Vijay calls for scrapping NEET, says medical admissions should be based on Class 12 marks

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay called for the abolition of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), saying medical admissions should be conducted on the basis of Class 12 marks instead of a centralised entrance examination.

The remarks came a day after the National Testing Agency (NTA) cancelled the NEET-UG 2026 examination following allegations of a large-scale paper leak and irregularities in the conduct of the exam. The matter has since been handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for investigation.

In a statement posted on social media platform X on May 13, Vijay said the latest controversy showed that NEET was “structurally flawed” and argued that repeated allegations of leaks and malpractice had undermined trust in the examination system.

The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister said admissions to medical colleges should instead be based on students’ Class 12 scores, reviving a long-standing demand raised by several political parties in the state.

Vijay also urged the Union government to reconsider the national entrance exam system, stating that students should not be subjected to repeated uncertainty and mental stress because of failures in the examination process.

The NEET-UG 2026 examination, conducted on May 3 across more than 5,400 centres in India and abroad, was cancelled after investigators found evidence suggesting that portions of the question paper had circulated before the exam. Reports said over 100 questions allegedly matched leaked “guess papers”.

The cancellation affected more than 22 lakh medical aspirants and triggered protests in several cities, with students demanding accountability from the NTA and clarity on the revised examination schedule.

Tamil Nadu has consistently opposed NEET since the exam became mandatory for medical admissions nationwide. Political parties across the state, including the DMK and AIADMK, have argued that the exam disadvantages rural and state-board students while favouring those with access to expensive coaching centres.

Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin also criticised NEET following the cancellation, calling it a “scam” and reiterating demands for admissions based on higher secondary examination marks.

The NTA has announced that NEET-UG 2026 will be re-conducted, although fresh dates for the examination are yet to be announced. Candidates will not be required to register again or pay additional fees for the re-test.