Representatives of Karnataka’s civil society have written to the Chief Minister demanding that the state move a resolution in the upcoming legislative session to ask the Union government to abolish the NEET and the NTA. They propose restoring the states’ authority to admit students to medical colleges.
Key Developments
- The letter urges a legislative resolution calling for the scrapping of NEET and NTA.
- It cites the National Medical Commission Act, 2019 as curtailing state powers.
- Proposes admissions based on Class 12 (II PU) marks in Physics, Chemistry and Biology, with a transparent normalisation process.
- References Tamil Nadu’s 2021 medical admission bill as a model, suggesting use of Article 254(2) for Karnataka.
- Calls for broad consultation with students, parents, teachers, medical experts and other states opposing NEET.
Important Facts
Education falls under the Concurrent List. The current NEET system, however, overrides state discretion, creating a uniform test that many argue favours urban, economically strong students who can afford coaching. The letter highlights alleged paper leaks, irregularities, and low public confidence in the centralised exam.
Exam Relevance
This issue touches on several UPSC topics: federal structure and Centre‑State relations (GS2), constitutional provisions like the Concurrent List and Article 254(2) (GS2), and social justice through reservation in education (GS4). Understanding the debate helps answer questions on education policy, constitutional law, and equity.
Way Forward
The civil society group suggests a two‑step approach: first, pass a state resolution demanding the Union scrap NEET and NTA; second, draft a K