Tamil Nadu’s does not want NEET - An analysis

Tamil Nadu's efforts to escape the NEET are persistent, and central govt. has to take a call.

 Tamil Nadu’s does not want NEET - An analysis

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• The story: The Tamil Nadu Assembly passed a Bill seeking to ‘dispense’ with the requirement for candidates to qualify in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) for admission to undergraduate medical courses in the State. The "Tamil Nadu Admission to Undergraduate Medical Degree Courses Bill, 2021" sought to provide admission to these courses on the basis of the marks obtained in the qualifying examination [Class XII marks in Tamil Nadu] through “normalisation methods”, as was done before 2017. Two legislation passed in the Assembly during the earlier AIADMK regime did not receive the Presidential assent.
• Background of NEET: The Indian Medical Council (IMC) Act states that there shall be a uniform entrance examination to all medical educational institutions at UG level and PG level through such designated authority. The Union government issued an Ordinance in 2016 postponing the introduction of NEET to 2017 due to the opposition from many quarters. But later, NEET did happen.
• Why oppose: The Tamil Nadu government (of AIADMK) issued an order in 2017 providing for the reservation of 85% of the seats for students passed out from the State board which was struck down by the Madras High Court. Then the State government brought in a law providing 7.5% reservation in medical seats, but with NEET as a criterion. It appointed a committee under Justice A.K. Rajan to look into the question of desirability of having an examination as a prerequisite for MBBS admissions.
• Rajan committee's views: The majority were not in favour of the NEET requirement, and felt that higher secondary examination of the State board itself was good enough for the selection of students for MBBS seats. It felt NEET only worked against underprivileged government school students, and had profited coaching centres and the rich segment. Hence, the Tamil Nadu government amended the Central Act, assuming that medical college admissions will come under Concurrent List (Entry 25 of List III) for which assent has not been given by the President.
• Problem now: The question is whether the State government can exempt Section 10D of the IMC Act, which is a parliamentary law that falls under the Central List (Entry 66). The introduction of internal reservation for government school students is also under challenge before the Madras High Court.
• A federal issue: No other State in India has sought an exemption from NEET and therefore the possibility of exempting Tamil Nadu was anyway low. If exempted, the fate of all-India quota of 15% and the condition of Tamil Nadu students who do not avail this quota by not writing the exam was a problem. The Tamil Nadu government wants a better system with a fair admission process preserving merit and preventing rampant commercialisation. It does have a point there.
• NEET basics: The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate) or NEET (UG) is an all India pre-medical entrance test for students who wish to pursue undergraduate medical (MBBS), dental (BDS) and AYUSH (BAMS, BUMS, BHMS, etc.) courses in government and private institutions in India. It was earlier called the All India Pre-Medical Test (AIPMT). It is conducted by National Testing Agency (NTA), which provides the results to the Directorate General of Health Services under Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and State Counselling Authorities for seat allocation. After 2019, when the NMC Act 2019 was enacted, NEET-UG became the only entrance test for admissions to medical colleges in India. (even the AIIMS test and JIPMER tests were scrapped)
• EXAM QUESTIONS: (1) Explain why education and related issues merit a deeper examination at state level, more than central level. (2) What are the implications of a rich-poor divide in NEET like exams? Explain.

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