Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) president and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Thursday intensified his attack on the Centre over the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET), urging the Union government to abolish the examination and restore greater powers to states in matters of education. Calling the ongoing nationwide protests a "wake-up call," Stalin said the Centre must listen to the voices of students instead of defending what he described as a failed system.
In a strongly worded statement, Stalin said, "Trust the states, abolish NEET," arguing that education should be primarily handled by state governments, which are better equipped to understand local needs and ensure equitable access to higher education. He maintained that NEET had failed to fulfil its stated objectives of creating a fair and transparent admission process and had instead placed immense pressure on students, particularly those from rural, economically weaker and government-school backgrounds.
Stalin also linked his criticism to the recent examination paper leak controversy, saying repeated irregularities had exposed serious weaknesses in the national testing system. According to him, the ongoing student protests across the country should serve as a warning to the Centre that confidence in the examination process has eroded. He urged the Union government to respond through structural reforms rather than temporary measures.
The DMK leader questioned the Centre's continued support for NEET despite repeated allegations of paper leaks, examination irregularities and administrative failures. He argued that the examination had neither eliminated malpractice nor ensured equal opportunities for aspirants, while increasing financial and psychological stress on lakhs of students preparing for medical admissions.
Stalin's remarks came hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the Centre would establish fast-track courts to ensure swift punishment for those involved in examination paper leaks. While the government described the move as part of a broader effort to safeguard the future of students, opposition leaders insisted that stricter punishment alone would not resolve the underlying issues surrounding NEET.
The debate over NEET has once again become a major political issue, with opposition parties demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and calling for wider reforms in the examination system. Student-led protests have continued in several parts of the country, with demonstrators insisting that restoring transparency and accountability requires more than legal action against paper leak offenders.
