET and UGC NET exam irregularities by the National Testing Agency (NTA). Higher Education Minister Dr. R Bindu condemned NTA’s conduct, citing unscientific grace marking and repeated examination lapses. Bindu urged the Union government to address the concerns of students and parents and ensure the integrity of medical admissions.

Nationwide Concerns

The resolutions from these states reflect widespread dissatisfaction with NEET, particularly following claims of a question paper leak in the NEET-UG 2024 exam. The Supreme Court recently ruled out a re-test, stating there was no conclusive proof of a breach. However, the growing chorus of state-level opposition signals significant discontent with the centralised examination system and calls for a return to state-managed admissions processes.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 24, 2024 05:13 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).