As protests over the NEET examination continue across the country, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), led by actor-turned-politician Thalapathy Vijay, has intensified its stand by demanding the complete abolition of NEET. The party said it is not merely seeking reforms in the examination process but wants the national medical entrance test scrapped altogether.
The statement comes at a time when students, political parties, and education activists are demanding greater accountability following recent controversies surrounding competitive examinations. TVK has also proposed significant constitutional changes to give states greater control over education.
TVK Demands Complete Abolition of NEET
In an official statement, TVK said its position on NEET has remained consistent and uncompromising.
According to the party, the issue is not limited to alleged examination irregularities or paper leak concerns. Instead, it believes the entire NEET system should be abolished, arguing that medical admissions should not depend on a single national-level entrance examination.
The party maintained that scrapping NEET would be a more effective long-term solution than introducing minor procedural changes.
Party Calls for Education to Be Shifted to State List
Along with demanding the removal of NEET, TVK proposed a broader reform in India's education system.
The party suggested that education should be moved from the Concurrent List to the State List of the Constitution, allowing individual states to exercise greater control over education policies, including admissions to medical colleges.
According to TVK, if constitutional changes take time, the Centre should consider creating a Special Concurrent List as an interim arrangement to provide states with more decision-making powers.
TVK Targets Political Rivals
Without directly naming the DMK, the party criticised what it described as "vote-bank politics" surrounding the NEET issue.
TVK claimed it would not make unrealistic promises simply to attract votes and insisted that its proposals were based on long-term policy changes rather than political slogans.
The statement also accused some political parties of taking credit for ideas and movements initiated by others.
Why NEET Remains a Political Issue in Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu has remained one of the strongest critics of NEET since the examination became mandatory for medical admissions.
Several political parties in the state have argued that a common national entrance examination disadvantages students from state board backgrounds and rural areas.
Over the years, demands to abolish NEET have become a major electoral issue in Tamil Nadu, with different governments promising to oppose the examination.
Protests Continue Across the Country
TVK's latest statement comes amid ongoing protests related to alleged irregularities in competitive examinations.
Student groups, education activists, and several organisations have been demanding:
- Greater transparency in entrance examinations.
- Stronger action against examination malpractice.
- Better protection for students.
- Comprehensive reforms in the examination system.
The issue has also become a major topic of discussion during the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament.
Arivu Raises Anti-NEET Slogans
The debate over NEET also intensified after rapper Therukkural Arivu briefly raised anti-NEET slogans outside the Tamil Nadu Secretariat before being removed by police.
The incident attracted attention across social media and added further momentum to the ongoing discussion surrounding the examination system.
Several political leaders later criticised the handling of the incident.
Education Reform Debate Gains Momentum
The NEET controversy has reignited wider discussions on how India's entrance examination system should function.
Supporters of NEET argue that a common national examination ensures uniform standards for medical admissions across the country.
Critics, however, believe the current system places additional pressure on students and does not adequately account for differences in school education systems across various states.
As the debate continues, several proposals for examination reforms are being discussed at both the state and national levels.
What Happens Next?
While TVK has reiterated its demand to abolish NEET, any major change would require legislative and policy decisions at the national level.
The Central Government has already announced plans to strengthen examination security, including introducing Computer-Based Testing (CBT) for NEET UG 2027 and implementing additional safeguards against examination malpractice.
Whether broader structural reforms will be considered remains to be seen.
Final Thoughts
The demand by Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam to completely abolish NEET has added a new political dimension to the ongoing national debate over examination reforms. By calling for greater powers for states in education and questioning the future of a common medical entrance examination, the party has reignited a long-standing issue in Tamil Nadu. As protests continue and governments explore reforms aimed at improving examination transparency and security, the future of NEET is likely to remain one of the country's most closely watched education issues.
