In an address to the Lok Sabha, DMK Member of Parliament Dayanidhi Maran called for the abolition of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), reaffirming his party’s long-standing stance against the examination. Maran highlighted the tragic consequences of NEET, citing the alarming number of student suicides linked to the competitive exam and asserting that the initiative undermines educational equity across the country.

According to Maran, the impact of NEET has been dire, with 107 student suicides attributed to the pressures of competitive exams. He reported that out of these, 93 fatalities were connected to NEET, including 14 cases in the current year alone. Maran specifically mentioned Tamil Nadu, where 26 individuals took their own lives due to the overwhelming stress associated with the examination, emphasising that these tragedies reflected a widespread issue affecting students from diverse backgrounds.

During his address, Maran raised concerns regarding the proposed Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, arguing that it fails to tackle the deeper problems associated with NEET. He pointed out that lawmakers had proposed superficial solutions to prevent suicides while ignoring the core issue of a single examination determining medical education access. His remarks included criticisms of a recent legislative approach in Rajasthan aimed at reducing suicide risk that he deemed inadequate.

DMK’s Long History of Opposition to NEET

Maran outlined the DMK’s enduring opposition to NEET, which has persisted since its introduction in 2016. He noted that the party has organised protests, passed resolutions in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, and sought support from leaders across India to eliminate the exam. According to Maran, the DMK views NEET as an unjust system that disadvantages first-generation students aspiring to become doctors.

The DMK leader recalled past instances where the party raised concerns about NEET, particularly following the case of Anitha, a Dalit student whose suicide in 2017 exemplified the tragic consequences of the pressures surrounding competitive examinations. Anitha was a top student unable to access coaching resources due to her rural background, and her story served as a rallying point for the DMK’s ongoing fight against NEET.

Maran asserted that the introduction of NEET represents a flawed educational framework in which a single exam determines future opportunities for thousands of aspiring medical professionals. The DMK has consistently maintained that the examination system disproportionately favours certain demographic groups, thereby exacerbating educational inequalities.

Discussion on the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill

On July 28, 2023, the Lok Sabha convened to discuss the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill at 2 pm. The proposed legislation seeks to increase penalties for those caught using unfair means during examinations, raising the minimum prison term from three years to five years, with a maximum fine also significantly increased from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 50 lakh.

For serious examination-related offences, the Bill proposes extending the minimum prison term from five years to seven years and raising the maximum fine from Rs 1 crore to Rs 10 crore. Additionally, the Bill empowers the central government to form a Special Task Force dedicated to investigating paper leaks and other related malpractice.

The reform further includes provisions for the swift completion of investigations within two months and establishes Special Fast Track Courts aimed at expediting trials for offences under the Act. Special Public Prosecutors would also be appointed to streamline the prosecution process in these courts, highlighting a legislative focus on swiftly addressing examination integrity issues.

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