Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MP Stalin on Saturday announced the formation of a high-level committee headed by retired judge AK Rajan to assess the impact of the National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET) on admissions in medical schools in recent years in the state. The committee of educators and government officials will study in depth the impact of NEET on medical school admissions of students in public schools and economically weaker sections of society.

According to the official press note, several educators pointed out that after the Union government launched NEET for admissions to medical schools in the country, many government students were denied medical seats in Tamil Nadu. . “The government of Tamil Nadu has opposed NEET because it goes against the social justice that the current government and state will always uphold. of NEETs will be identified by the committee set up by the government, ”the press briefing said. Further, the memo pointed out that former CM K Karunanidhi had always insisted on providing medical admission to students on the basis of their class 12 final exams and not by taking NEETs.

The committee will investigate how many students, especially those who have studied in public schools and those from economically weaker backgrounds, have lost medical places due to NEET in Tamil Nadu in recent years. The press note added that if the committee finds that NEET has affected these students, it will also come up with alternative admission procedures, as well as the legal scope to implement them.

DMK had, in its manifesto for the 2021 Assembly elections, pledged to abolish NEET and make 12 grade marks as a requirement for admission to MBBS and BDS courses. The DMK had also promised to pass a bill against NEETs in the first session of the legislature of the new government once it came to power.

According to reports, in 2020, 1.16 lakh students applied for NEET in Tamil Nadu, of which 57,217 students passed the exams. In addition, 313 MBBS seats and 92 dental seats were allocated in accordance with the 7.5% reservation for public school students that was made by the previous AIADMK government.