The Karnataka administration, led by the Congress party, has approved a law that aims to do away with the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) in the state. During the Monday state cabinet meeting, the idea was presented and approved. The bill opposes the NEET test and suggests that it be tied to the Common Entrance Test (CET) in Karnataka or replaced with another medical entrance exam.The Paper Leak IncidentThe National Eligibility and Entrance Test (NEET), a crucial exam for aspiring medical students, was marred by a paper leak incident in Karnataka. This breach of security has caused widespread concern among students, parents, and educators. Reports indicate that the leaked paper was circulated among a select group of candidates, giving them an unfair advantage and undermining the efforts of thousands of hardworking students.Siddaramaiahs Firm StandThis discovery coincides with the ongoing national controversy around the discrepancies in the NEET-UG 2024 tests and the cases of paper leaks. Karnataka will hold its competitive tests to choose undergraduate and graduate programs in medical institutes, provided the state assembly approves the exams.The Tamil Nadu government, led by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), approved a resolution last month opposing NEET and requesting permission from the Center to handle medical admissions on behalf of state governments.Tamil Nadu has consistently opposed the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), citing concerns about its fairness and impact on students. Tamil Nadu has been consistently saying that we do not want NEET. Now it is proven that NEET is not a fair examination, and students are losing so much because of NEET, said MP K Kanimozhi while speaking to news agency ANI. She emphasized the states stance, saying, We want NEET to be abolished. We have passed a resolution in our Assembly, and it is still pending with the President for signature.More on the governments actionThe NEET-UG 2024 Examination, conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on May 5, took place at 4,750 centers in 571 cities, including 14 cities abroad, with over 23 lakh candidates appearing. Notably, 67 candidates achieved a perfect score of 720 out of 720, leading to widespread protests across the country.Recognizing the anxiety and stress caused by the leak, the Karnataka government has announced support measures for the affected students. Counseling services will be provided to help students cope with the emotional impact. Moreover, the government is considering conducting a re-examination to ensure a fair chance for all candidates. Our priority is to restore confidence in the examination system and provide justice to the students, said Education Minister B.C. Nagesh.
