- The standoff between Tamil Nadu and the Centre over the National Eligibility and Entrance Test (NEET) has heated up.
- It has sparked debate on returning education to the State List of the Constitution’s Seventh Schedule.
Why is this in the news?
- Educational Independence: M.K. Stalin demanded that education be returned to the State List after being placed on the Concurrent List during the Emergency.
- NEET Disagreement: The sad suicides of a student and his father as a result of exam-related stress fueled Tamil Nadu’s opposition to NEET.
Why is Tamil Nadu opposed to NEET?
- Due to its mechanical concentration on grades, NEET, a centralised entrance exam for medical courses, attracts resistance in Tamil Nadu.
- The Effect on Local Models: NEET upended paradigms such as Christian Medical College (CMC) Vellore, which was noted for emphasising talent above grades.
- Impact of In-Service Quota: NEET eliminated Tamil Nadu’s in-service quota for medical graduates, lowering healthcare quality.
- Disadvantages The exam benefits wealthier sectors who can afford lakhs of dollars in tuition (especially repeaters), disadvantaging underprivileged groups and impeding their objectives.
The Emotional Nature of the Problem
- Equity and Social Justice: Opposition to NEET is strongly founded in aspirations for educational equity and autonomy, which are motivated by concerns about social justice.
- Kamaraj’s Dream: Chief Minister K. Kamaraj’s education vision for Tamil Nadu emphasised accessibility and empathy for the unlettered population.
Legislative Struggles
- Bills presented by the former AIADMK administration in 2017 demanding state autonomy in medical admissions. The President gave them back.
- Stalin’s Attempts: The Tamil Nadu Admission to Undergraduate Medical Degree Courses Bill, 2021, was passed by CM M.K. Stalin’s government in 2021, with the goal of abolishing NEET and basing admissions on Class 12 grades for social justice.
- Governor R.N. Ravi, who was opposed to the anti-NEET Bill, delayed its submission to the President, causing political problems.
Justice A.K. Rajan Committee
- Committee Formation: The Justice A.K. Rajan Committee was formed in 2021 to evaluate the fairness of NEET medical admissions.
- The committee criticised NEET for preferring repeaters and coached students while disadvantageous first-time applicants, resulting in lower admissions among marginalised groups.
Why is TN now enraged?
- Medical course admissions fall within the Concurrent List (Entry 25), which allows governments to regulate on these issues.
- Amending Central Laws: States may pass admissions laws and change central admissions rules as long as they do not violate legislative statutes.
Current Situation
- Historic Public Health Practises: Retaining PG doctors was critical to Tamil Nadu’s public health infrastructure, demonstrating the state’s excellent healthcare practises.
- Reconciling Uniformity and Fairness: The stalemate in the NEET programme demonstrates the difficulty of reconciling uniformity with local values and requirements.
- Clash of Values: The issue highlights a greater struggle between centralization and local autonomy, highlighting deeper concerns in India about democracy, equality, and social justice.
Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/behind-tn-vs-centre-over-neet-a-larger-equity-federalism-battle-8892918/