A new flashpoint has emerged between the Centre and Tamil Nadu following President Droupadi Murmu’s decision to withhold assent to a controversial bill passed by the Tamil Nadu Assembly. The bill, known as the Tamil Nadu Admission to Undergraduate Medical Degree Courses Bill, aims to admit students to MBBS courses in state-run medical colleges based on their Class XII marks, rather than the scores obtained in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET).

Chief Minister M.K. Stalin strongly criticized the move, describing it as an "authoritarian act" by the Union government. He further announced that a crucial meeting of all legislative party representatives in the state would be convened on April 9 to decide the next steps in the ongoing battle against NEET.

A Long Legislative Journey: From 2021 to the Presidential Desk

The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly first passed the controversial bill in September 2021. However, it was returned for reconsideration by Governor R.N. Ravi. Despite this setback, the bill was reintroduced and passed again by the assembly in February 2022, following which it was forwarded to the Union Government for Presidential assent.

Chief Minister Stalin informed the state assembly that the bill’s objective was to establish a fair and inclusive admission process for medical aspirants in Tamil Nadu. The government has maintained that NEET disproportionately benefits affluent students from urban backgrounds who have access to costly coaching while disadvantaging those from rural and economically weaker sections.

State Government Challenges NEET as Discriminatory

Stalin reiterated the state’s longstanding opposition to NEET, asserting that the entrance exam creates an uneven playing field and restricts access to medical education for underprivileged students. Citing data and public sentiment, he argued that NEET has had detrimental consequences for students from rural areas, who often cannot afford private coaching and lack other necessary resources.

In light of these concerns, the Tamil Nadu government had constituted a high-level committee chaired by retired Justice A.K. Rajan to study the impact of NEET on students and the broader healthcare system in the state. The committee’s report strongly recommended doing away with NEET and returning to a Class XII marks-based admission system, which it said would promote social justice and inclusivity.

Centre Accused of Ignoring State's Plea

Despite the state government providing detailed clarifications to various concerns raised by central ministries—such as Health, AYUSH, Home Affairs, and Higher Education—the Union government ultimately rejected the bill. Chief Minister Stalin expressed deep dissatisfaction over what he described as the Centre’s disregard for the democratic will and aspirations of the people of Tamil Nadu.

“The Union government’s action, which undermines the dignity of the Tamil Nadu legislature, will be remembered as a dark chapter in the history of cooperative federalism,” Stalin declared in the assembly. He accused the Centre of deliberately undermining the federal structure by dismissing a democratically passed bill that reflects the consensus of both the state’s lawmakers and its population.

Next Steps: Legal and Political Strategies Ahead

The Chief Minister made it clear that the fight against NEET was far from over. As a part of the state's next steps, he announced that legal experts would be consulted to explore further legal and constitutional avenues to protect Tamil Nadu’s autonomy in determining its admission criteria for medical education.

Stalin emphasized the need for continued political unity and public support in the ongoing campaign. The upcoming April 9 meeting with representatives of all legislative parties is expected to serve as a platform for evolving a unified strategy moving forward.

As the state braces for its next legal and political battle, the Centre-state standoff over NEET has reignited broader concerns about the federal balance in India’s democratic framework.