The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly on Tuesday, 11 August adopted a resolution urging the Centre to abolish the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) for undergraduate medical admissions, triggering a sharp political divide — with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) opposing the move and the Indian National Congress (Congress) and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) extending full support.

BJP's Stand: Supreme Court Order Takes Precedence

BJP Tamil Nadu chief spokesperson Narayanan Thirupathy argued that those seeking to abolish NEET are 'hitting the wrong door.' He said the examination is conducted under the Supreme Court's direction and that any challenge must be taken to the apex court, not the state legislature.

Thirupathy also claimed that NEET has directly benefited poor and rural government-school students over the past seven to eight years, enabling them to qualify for medical education. 'NEET is definitely needed for ordinary, poor and rural students,' he stressed.

BJP Mahila Morcha national president Vanathi Srinivasan echoed this position, noting that NEET was implemented nationwide on the basis of a Supreme Court judgment. She said the TVK-led Tamil Nadu government would have to approach the apex court if it genuinely seeks to modify the examination framework.

BJP leader Tamilisai Soundararajan pointed to a Tamil-language newspaper editorial published on the same day, which reportedly highlighted that Tamil Nadu students are performing well in NEET. She urged the state government not to 'disappoint new aspirants' and instead focus on providing quality coaching and encouragement.

Congress and DMK Back the Resolution

Congress Member of Parliament Manickam Tagore declared his party is '100 per cent' in favour of scrapping NEET. He described the examination as 'full of corruption, full of fraud,' citing paper leaks and the influence of coaching institutes. 'India's NEET should be stopped. Paper leak and coaching mafia are controlling it,' he said.

DMK Member of Parliament Tiruchi Siva stated that the Tamil Nadu Assembly has 'reiterated' a position already taken by the previous DMK government. He noted that a related Bill is pending the President's assent and declared that 'the ball is in the Union Government's court now.'

Background and Context

Tamil Nadu has a long-standing legislative opposition to NEET, rooted in concerns that the centralised entrance test disadvantages students from state-board schools and rural backgrounds. The state has previously passed resolutions and legislation seeking exemption, but these have stalled at the federal level, with the President's assent yet to be granted to the earlier Bill.

This comes amid a broader national debate over NEET's integrity, particularly following a 2024 paper-leak controversy that triggered protests across India and prompted a parliamentary inquiry. Critics argue the examination disproportionately favours students from affluent urban backgrounds with access to expensive coaching, while proponents maintain it levels the playing field by applying a uniform standard.

What Happens Next

With the earlier anti-NEET Bill still awaiting the President's assent and the Supreme Court's framework governing NEET intact, the resolution is largely symbolic without federal action. Political observers note that the Centre — where the BJP leads the ruling coalition — is unlikely to move against a Supreme Court-backed examination. The TVK-led state government may need to pursue a constitutional challenge at the apex court to achieve a substantive outcome.