DMK renews NEET abolition demand in Lok Sabha, cites suicides and inequality

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) on Tuesday renewed its demand for scrapping the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) during a debate in the Lok Sabha. The party argued that the proposed amendments to the anti-paper leak law do not address the “core issue” of the medical entrance examination itself.

Participating in the discussion on the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran said Tamil Nadu has consistently opposed NEET since its introduction. He accused the Centre of ignoring the State’s concerns and asserted that the time had come to abolish the test outright.

“Enough is enough, ban NEET, abolish NEET. Do not go for ‘One India, One Examination’. Our strength comes from our diversity,” Mr. Maran said, adding that the one-size-fits-all approach undermines the country’s educational pluralism.

He claimed that 26 students in Tamil Nadu had died by suicide in connection with the examination. Mr. Maran also argued that NEET disadvantages first-generation learners and students from State boards while benefiting private coaching centres. According to him, the exam creates an uneven playing field where access to expensive coaching determines success rather than aptitude.

Citing official figures, he said nearly 22 lakh students appear for NEET every year, around 12 lakh qualify, but there are only about 1.39 lakh undergraduate medical seats. This gap, he argued, makes the exam excessively competitive and psychologically burdensome for students.

Questioning the rationale for retaining NEET, Mr. Maran asked whether the test had improved the quality of doctors, reduced infant mortality, strengthened rural healthcare or addressed the shortage of doctors. He suggested that the exam’s stated objectives have not been met, despite its widespread enforcement.

He also referred to alleged irregularities in recent NEET examinations, including those in 2024 and 2026, saying that such controversies further erode public confidence in the testing system.

In a separate grievance, Mr. Maran alleged that he and NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule were unable to use WhatsApp broadcast lists for three days because of forwarding restrictions. He criticised what he described as the government’s unequal treatment of social media platforms, though he did not provide additional specifics.

Ms. Sule, who joined the debate, urged the government to respond to the concerns with “empathy, compassion and sensitivity”. She demanded an all-party meeting and the constitution of a Joint Parliamentary Committee to examine the controversy surrounding NEET.

“We are not your enemy,” Ms. Sule said, asking the government to treat the matter with greater seriousness and engage constructively with opposition parties.

The DMK has maintained that NEET unfairly benefits students from privileged backgrounds, particularly those who can afford intensive coaching. The party’s demand to scrap the test has been a firm political stand in Tamil Nadu, which had its own medical entrance examination system before NEET was introduced nationally. The central government, however, has defended the exam as a measure to ensure merit and transparency. The debate highlights the ongoing friction between the Centre and states over the control of medical education admissions.