Seeking deferment of its participation in the national-level test for the next two years, Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda on Monday wrote to Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, stating that adopting NEET would inconvenience students.

“The issue of Karnataka students writing NEET 2012 has been deliberated and examined in great detail by my government. There is a variation between the plus two State syllabus and CBSE syllabus on which NEET is largely based. It is the majority opinion that Karnataka should defer participation in the NEET till 2014.”

The letter states that the State government will adopt the national syllabus with regard to the science stream of subjects for the academic year 2012-13, which would enable the students to gain the competitive edge for participation in NEET.

The chief minister also said that premier agencies including AIIMS, JIPMER, AFMC and AIPMT (CBSE) have announced individual dates for the entrance exams.

“I am also informed that other states have made such a request for deferment of their participation in NEET. I therefore request you to concur with the decision of the government of Karnataka that the State be exempted from participating in the NEET for 2012 and we will be ready to be part of NEET for the academic year 2014 onwards,” the  chief minister said.

Central assistance

The State has also submitted a memorandum seeking additional Central assistance.

The chief minister, in his letter to Union Agriculture minister Sharad Pawar, has stated that Karnataka is finding it difficult to cope with the prevailing drought situation without financial assistance from the Centre.

The government has sought an assistance of Rs 723.24 crore.

Gowda has also written to Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee requesting him to restore the customs duty on silk imported from China to 30 per cent, which would bring relief to silk farmers and reelers in the State.