Why DMK Is Against NEET: Fresh Leak Row Revives Tamil Nadu’s Anger

The NEET UG 2026 examination was cancelled on Tuesday for more than 22 lakh candidates after reports of a question paper leak, prompting a political and public outcry. The National Testing Agency took the decision after it emerged that the paper was allegedly circulated in advance, with the first digital copy reported from Nashik in Maharashtra.

The controversy has revived long-standing disputes around NEET in Tamil Nadu, where the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam views the exam as deeply unfair. For the DMK, the latest alleged leak is not an isolated irregularity but part of what the party describes as a pattern of systemic flaws that damage state-level education models and disadvantage specific social groups.

NEET row: Stalin terms exam a 'scam’ and seeks abolition of NEET

Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin on Tuesday called for scrapping the NEET exam altogether, citing repeated irregularities. Posting on X, Stalin said NEET is riddled with problems and branded the test a “scam”. Stalin declared, “NEET is not a scam-free examination. NEET itself is a scam,” and added, “Irregularities and malpractice became a recurring feature of the national entrance examination.”

Stalin linked the latest paper leak reports and cancellation of NEET UG 2026 to the anxiety faced by students and families. Stalin said lakhs of aspirants were exposed to mental pressure and uncertainty because of the alleged malpractice. Stalin’s remarks echoed the DMK’s broader view that the exam causes psychological strain, particularly for young candidates from modest backgrounds in Tamil Nadu.

NEET criticism and Tamil Nadu’s education and social justice model

The DMK’s opposition to NEET is rooted in Tamil Nadu’s long-standing education and social justice policies. Before NEET, medical college seats in the state were allotted mainly using Class 12 board marks. That system prioritised regular classroom learning over coaching institutes and was credited with enabling first-generation learners, rural students and those from backward communities to enter medical education.

DMK leaders argue that NEET replaced this structure with an exam that rewards intensive and often costly coaching. According to the party, students from cities and wealthier families, who can afford years of specialised coaching, now hold a clear edge. Government school students from villages and small towns, the DMK says, struggle to compete on equal terms under the current system.

NEET debate, student distress and DMK’s long-running campaign against NEET

The NEET issue in Tamil Nadu grew more emotional after several student suicides were linked in reports to exam-related pressure. These deaths sparked protests across the state and strengthened the DMK’s argument that NEET imposes extreme mental stress. The party has repeatedly cited these tragedies while urging that Tamil Nadu be exempted from the national entrance test for medical admissions.

Over the years, the DMK has framed NEET as a symbol of centralisation, social inequality and educational injustice. The party claims that rural, poor and state board students are hit hardest, while the exam benefits those with stronger financial and urban advantages. The DMK has consistently opposed NEET on these grounds, saying it undermines social justice and the state’s autonomy in education.

NEET politics: DMK, BJP and the 'one nation, one exam’ dispute over NEET

M. K. Stalin and former Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin have repeatedly accused the BJP-led Union government of dismissing Tamil Nadu’s concerns. They point to several resolutions passed by the Tamil Nadu Assembly seeking exemption from NEET, which, according to DMK leaders, were not acted upon by the Centre. The party views this as a slight to state rights and democratic federal principles.

The DMK also challenges NEET through a federalism lens, arguing that education should mainly fall under state control. From this perspective, a centrally run entrance exam weakens regional systems built over decades. The party insists that a nationwide “one nation, one exam” approach fails to respect different curricula and local social conditions, especially in states like Tamil Nadu.

NEET supporters’ arguments and continuing NEET controversy in Tamil Nadu

Critics of the DMK take a contrasting view and defend NEET as a tool for transparency and uniform standards. Supporters say the exam curtailed capitation fee-based admissions in private medical colleges and created a common merit list for applicants across India. BJP leaders often accuse the DMK of using NEET as a political issue to mobilise support rather than engaging with reforms.

Despite such criticism, opposition to NEET remains one of the DMK’s most consistent political positions in Tamil Nadu. Party leaders highlight every controversy involving the exam, from alleged leaks and impersonation cases to the influence of coaching centres. The DMK argues that these recurring problems reveal what it calls the failure of the “one nation, one exam model” for medical admissions.

The latest alleged NEET question paper leak, traced initially to Nashik and followed by cancellation of NEET UG 2026 for over 22 lakh students, has again intensified this debate. With public anger rising, the NEET issue is expected to dominate political discussion in Tamil Nadu, sharpening the ideological clash between the DMK and the BJP on education policy, social justice and the division of powers between the Centre and states.