DMK Member of Parliament Dayanidhi Maran has strongly urged the Central government to abolish the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), citing concerns over its impact on students’ mental health. During a recent statement, he claimed that over 100 students have tragically taken their own lives due to the pressures associated with the examination.

Maran’s comments were made during an interaction with ANI in New Delhi on July 29. He highlighted Tamil Nadu’s exceptional educational and healthcare infrastructure, arguing that the necessity for a centralised examination like NEET is questionable in the state. He asserted that Tamil Nadu is home to an abundant number of medical colleges, making the exam redundant.

He expressed that the aspirations of children from farming and daily wage backgrounds to pursue careers in medicine are valid and can be fulfilled within the state’s existing educational framework. Citing examples such as APJ Abdul Kalam, who attended a Tamil Medium school, Maran positioned Tamil Nadu’s education system as capable of producing competent medical professionals.

Criticism of Centralised Medical Exam

Maran took a direct stance against the government, stating that it bears responsibility for the emotional toll faced by medical aspirants due to NEET. He questioned the effectiveness of the exam in improving healthcare standards in India.

In his remarks, he asserted that the government’s continuation of NEET directly contributes to rising student suicides, labelling the situation as one of incompetence on the part of the authorities. “The blood is in your hands. 107 children have been killed because of your arrogance in continuing to implement NEET,” he stated, further emphasising that the exam does not correlate with enhanced efficiency or outcomes in medical practice or patient care.

Concluding his appeal, Maran called for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to reconsider the necessity of NEET, prioritising the welfare of students above all. “I request the BJP to please remove NEET,” he said, urging a review of policy in light of the associated risks to student well-being.

Political Opposition to NEET from Tamil Nadu

The ongoing opposition to NEET from various political entities in Tamil Nadu underscores a broader concern regarding the accessibility of medical education. Opponents argue that the centralised exam unfairly disadvantages students hailing from rural backgrounds, those who have studied in Tamil Medium, and families with limited financial resources who may be unable to afford expensive coaching classes.

This political discourse reflects a growing frustration within the state regarding the perceived inequities of NEET and its implications for equitable access to higher education. The sentiment is that the current examination framework does not adequately accommodate the diverse educational landscape of Tamil Nadu.

In a related development on July 27, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, Jitendra Singh, introduced the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 in the Lok Sabha. This proposed legislation aims to enhance the measures outlined in the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, focusing on expedited investigations, rapid trials, and stern penalties to combat cheating in public examinations. The introduction of this bill has drawn attention amid the ongoing discussions concerning the integrity of educational assessments.

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