Supreme Court and NEET UG 2024: Karnataka's Plan to Scrap NEET

 

The Karnataka Assembly recently passed a resolution to scrap the NEET exam, making it the third state after Tamil Nadu and West Bengal to formally request the Centre's exemption from the national-level medical entrance exam. The resolution reflects the growing discontent among several states over the NEET exam due to the recent reports of paper leaks and the Supreme Court Hearing

Karnataka Assembly’s Resolution Overview

The Karnataka Assembly's resolution was passed unanimously, urging the Centre to scrap NEET within the state. The resolution emphasized that the NEET exam system severely impacts the medical education of poor rural students, makes schooling redundant, and deprives the state government of its rights to admit students to state government medical colleges. The resolution called for the scrapping of NEET and proposed that medical admissions should be based on marks obtained in the state government's Common Entrance Test (CET).

 

Tamil Nadu and West Bengal Scrap NEET for State Entrance Test

Tamil Nadu and West Bengal have previously requested that marks scored in their own state medical entrance tests be considered for admissions to medical colleges instead of NEET, besides the Karnataka Assembly.

Despite these demands, a government official has clarified that under the National Medical Commission (NMC) Act and University Grants Commission (UGC) guidelines, NEET remains the only mandatory all-India exam for securing medical admission in the country.

This raises questions about whether states can voluntarily opt out of NEET and revert to state medical entrance exams. Karnataka Assembly’s decision to pass the resolution follows allegations of a paper leak that recently rocked the NEET exam. 

Karnataka State Medical Seat Distribution Breakdown

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare data reveals that Karnataka has 11,595 MBBS seats across 68 medical colleges, with 3,750 seats in government institutions and 7,845 in private colleges. Southern states, including Karnataka, account for more than a third of all medical seats in India, approximately 39%. However, merit lists for these seats are currently prepared based on NEET UG results.

Karnataka’s Proposal to Scrap NEET UG 2024

The proposed bill aims to replace NEET UG 2024 with a state-specific medical entrance examination. Karnataka's Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has been vocal about the perceived disadvantages of NEET for local students. He argues that the NEET exam predominantly benefits students from North India, depriving Karnataka's own students of fair opportunities. 

Shivakumar emphasized the need for the union government to allow states to conduct their own exams, stating, “The NEET exam must be scrapped immediately, and the union government must allow states to conduct their own exams. Karnataka has built colleges, but NEET is benefitting North Indian students and depriving our own students. We all have to unitedly fight against this.”

The Shift to Computer-Based Testing (CBT) for CET

In addition to scrapping NEET UG 2024, the Karnataka government is considering adopting Computer-Based Testing (CBT) for the Common Entrance Test (CET). This move is part of a broader strategy to modernize the examination process and ensure its integrity. Minister MC Sudhakar highlighted that preliminary discussions are underway, with the state studying successful CBT models implemented by Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra for CET. This shift is seen as a response to address malpractices in traditional testing methods.

One significant consideration in adopting CBT for CET in Karnataka is the infrastructure required to support this transition. Minister Sudhakar pointed out that students in rural areas might face challenges due to limited access to computers. To address this, the Karnataka government is considering setting up cyber centers to ensure all students can participate in the examination. Additionally, efforts are being made to sensitize students to this new method at the Pre-University (PU) level.

 

Also Read: Karnataka Exploring Possibility of Computer-Based Testing for CET over NEET UG Controversy.

 

NEET UG 2024 Center-Wise and Marks Distribution Analysis

A detailed analysis of NEET UG 2024 data reaffirms the integrity of the examination process, showing no evidence of mass malpractice. The center-wise ranker analysis for NEET UG 2024 highlights that cities like Bathinda, Sikar, and Surat produced the highest number of top rankers. For instance, Bathinda had five students in the top 500 ranks, indicating a fair distribution of top-performing students across various centers.

The marks distribution analysis for NEET UG 2024 shows a significant increase in high-scoring candidates. The number of candidates scoring between 700 to 720 marks increased from 99 in 2022 to 2321 in 2024. This increase is primarily attributed to a 25% reduction in the syllabus, making it easier for candidates to achieve higher scores. The high-scoring candidates are spread across multiple cities and centers, further supporting the fairness of the examination process.

Comparison with Tamil Nadu's Move to Scrap NEET Exam

Karnataka's move to scrap NEET UG 2024 follows a similar decision by neighboring Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu has abolished the NEET examination and reverted to the previous system of state-based medical admissions using Class 12 marks. In June, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin emphasized that NEET disproportionately affects poor students who cannot afford to prepare for the examination. 

The resolution passed by Tamil Nadu stated, “NEET, which affects the opportunities of students from rural areas in accessing medical education and snatches the rights of state governments to admit students in medical colleges, should be scrapped. The Union Government should approve the bill passed by the Tamil Nadu Assembly seeking exemption for the state.”

Broader Implications and Additional Resolutions

The Karnataka government’s contemplation of CBT for CET marks a significant step towards modernizing the examination process. By studying successful models from other states and addressing infrastructure challenges, Karnataka aims to ensure a fair and unbiased examination system. The detailed analysis of NEET UG 2024 data further supports the integrity of the examination, showing no evidence of mass malpractice.

In addition to the resolution to scrap NEET UG 2024, the Karnataka cabinet has proposed the establishment of the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA), which will take over the financial power of Bengaluru from the current Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). This plan to restructure Bengaluru has been long pending. Furthermore, a resolution against the concept of ‘one nation, one election’ will also be tabled in the assembly session. These three crucial resolutions are likely to be tabled on Tuesday or Wednesday.

The decision to scrap NEET UG 2024 and adopt a state-specific medical entrance examination is a bold move by the Karnataka government. This shift aims to address the perceived disadvantages of NEET for local students and modernize the examination process through the adoption of CBT for CET. By studying successful models from other states and addressing infrastructure challenges, Karnataka is taking significant steps to ensure a fair and unbiased examination system. 

The detailed analysis of NEET UG 2024 data reaffirms the integrity of the examination, showing no evidence of mass malpractice, and supports the need for continued efforts to modernize and improve the examination process.

 

Also Read: NTA Releases NEET UG 2024 Results by State, City, and Centre.