Scrap NEET & EWS

Respected Sir/Madam,

We, the undersigned citizens, students, parents, educators, and concerned members of society, respectfully submit this petition seeking the abolition of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) as the sole gateway for admission to undergraduate medical courses in India.

While the objective of maintaining standards in medical education is important, NEET has, in practice, created significant challenges that disproportionately affect students from diverse educational, linguistic, and socio-economic backgrounds.

Our concerns are as follows:

1. Undermining the Federal Structure
   Education is a subject in which states have an important constitutional role. A single national entrance examination restricts states' ability to formulate admission policies that reflect their unique educational systems and local needs.
2. Disadvantage to State Board Students
   Students educated under various State Board curricula often face disadvantages when competing in an examination largely aligned with national-level coaching patterns, despite excelling in their school education.
3. Growth of the Coaching Industry
   NEET has transformed medical admissions into a coaching-centre-driven process. Students from economically weaker families are often unable to afford expensive coaching, creating inequality in access to medical education.
4. Financial Burden on Families
   Many families spend substantial amounts on coaching classes, repeat attempts, travel, and accommodation, placing enormous financial pressure on households.
5. Psychological Stress
   The high-stakes nature of a single examination has contributed to severe stress, anxiety, and mental health challenges among students. Every student deserves multiple pathways to higher education rather than having their future determined by one examination.
6. Ignoring Consistent Academic Performance
   Years of dedication and achievement in school education are overshadowed by the outcome of a single test, diminishing the value of continuous academic excellence.
7. Impact on Social Justice
   States have historically developed admission systems that promote equitable access to medical education. A centralized examination should not weaken policies aimed at ensuring representation for students from disadvantaged and rural backgrounds.
8. Language and Regional Disparities
   Despite being conducted in multiple languages, differences in translation quality and regional educational contexts continue to create unequal opportunities for many candidates.

We therefore respectfully request that the Government:

• Abolish NEET as the mandatory national entrance examination for undergraduate medical admissions.
• Restore the authority of individual states to determine their own medical admission policies in accordance with their educational systems and constitutional powers.
• Develop an admission framework that values school academic performance alongside state-specific requirements.
• Ensure equitable access to medical education for students from all socio-economic, linguistic, and regional backgrounds.
• Establish a transparent consultation process involving state governments, educators, medical professionals, students, and parents before introducing any nationwide admission policy.

Medical education should nurture talent from every corner of India—not only those with access to extensive coaching resources. An admission system must uphold the principles of equity, social justice, federalism, and equal opportunity.

We sincerely urge the Government to reconsider the continuation of NEET and adopt a more inclusive and equitable model for medical admissions.

Yours faithfully,