Tamil Nadu's battle against NEET intensified on June 12, 2026, when Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay addressed a public gathering in Chennai and renewed the state's demand for a NEET exemption — just one day after raising the same issue at the NITI Aayog meeting with Prime Minister Modi. Vijay also renewed the demand for recognising the Thirukkural as India's national literature, framing both demands as fundamental issues of justice for Tamil Nadu's students and cultural identity.
- 2021 — Tamil Nadu Assembly unanimously passes Anti-NEET Bill; awaits Presidential assent
- 2022 — Centre refuses exemption; Tamil Nadu students continue protests
- 2026 Apr — TVK wins landslide with NEET exemption as a key manifesto promise
- 2026 May 27 — CM Vijay raises NEET with PM Modi in Delhi
- 2026 Jun 11 — NEET exemption raised at NITI Aayog Governing Council
- 2026 Jun 12 — Public rally in Chennai reaffirming NEET demand
Why NEET Hurts Tamil Nadu's Students
Tamil Nadu has consistently argued that NEET creates a systemic disadvantage for students from government schools, rural backgrounds, and families without the means to afford coaching centres. The state has one of India's strongest government school networks — but NEET rewards rote coaching over academic merit. Vijay pointed out that the state's Class XII board exams, the historical benchmark for medical admissions, offer a more equitable pathway. He urged the Centre to allow Tamil Nadu to fill all MBBS, BDS, and AYUSH seats under the state quota based on Board marks.
Thirukkural — A Cultural Demand
Alongside NEET, Vijay renewed the demand for the Centre to officially recognise the Thirukkural as India's national literature. The ancient Tamil text, authored by Thiruvalluvar and consisting of 1,330 couplets on ethics, governance, and love, has been celebrated in Tamil Nadu as a universal moral guide transcending religion and language. Vijay argued that a text of this depth, translated into hundreds of languages, deserves the status of national literature — a demand that has resonance across Tamil-speaking communities worldwide.
What Comes Next
The TVK government's NEET battle is expected to move to the legislative arena in the upcoming Budget session (July 2026), where a new Anti-NEET Bill may be introduced in the Tamil Nadu Assembly. Legal experts note that while the previous bill (passed 2021) is still pending Presidential assent, a new session could reinforce the democratic mandate. The coming months will test CM Vijay's ability to translate campaign promises into legal and policy change on a politically sensitive national issue.