The Union Government acting through the President’s rejection of Tamil Nadu’s bill seeking exemption from NEET marks a defining moment—not just in federal politics, but in the battle for educational equity. Passed unanimously by the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly in 2021 and 2022, the bill reflected the State’s collective political and social consensus: that NEET, in its current form, has deepened structural inequalities in medical education. The President’s refusal to assent to the bill, acting on central advice, raises serious questions about the balance of power in our federal structure. But more urgently, it compels us to ask: is NEET serving its purpose—or is it perpetuating privilege under the guise of merit?
Curriculum Mismatch and State Board Disadvantage
NEET’s alignment with the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) syllabus has systematically disadvantaged students from the Tamil Nadu State Board (TNSBSE). Before NEET was imposed, TNSBSE students accounted for over 70% of medical college admissions. Today, that number has plunged to under 47%, while CBSE students now hold 27% of the seats—up from less than 1% in the pre-NEET era. This isn’t a reflection of poor teaching or student quality in the State system; it’s a consequence of curricular misalignment. State board students are being assessed through a test designed with another academic framework in mind. The result is a race they are forced to run with a handicap.
Unequal Playing Field and Coaching Culture
NEET has also institutionalized the coaching industry, with many aspirants spending upwards of ₹1 to ₹5 lakh annually on preparation. Predictably, those from rural, low-income, and first-generation learner backgrounds are left behind. In 2020–21, the proportion of science students in Tamil Nadu government schools dropped from 43% to 35%—a silent indicator of fading aspirations. Many bright students, seeing medicine as inaccessible, opt out. The State had to introduce a 7.5% horizontal reservation for government school students in medical admissions. All 622 seats under this quota were filled in 2024, proving that talent is not the problem—opportunity is.
Misplaced Notions of Merit
Medical education is about far more than test scores. It is about public service, empathy, and long-term commitment—qualities that standardized tests can’t measure. Tamil Nadu’s earlier +2-based admission system produced thousands of first-generation doctors, many of whom went on to serve in rural areas and bolster the State’s pioneering public health system. NEET risks breaking this pipeline and replacing it with urban-centric, test-savvy professionals, less rooted in the public service ethos.
The Toll on Mental Health
In Tamil Nadu alone, multiple NEET aspirants have taken their lives in recent years. These are not isolated tragedies but part of a larger pattern. The pressure-cooker environment created by a single high-stakes exam has led to rising levels of anxiety, depression, and hopelessness. In a State that has traditionally emphasized inclusive and humane education, this is a crisis of conscience.
The Federal Standoff
That both NEET exemption bills were rejected despite unanimous State support underscores the erosion of State autonomy in education. The Constitution may place education in the Concurrent List, but States must be allowed to account for their unique socio-educational contexts. Tamil Nadu’s model, built on social justice, cannot be replaced by a homogenized, central template without undermining the foundational principles of cooperative federalism.
The Red Herring of Quality Concerns
One argument often made in defense of NEET is that it ensures the quality of medical professionals. This is misleading. Reservation and inclusive admission policies operate only at the point of entry. Every student, regardless of how they entered, must pass the same examinations, meet the same academic benchmarks, and undergo the same clinical training. There are no shortcuts to a medical degree.
If quality is indeed the concern, we should be asking what support systems exist to ensure that all students succeed—rather than using the language of merit as a screen for socioeconomic privilege. In fact, many SC, ST, and MBC students admitted through reservations go on to become exemplary doctors, often returning to serve in areas where few others will.
A Call for Reimagining
The NEET model, in its current form, is not delivering justice or excellence. It has created new hierarchies while failing to nurture the diverse pool of talent our country possesses. Tamil Nadu is not opposing NEET to lower the bar—it is resisting a flawed system that equates merit with means. We must stop seeing education as a standardized competition and start seeing it as a tool of empowerment and equity. The Centre must listen—not just to politicians but to students, educators, and civil society—and reimagine a medical admission process that is just, inclusive, and genuinely meritocratic. If India is to harness the full potential of its youth, it must ensure that exams like NEET do not become barriers to dreams but bridges to possibility.
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