CM Vijay reiterates Tamil Nadu’s opposition to NEET before Centre’s task force

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay with the High Performance Task Force on Examination Reforms led by Nandana Nilekani at the Secretariat in Chennai on November 4, 2026. Photo Credit: Special Arrangements

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on Wednesday (November 4, 2026) reiterated the state government’s stand before the Nandan Nilekani-led high-powered task force on examination reforms that it was against NEET or similar examinations for admission to higher education entrance courses and instead favored the use of Class XII public examination marks as the basis for public examinations.

A task force, set up by the Union government to recommend measures to make the country’s audit system leak-proof and technology-driven, and its members met Mr. Vijay at the Secretariat in Chennai.

According to an official statement, during the meeting, Mr. Vijay expressed the state government’s stand that it was against conducting NEET or similar exams for admission to higher education courses and that admission should be based solely on Class XII marks.

V. Kamakoti, Anita Karwal and Shankar Maruwada who are members of the task force, School Education Minister Rajmohan, Chief Secretary M. Sai Kumar and other officials were present during the meeting.

Published – 04 Nov 2026 16:06 IST