Stalin calls for all-party meeting after Murmu rejects NEET exemption plea

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK leader M K Stalin has summoned an all-party meeting on April 9 with all MLAs at the Secretariat. This follows the Central government’s refusal of Tamil Nadu’s request to exempt students from the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) exam.

As per a  report, he notified the Assembly that the resolution, which had been submitted for Presidential approval, was rejected. He also notified them that the state will persist in its efforts to eliminate NEET.

Taking to X, Stalin called the rejection a “dark chapter in federalism”, and accused the Central government of disregarding the will of the people of Tamil Nadu and the Assembly bill. He further wrote, “Despite the Tamil Nadu government furnishing all necessary clarifications through various ministries, the Union government has now rejected the exemption from NEET.”

In June 2024, the Tamil Nadu Assembly adopted a resolution unanimously, urging the central government to abolish NEET and allow states to determine admissions based on school grades.

As per an article, the main point is that the NEET exam favors students from affluent backgrounds, as they can pay for coaching and thorough preparation required to pass the test. The state government contended that utilizing Class 12 marks as the basis for admissions would guarantee social justice. This statement arises in the context of several controversies related to NEET in recent years, including incidents where young individuals have taken their own lives due to failing the exam.

In 2024, the Supreme Court reviewed multiple petitions requesting a re-test or annulment of the 2024 NEET-UG exam, following allegations of the question paper being leaked prior to the exam. The apex court, however, dismissed the petitions, stating that it has not been demonstrated that the integrity of the examination was compromised.

In July of the previous year, West Bengal joined the fray and enacted a resolution opposing the examination. Bratya Basu, the education minister of the state, emphasized that the state government under the ruling Trinamool Congress has consistently opposed an all-Indian examination.