Karnataka passes resolution to scrap NEET, becomes third state to do so

After Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, Karnataka Assembly on Thursday, July 25 passed a resolution to scrap the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). It was tabled by State Minister of Medical Education & Skill Development, Sharan Prakash Patil. The government has urged the Union to allow Karnataka to provide admissions based on the Common Entrance Test (CET) marks, which is conducted by the state government.

“The NEET examination which severely affects the medical education opportunities of poor rural students, makes schooling redundant and deprives the right of the State Governments to admit students in State Government Medical colleges, should be abolished,” the resolution said. 

Karnataka Medical Education and Skill Development Minister Sharan Prakash Patil on June 21 had termed the NEET-UG 2024 a massive 'scam' of the Union government, as he demanded a CBI probe into the matter. "It is sad that the Union government is not taking the matter seriously even as students and parents continue to protest across the country. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan is acting irresponsibly. The CBI should conduct a probe and the guilty must be punished,” he said.

About 24 lakh aspirants appeared for NEET on May 5 for admission to medical colleges. The results were announced before time on June 5 but were marred by allegations of paper leak and awarding of grace marks to over 1,500 candidates. The National Testing Agency (NTA) faced criticisms that it awarded the grace marks in a non-transparent manner, resulting in at least 67 candidates achieving perfect scores of 720/720. 

On July 24, the West Bengal Assembly passed a similar resolution to scrap NEET and restore the previous system of state governments conducting such examinations. Earlier, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had sent a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi raising the same demand. The Tamil Nadu Assembly in June 2024 had unanimously passed a resolution to scrap NEET and allow medical admission based on Class 12 marks, as was the system in the state before.

The Assembly also passed a resolution against the Union government's 'One Nation, One Election’ proposal. Proposing the resolution against ‘One Nation, One Election’, Patil stated that India was the biggest democracy in the world and the proposal in this regard by the Union government was against the principles of the Constitution.

The law minister added that holding transparent and judicious elections was the soul of democracy. “The ‘One Nation, One Election’ proposal is dangerous for the federal system. Different states have their own frameworks regarding state Assemblies. The proposal for one election for the whole nation will focus more on the national level and less on states,” Patil stated.

“Therefore, it is urged that the central government should not proceed with the ‘One Nation, One Election’ proposal. The matter will also be brought to the notice of the Election Commission,” he said.

Leader of the Opposition, R Ashoka stated that former President Pranab Mukherjee, who was a senior Congress leader, had maintained that by conducting elections throughout the country at once, wastage of money could be prevented and the development of the nation is hampered by the present model of conducting elections.

(With inputs from IANS)