ON
← Back to feed
Tamil Nadu Assembly passes resolution seeking abolition of NEET
India🏛️ PoliticsProgressive7 days ago

Tamil Nadu Assembly passes resolution seeking abolition of NEET

The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly has passed a resolution calling for the abolition of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET), which is required for undergraduate medical admissions across India. The resolution urges the central government to amend relevant laws to allow admissions based on Class 12 board exam scores instead of NEET. This follows years of opposition from Tamil Nadu, citing concerns over social justice, state autonomy, and issues like exam leaks and the cancellation of exams, which have reportedly caused significant distress among students. The move comes amid an ongoing hunger strike in Chennai, where four individuals are protesting against NEET, organized by S Manirathnam, brother of S Anitha, a student who committed suicide in 2017 after failing to gain admission to a medical college via NEET. Tamil Nadu has previously attempted to pass legislation exempting the state from NEET, though these efforts have been blocked by the President and later challenged in the Supreme Court.

Tamil Nadu’s legislative assembly on Tuesday passed two resolutions opposing the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment (FCRA) Bill, 2026. The measures were supported by the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government led by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, along with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), and left-wing parties. The lone Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) member, M Bhojarajan, opposed both resolutions and walked out of the House. The TVK government, through Health Minister KG Arunraj, argued that the NEET exam undermines social justice and violates state rights. He claimed that the entrance test disproportionately affects students from Tamil-medium schools, rural areas, and economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Arunraj cited repeated instances of paper leaks leading to the cancellation of exams, which he said caused widespread distress and even resulted in deaths. He called for the complete abolition of the exam, stating it had lost public trust. The resolution against NEET received backing from multiple factions within the assembly. Social Justice Minister Vanni Arasu highlighted concerns regarding the FCRA Amendment Bill, which he said threatens the autonomy of charitable organizations, particularly those run by minorities. He emphasized that the bill should uphold principles of natural justice, proportionality, and federalism, while ensuring transparency in handling foreign contributions. Arunraj further explained that the FCRA Amendment Bill could hinder the operations of educational and social welfare institutions managed by minority groups. He stressed the need for amendments that would safeguard the rights of these organizations, including protections for property rights and legitimate expectations. In contrast, Bhojarajan voiced his disagreement with the government’s stance on both issues. Regarding NEET, he argued that the exam offers opportunities for Tamil Nadu students, citing examples from distant regions like Pollachi where students had succeeded in clearing the test. Instead of calling for its abolition, he suggested strengthening local coaching infrastructure to better prepare students. On the FCRA issue, Bhojarajan contended that the central government aimed to address misuse of foreign funds and enhance accountability. He believed the amendment was necessary to correct deficiencies in the existing framework rather than being inherently harmful. Bhojarajan, the sole BJP representative in the 234-member assembly, has consistently taken positions diverging from the majority view. Despite his small numbers, he has made his voice heard on critical issues affecting the state. His opposition to the resolutions on NEET and FCRA marked notable moments in the assembly sessions. Born in 1946, Bhojarajan is the eldest member of the current assembly. Hailing from the Nilgiris, he has deep ties to the region’s tea industry. With a background in agriculture, business, and law, he has worked as a planter, advocate, and has been involved in tea estate management. His academic journey included studying at Government Arts College in Ooty, followed by legal studies at Madras Law College and a diploma in criminology from Madras Medical College. Previously aligned with the Congress party, Bhojarajan joined the BJP around 2014. After contesting the Udhagamandalam Assembly seat in 2021 and losing to Congress candidate R Ganesh, he won the seat in 2024 with a narrow margin of 976 votes, becoming the only BJP MLA in Tamil Nadu. The FCRA Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on March 25 and is currently undergoing scrutiny in Parliament. As debates continue, the Tamil Nadu assembly’s decisions reflect broader regional sentiments and policy preferences, highlighting the complex interplay between state and national governance structures.

Go to the primary sources (3)

The official sources this coverage is built on. Read them directly to bypass framing.

8 reports

The Hindu logoThe HinduIndependentProgressiveFactual 98Objective 9912 days ago
Tamil Nadu Assembly adopts resolution seeking abolition of NEET for undergraduate medical courses

The Tamil Nadu Assembly unanimously passed a resolution calling for the abolition of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) for undergraduate medical admissions. The resolution highlights concerns over exam irregularities, the rise of coaching centers, and the negative impact on rural and socio-economically disadvantaged students. It argues that NEET undermines educational equity and diverts focus from school curricula. The resolution also notes the cancellation of NEET-UG 2026 due to leaks and the resulting distress among students. The state government has previously sought exemption from NEET, though such bills were not enacted. The minister advocating the resolution suggested shifting medical education to the State List as a long-term solution.

Bias read (Progressive): The article frames the opposition to NEET as a progressive stance emphasizing social justice, equity, and the rights of states. It highlights systemic issues affecting marginalized communities and criticizes the centralization of education under NEET. While the resolution itself is nonpartisan, the措

Why factuality (98): The article closely follows the primary source document, accurately reporting the adoption of the resolution, the opposition by the lone BJP MLA, and the historical context of similar resolutions in 2021. All key details such as the specific acts mentioned and the content of the resolution are faith

Why objectivity (99): The article presents the information in a neutral manner, using straightforward language without editorializing or showing bias toward any political party or stance.

Scroll.in logoScroll.inIndependentCenterFactual 96Objective 9512 days ago
Tamil Nadu Assembly passes resolution seeking abolition of NEET

The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly has passed a resolution calling for the abolition of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET), which is required for undergraduate medical admissions across India. The resolution urges the central government to amend relevant laws to allow admissions based on Class 12 board exam scores instead of NEET. This follows years of opposition from Tamil Nadu, citing concerns over social justice, state autonomy, and issues like exam leaks and the cancellation of exams, which have reportedly caused significant distress among students. The move comes amid an ongoing hunger strike in Chennai, where four individuals are protesting against NEET, organized by S Manirathnam, brother of S Anitha, a student who committed suicide in 2017 after failing to gain admission to a medical college via NEET. Tamil Nadu has previously attempted to pass legislation exempting the state from NEET, though these efforts have been blocked by the President and later challenged in the Supreme Court.

Bias read (Center): The article presents the situation objectively, detailing the actions of the Tamil Nadu government, the reasons behind their opposition to NEET, and the broader context including past legislative attempts and legal challenges. There is no overtly biased language or selective emphasis on one side of

Why factuality (96): The article accurately reflects the primary source, detailing the resolution's adoption, the opposition by the BJP MLA, and the reasons for abolishing NEET. It also mentions the ongoing hunger strike and the suicide incident, which are relevant but not explicitly detailed in the primary source.

Why objectivity (95): The article maintains a neutral tone throughout, providing factual information without showing preference for either side of the debate.

Times of India logoTimes of IndiaIndependentProgressiveFactual 95Objective 9212 days ago
'Paper leaks, loss of young lives': Vijay govt passes resolution to scrap NEET

The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly passed a resolution urging the central government to abolish the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), arguing that the exam undermines social justice and educational equity. Health Minister K G Arunraj criticized NEET for favoring urban students, creating a reliance on costly coaching centers, and shifting focus away from school curricula. The resolution highlighted issues such as paper leaks, student losses, and distrust in the system, proposing instead that medical admissions be based on Class 12 marks. The BJP MLA walked out during the debate, indicating opposition to the proposal. The state government previously called for replacing NEET with a marks-based system and has allocated significant funds to higher education.

Bias read (Progressive): The article frames the push to abolish NEET as a progressive stance advocating for social justice and equal opportunity, emphasizing systemic inequities faced by rural and disadvantaged students. It highlights criticism of the current system as exploitative and elitist, aligning with left-wing views

Why factuality (95): The article captures the essential facts from the primary source, including the resolution's passage, the opposition by the BJP MLA, and the reasons cited for abolishing NEET. However, it adds some contextual elements like the mention of the finance minister and budget allocation, which are not pres

Why objectivity (92): While mostly neutral, the article uses phrases like 'undermines poor, rural, backward students' which could be seen as slightly emotive. Overall, it maintains a relatively balanced tone.

Hindustan Times logoHindustan TimesIndependentProgressiveFactual 92Objective 8812 days ago
Tamil Nadu adopts resolutions against NEET, FCRA

The Tamil Nadu legislative assembly passed two resolutions opposing the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment (FCRA) Bill, 2026. The resolutions were supported by multiple opposition parties including DMK, AIADMK, PMK, and the Left, while the sole Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) member, Bhojarajan, opposed both resolutions and walked out of the session. The NEET resolution argued that the exam system disadvantages students from Tamil medium schools, rural areas, and socioeconomically backward communities, citing issues such as paper leaks and loss of student trust. The FCRA resolution criticized the proposed amendments for threatening the autonomy of charitable organizations, particularly minority-run educational and social welfare institutions, and called for protections of property rights and federalism. The FCRA Bill is currently under consideration in the Lok Sabha.

Bias read (Progressive): The article frames the resolutions as efforts to uphold social justice, protect minority rights, and challenge centralized control over education and foreign contribution regulations. The emphasis on systemic disadvantages faced by specific groups (rural students, minorities) and criticism of the FC

Why factuality (92): The article closely aligns with the primary source, accurately reporting the adoption of the resolution against NEET, the role of Health Minister KG Arunraj, and the opposition by the BJP MLA. It includes details about the impact of NEET on rural and socio-economically disadvantaged students, the is

Why objectivity (88): The article presents the information in a balanced manner, quoting both the government's stance and the opposition from the BJP MLA. It avoids overtly emotional language and provides a fair representation of the debate. The inclusion of the FCRA resolution adds additional context but does not detrac

Hindustan Times logoHindustan TimesIndependentProgressiveFactual 90Objective 8512 days ago
‘Abolish NEET; undermines poor, rural, backward students’: Tamil Nadu assembly passes Vijay govt's resolution

The Tamil Nadu legislative assembly passed a resolution opposing the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET), a national medical entrance exam, arguing that it disadvantages rural, socioeconomically disadvantaged, and Tamil-medium students. The resolution, moved by State Health Minister KG Arunraj, criticizes NEET for prioritizing coaching over school curriculum, creating financial burdens through expensive coaching centers, and undermining educational equity. It highlights that Tamil Nadu previously passed a law exempting itself from NEET but the bill remains pending. The resolution calls on the central government to abolish NEET and base medical admissions on Class 12 results instead. While the ruling TVK and its allies, along with opposition parties like DMK and AIADMK, supported the resolution, the BJP MLA walked out during the debate.

Bias read (Progressive): The article frames the opposition to NEET as a progressive stance focused on social justice and equity, emphasizing the negative impacts on marginalized groups. It presents the Tamil Nadu government’s position as aligned with broader leftist principles of fairness and state autonomy, while downplays

Why factuality (90): The article includes accurate information about the resolution and the opposition by the BJP MLA. However, it introduces additional context not found in the primary source, such as the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan and references to the Cockroach Janta Party, which may not be directly related to

Why objectivity (85): The article shows a slight leaning towards the anti-NEET position with phrases like 'gravely undermines medical education opportunities' and mentions of the BJP's opposition in a way that might imply criticism. This introduces a minor bias.

Hindustan Times logoHindustan TimesIndependentProgressiveFactual 87Objective 8212 days ago
Coaching centres boom, charging huge fees: Why CM Vijay's govt wants NEET abolition

The Tamil Nadu legislative assembly passed a resolution calling for the abolition of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) for undergraduate medical admissions. The state government argues that NEET disadvantages rural and economically weaker students, especially those studying in Tamil-medium schools, and has contributed to the proliferation of costly coaching centers. State Health Minister KG Arunraj stated that NEET undermines social justice, equality, and state rights, and criticized its impact on diverting student focus from school curricula. The resolution proposes amending central laws to abolish NEET and instead base admissions on Class 12 examination scores. The resolution received support from multiple parties including the DMK, AIADMK, Congress, and left parties, but faced opposition from the lone BJP MLA in the assembly.

Bias read (Progressive): The article frames the Tamil Nadu government’s push to abolish NEET as a progressive measure aimed at protecting socially disadvantaged students, using terms like 'social justice,' 'equality,' and 'state rights.' It highlights criticism of NEET as being biased against rural and economically weaker考生

Why factuality (87): The article accurately reports the passage of the resolution by the Tamil Nadu Assembly against NEET, citing the primary source document. It mentions the opposition by the lone BJP MLA and references the previous 2021 bill. However, it adds some external context such as the recent student protests a

Why objectivity (82): The article maintains a relatively neutral tone, presenting both the government's arguments against NEET and the BJP MLA's counterpoint. However, it uses phrases like 'charging huge fees' and 'booming' to describe coaching centers, which could imply bias. The mention of the student protests and the

The Print logoThe PrintIndependentProgressiveFactual 75Objective 8012 days ago
TVK regime moves resolution against FCRA Bill in Tamil Nadu Assembly

The article reports that the current administration in Tamil Nadu has introduced a resolution opposing the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) Bill within the state assembly. The move suggests a political stance against the legislation, which regulates foreign funding for NGOs. The article highlights the potential implications of this opposition on the governance and regulation of non-governmental organizations in the state.

Bias read (Progressive): The article frames the opposition to the FCRA Bill as a significant political action by the ruling regime, implying a challenge to existing regulatory frameworks. The emphasis on the 'regime' moving a resolution suggests a critical view of the current government's actions, aligning more closely with

Why factuality (75): The article accurately reports that the TVK regime has moved a resolution against the FCRA Bill in the Tamil Nadu Assembly. However, it lacks specific details such as the exact nature of the resolution, the date it was introduced, or any supporting arguments from officials. Without additional contex

Why objectivity (80): The article presents the information in a neutral manner, avoiding overtly biased language. It does not take a clear stance on the issue but simply reports the action taken by the TVK regime. The tone is professional and objective.

India Today logoIndia TodayIndependentCenterFactual 65Objective 557 days ago
Lone MLA, not DMK or AIADMK, is taking on CM Vijay govt in Tamil Nadu. Who's he?

In the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, the ruling TVK government led by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay faces dissent from M Bhojarajan, the sole BJP MLA. Unlike the dominant Dravidian parties DMK and AIADMK, Bhojarajan opposes key government resolutions, including the scrapping of NEET, withdrawal of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Amendment Bill, and proposed delimitation changes. Despite being outnumbered 108-1, he uses the assembly floor to challenge the majority stance. Bhojarajan, a 79-year-old veteran from the Nilgiris, represents the BJP's lone voice in the state, having transitioned from Congress to BJP in 2014. His recent electoral success marks a shift in Tamil Nadu's political landscape.

Bias read (Center): The article presents Bhojarajan's dissent without overtly praising or condemning his actions. It provides balanced information about his political history, his current role, and the broader context of Tamil Nadu politics. While the subject is politically charged, the framing remains neutral, giving

Why factuality (65): The article provides partial information about the Tamil Nadu Assembly's decision to oppose NEET, but it focuses more on the political dynamics and the role of the lone BJP MLA, M. Bhojarajan. It does not include the full content of the resolution or the detailed arguments presented in the primary s

Why objectivity (55): The article frames the situation as a political battle between the ruling party and the lone BJP MLA, suggesting a conflict where there may not be one. It emphasizes the BJP's isolation without providing balanced perspectives on the broader debate over NEET. The tone leans toward highlighting the po

How each side covered it

The same event, grouped by the political lean of the outlets covering it.

How each side covered it

Support independent, bias-aware news and unlock the social pulse, community voting, and every other Supporter feature.

Become a Supporter

Covered around the world

The same event as reported in other countries.

Covered around the world

Support independent, bias-aware news and unlock the social pulse, community voting, and every other Supporter feature.

Become a Supporter

Claims check

Key factual claims, and how many sources assert vs dispute each.

Claims check

Support independent, bias-aware news and unlock the social pulse, community voting, and every other Supporter feature.

Become a Supporter

Keep the news honest.

ObjectiveNews is reader-funded and ad-free — we show you the bias instead of hiding it. Support independent journalism for €4/month.

Become a Supporter

Related stories