Tamil Nadu pushes to abolish NEET, proposes class 12 marks for MBBS admission

Tamil Nadu's government has formally restated its opposition to NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) as the sole gateway for undergraduate medical admissions. During a meeting with a national task force on examination reforms, state officials recommended completely abolishing NEET and similar entrance tests for medical and other professional courses. Instead, they proposed using class 12 or intermediate board marks as the basis for admission to medical colleges. This move reflects a long-standing position by the state, which argues that NEET disadvantages students from Tamil Nadu's state board system compared to those following national curricula with access to specialised coaching.

What Tamil Nadu proposed to the national task force

On November 5, 2026, Tamil Nadu's Chief Minister met with Nandan Nilekani, chairman of a High-Powered Task Force on examination reforms, along with senior officials including the IIT Madras director and former Union Education Secretary. During this meeting, the state government formally submitted its recommendation to completely abolish NEET and other centralised entrance examinations for medical and professional course admissions.

In place of NEET, Tamil Nadu proposed that class 12 or intermediate board examination marks should become the sole criterion for admission to medical colleges. This represents a return to the system the state used before NEET was introduced as a national-level entrance test. The state also highlighted that the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly had unanimously passed a resolution opposing NEET on August 11, 2026, demonstrating broad political consensus on this issue.

Why Tamil Nadu argues NEET disadvantages its students

Tamil Nadu's opposition to NEET is rooted in concerns about fairness to students from the state board system. State leaders have consistently argued that NEET, which is based on the national curriculum, puts Tamil Nadu board students at a disadvantage compared to those following the national-level syllabus. Additionally, students in other states often have access to specialised coaching centres designed specifically for NEET preparation, which are less prevalent in Tamil Nadu.

Before NEET was introduced as a mandatory national entrance examination, Tamil Nadu admitted students to medical colleges based solely on their class 12 board marks. The state views this approach as more equitable because it evaluates students on the curriculum they actually studied in school, rather than requiring them to master a different syllabus for a separate entrance test. This concern about curriculum mismatch and unequal access to coaching remains central to Tamil Nadu's case against NEET.

The broader context: National examination reforms underway

The High-Powered Task Force that received Tamil Nadu's proposal was constituted by the Union government in August 2026, following significant disruption to the examination system. The task force was established after the resignation of the former Union Education Minister in July 2026, which came after nearly a month of student-led protests related to examination integrity and security concerns.

The task force, chaired by Nilekali, is examining ways to improve examination security, transparency, accessibility, and infrastructure across public examinations conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). The panel is also focusing on student well-being and the use of technology to strengthen the examination system. Tamil Nadu's formal recommendation to abolish NEET is being made within this broader review of how India conducts high-stakes entrance examinations.

What this means for NEET aspirants in Tamil Nadu

For students currently preparing for NEET in Tamil Nadu, this proposal does not change the immediate reality: NEET remains the mandatory entrance examination for MBBS and BDS admissions across India in 2026 and beyond, unless the national government formally adopts the task force's recommendations and amends the law. Aspirants should continue their NEET preparation as planned and not assume any change in the admission process for the current or upcoming cycles.

However, this formal state-level push does signal that the debate over NEET's future is active at the highest levels of government. If the national task force or the Union government were to seriously consider alternatives to NEET, Tamil Nadu's proposal to use board marks could become a model for discussion. In the longer term, if such a change were implemented, it could fundamentally alter how medical college seats are allocated and how students prepare for admission.

Tamil Nadu's historical stance on NEET

Tamil Nadu's opposition to NEET is not new. The state has consistently resisted the centralised entrance examination since its introduction, arguing that it undermines the autonomy of state education systems and disadvantages students from state boards. The state's education bodies, including the State Platform for Common School System–Tamil Nadu (SPCSS-TN), have previously urged the national task force to scrap not only NEET but also the National Testing Agency (NTA) itself and all centralised undergraduate entrance tests.

This latest formal recommendation to the High-Powered Task Force represents a continuation of Tamil Nadu's long-standing advocacy. The state has maintained that a merit-based system using board examination marks is fairer, more transparent, and better aligned with the actual curriculum students study. By repeatedly raising this issue at the national level, Tamil Nadu is attempting to influence the broader conversation about how India should conduct medical admissions.

How board marks-based admission would work

If Tamil Nadu's proposal were adopted, medical college admissions would be based entirely on a student's class 12 or intermediate board examination marks, without a separate entrance test. This would mean that a student's rank in the state or national merit list for medical admissions would be determined solely by their board performance, not by their performance on NEET.

Such a system would require coordination between state education boards and medical colleges to establish merit lists and allocate seats. It would also eliminate the need for students to prepare for a separate, centralised entrance examination, potentially reducing coaching dependency and the financial burden on families. However, it would also mean that medical colleges would have less control over the selection process and would need to rely on board examination standards, which vary across states.

Challenges to implementing such a change

While Tamil Nadu's proposal is clear, implementing it nationally would face significant hurdles. NEET is mandated by law for undergraduate medical admissions across India, and changing this would require legislative action at the national level. The Union government would need to amend the relevant laws and regulations, a process that involves multiple stakeholders, including the Ministry of Education, the National Medical Commission, and state governments.

Additionally, a shift to board marks-based admission would raise questions about standardisation across states. Different state boards have different curricula, examination standards, and difficulty levels. A national medical admission system based on board marks would need to account for these variations to ensure fairness. The task force's recommendations will likely need to address these practical and legal challenges before any change can be implemented.

What aspirants should do now

NEET aspirants, particularly those in Tamil Nadu, should focus on their preparation without being distracted by this policy debate. NEET remains the current pathway to MBBS and BDS admissions, and there is no indication that this will change in the immediate future. Aspirants should treat their NEET preparation as their primary focus and not assume that any alternative admission system will be in place for their cycle.

At the same time, it is worth staying informed about developments in this area. If the national task force makes significant recommendations or if the Union government signals a willingness to reconsider NEET, there may be announcements that affect future admission cycles. However, for students currently in class 11 or 12 preparing for NEET, the safest approach is to assume NEET will remain in place and prepare accordingly.

Frequently asked questions

Tamil Nadu's formal recommendation to abolish NEET is significant in the ongoing debate about medical admissions in India, but it does not change the current reality: NEET remains mandatory for MBBS and BDS admissions. Aspirants should continue their NEET preparation without assuming any immediate change to the admission process. Stay informed about task force recommendations, but treat NEET as your primary pathway to medical college.