Narayansamy asks NITI to exempt Puducherry from national entrance test

Pududcheery Chief Minister Narayanasamy said that Union Territory had also earlier taken up the matter of NEET exams with the Centre.

Chennai, Apr 24: Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy on Monday said he had raised the demand for a five year exemption from National Entrance cum Eligibility Test for the Union Territory, at the Niti Aayog meeting held in New Delhi.

Since students from both Puducherry and Tamil Nadu did not appear for CBSE exams, there were 'difficulties' for them in clearing the NEET exams, he told reporters at the airport in Chennai.

Referring to Tamil Nadu Assembly adopting two bills seeking exemption from the test and now awaiting Presidential assent, Narayanasamy said Puducherry had also earlier taken up the matter with the Centre.

"Prime Minster Modi should personally intervene in this matter and give a five-year exemption for Puducherry from NEET," he said. This was one of the issues raised at the Niti Aayog meet in Delhi on Sunday, the chief minister said, adding, others included farmers' welfare and development schemes for the Union Territory.

Like Tamil Nadu, farmers in the UT were also suffering due to drought and his government had therefore, waived cooperative loans, Narayanasamy said.

Similarly, loans in banks should also be waived, he said and sought Centre's intervention in this matter.

PTI