The central government is unlikely to exempt Tamil Nadu from NEET exam. Tamil Nadu government had asked the centre to excuse the students from the state from appearing for the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) to get admission into medical and dental colleges in the state for MBBS and BDS states. Tamil Nadu chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami had earlier urged the HRD minister to exempt NEET. K Palaniswami has also met Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Tamil Nadu on February 27 to discuss issues like National-Eligibility-cum-Entrance-Test (NEET).
One of the suggestions mooted by the prime minister was that the state government will also consider organizing special coaching facilities for students from the weaker sections of the society. This was in response to Palaniswami’s argument that the state law are required to get the Centre’s support. It is feared that as bulk of students appearing for the examination come from rural areas, and due to strained economic conditions will fear that they do not have access to coaching classes to equip themselves for the examination.
In 2016, the Supreme Court passed a verdict that a uniform entrance test for admission to medical courses, saying the examination will be conducted by the Central Board of School Education for undergraduate courses and by the National Board of Examinations for postgraduate courses. The state-run institutions are also exempted from the examination last year, the apex court said it would be mandatory for 2017.
Various political parties in Tamil Nadu were also seeking the Centre’s nod and the presidential assent for the two bills passed unanimously in the state Assembly. The state had also taken the decision to continue the present procedure of admissions to MBBS and BDS courses on the basis of the marks obtained in the higher secondary examination (Class XII). For postgraduate admissions, the state will admit students based on an entrance examination. ALSO READ: NEET 2017: Protest against NEET exam continue in Tamil Nadu
In 2016, the Supreme Court mandated a uniform entrance test for admission to medical courses, saying the examination will be conducted by the Central Board of School Education for undergraduate courses and by the National Board of Examinations for postgraduate courses
