Tamil Nadu CM Vijay revives anti-NEET stand, seeks board marks-based medical admissions

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay has once again reiterated the state's opposition to the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) for undergraduate medical and dental admissions. He claims that the national-level examination has adversely affected students from rural and socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

Addressing the 11th governing council meeting of NITI Aayog in New Delhi, Vijay urged the Centre to allow Tamil Nadu to fill all state quota seats in MBBS, BDS and AYUSH courses on the basis of Class 12 marks. Notably, Tamil Nadu government has repeatedly argued that NEET UG creates barriers for students studying in government schools and those from underprivileged families.

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"The State is opposed to the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) for admission to undergraduate medical and dental courses, as its introduction has affected students from rural and socio-economically disadvantaged families," Vijay said during the meeting reportedly attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and chief ministers of various states.

Seeking flexibility in medical admissions, the chief minister requested that Tamil Nadu must be allowed to fill all seats under the state quota in MBBS, BDS and AYUSH programmes using Class 12 or intermediate marks. He believes that such a system would better reflect school-level academic performance.

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Tamil Nadu state officials have argued that NEET has altered the admission landscape in medical education and reduced opportunities for students who perform well in school examinations but struggle in highly competitive entrance tests.

The issue was raised as part of broader discussions on educational access, healthcare infrastructure and state policy priorities during the NITI Aayog meeting. Vijay's remarks highlighted the need for greater state-level autonomy in admissions.

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Youth Skill and Employment Mission in TN

Apart from the NEET, the chief minister outlined Tamil Nadu's broader development agenda and economic vision. "Despite global uncertainties, Tamil Nadu, India's second-largest economy, continues to demonstrate resilience and sustained growth," Vijay said. To strengthen workforce readiness and employment opportunities, Vijay proposed a Youth Skill and Employment Mission under which five lakh young people would receive stipend-supported internships and industry-linked training every year. The initiative aims to bridge the gap between education and employment while preparing youth for emerging sectors.

He also sought central support for establishing emerging technology skill centres in every district of Tamil Nadu. These centres would focus on training students and young professionals in areas such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, cloud computing, electric vehicle technology and semiconductor-related industries.