The Congress-led Karnataka government is considering introducing legislation to exempt the state from the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), similar to the bill passed in Tamil Nadu. NEET was originally implemented following the directives of the Supreme Court during the Congress-led UPA II regime, with DMK as a coalition partner. In Tamil Nadu, political opposition to NEET, framed as a matter of social justice, has been a consistent stance of both DMK and AIADMK.
Historically, to address the shortage of medical professionals, the AIADMK government under CM MG Ramachandran permitted the establishment of private, self-financing medical and engineering colleges, offering land and financial subsidies. This move, however, turned into a lucrative business for individuals connected to both ruling and opposition parties, transforming these institutions into profit-driven ventures. The high capitation fees allowed wealthy students with minimal qualifications to become doctors, undermining the initial objective of providing accessible and quality medical education.
The introduction of NEET aimed to create a merit-based system, enabling even the poorest students to aspire to medical careers. NEET curtailed the flow of money from private colleges, which had previously filled private coffers, leading to resistance from the so-called “medical college mafia.” Despite numerous attempts to repeal NEET, these efforts have been unsuccessful.
The DMK government promised to abolish NEET during the 2021 assembly elections, knowing well the challenges of securing an exemption for Tamil Nadu alone. In 2017, the Tamil Nadu Assembly passed a resolution against NEET, accusing the central government of imposing the exam on the states. The Modi government rejected this resolution in 2019. In 2021, Tamil Nadu passed legislation seeking exemption from NEET, which was subsequently returned by Governor RN Ravi in February 2022. The Assembly passed it again, and the Governor forwarded it to the President in May 2022. The bill is still pending before the President, with low chances of approval and no indication that the Supreme Court will scrap NEET.
Amid allegations of malpractice, protests by medical aspirants and their parents have gained momentum. The Supreme Court has emphasised that even minor negligence must be addressed thoroughly, issuing notices to the National Testing Agency (NTA) and the Centre. CM MK Stalin has reached out to other non-BJP states and BJP CMs to unite against NEET, advocating for social justice for the poor and marginalised. Despite the state government’s opposition, the number of NEET candidates from Tamil Nadu continues to rise annually.
The campaign against NEET has been fueled by allegations of question paper leaks, marking discrepancies, and arbitrary administrative decisions. In Bihar, the Economic Offences Unit (EOU) booked 10 medical aspirants, their parents, and others for buying NEET question papers for Rs 30 to 50 lakhs, exacerbating the controversy.
Taking inspiration from Tamil Nadu, Karnataka’s government is seriously considering similar legislation. During a media interaction on June 19 in Bengaluru, Deputy CM D K Shivakumar stated, “We are discussing going the Tamil Nadu way, the Karnataka government… we are opposing NEET. It’s a big scandal. Our people have built institutions in the state. The institutions’ managements, locals… they’re unable to provide seats to students belonging to their communities. We need a national discussion on this. Students from outside have a reservation, yes, but that’s a different matter. We’ll discuss this in the coming days…”
I welcome the Union Education Minister’s acknowledgment of irregularities in the conduct of the NEET Exam 2024 and the Supreme Court’s order for a re-examination for 1,500 students. The incompetence of the National Testing Agency has caused despair and hopelessness among the…
— DK Shivakumar (@DKShivakumar) June 17, 2024
He has openly called for the newly sworn-in Modi government to scrap NEET and allow states to conduct their own entrance tests for medical and engineering college admissions.
Critics argue that this move is a diversionary tactic to shift attention from the growing opposition to the Siddharamaiah government’s decision to hike diesel and petrol prices, currently the highest in the country.
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