Stalin slams Centre over NEET, says test has nothing to do with merit

Union Government’s decision to reduce the qualifying percentile for NEET PG 2023 to zero is an acceptance that “eligibility” in the entrance exam is “meaningless” and it is just about coaching centres and paying for the test, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin said on Thursday.

Stalin, whose DMK government is opposed to a nation-wide entrance exam for admission into medical and dental colleges, utilised the opportunity to take pot shots at NEET. The Union Government had on Wednesday decided to reduce the qualifying percentile for NEET PG to zero to fill up the vacant seats in medical colleges.

“By reducing the NEET PG cut-off to 'zero', they are accepting that 'eligibility' in the National 'Eligibility' Cum Entrance Test is meaningless. It's just about coaching centres and paying for the exam. No more qualification is required,” Stalin said in a statement.

NEET is an emotional issue in Tamil Nadu with nearly two dozen medical aspirants ending their lives either due to the fear of appearing for the exams or fear of clearing the test. The state government passed a legislation in 2021 seeking exemption from NEET but it was returned to the Assembly in 2022 – the bill was re-enacted and sent back to Governor R N Ravi who referred it to the President of India.

“The Union BJP Government has accepted that the benefit of NEET is ZERO… NEET = 0. NEET has nothing to do with merit, which we have been saying all along. It has become a mere formality, devoid of any real eligibility criteria,” Stalin said.

Tamil Nadu believes NEET discriminates against students from rural areas who are forced to compete with those from urban areas. The government has been pushing for the Education subject to be brought back to the State list of the Constitution.

Stalin also said the Union Government “remained heartless” despite so many precious lives being lost and has now come up with an order like this. “The BJP government must be removed just for causing loss of lives with the guillotine called NEET,” he said.