In a significant move, the Karnataka government has announced its decision to scrap the National Eligibility and Entrance Test (NEET) for medical students in the state. Instead, the state plans to conduct its entrance examination for admissions to medical colleges.
According to Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, students from North India are benefiting from the NEET exam. He declared, "The union government must permit states to administer their exams, and the NEET exam must be eliminated immediately. Although Karnataka has established colleges, our students are being deprived as students from North India profit from the NEET exam. We must all work together to combat this.
The Karnataka Education Department has been tasked with developing the new entrance test, which will be implemented in the next academic year. Education Minister S. Suresh Kumar emphasized that the new exam will align with the state curriculum and be tailored to the unique educational context of Karnataka. "Our goal is to create an exam that accurately reflects the knowledge and skills of our students, providing a level playing field for all candidates," he stated.
This decision marks a significant shift in the state's approach to medical education and could set a precedent for other states considering similar measures. As Karnataka moves forward with its plans, the education community will be closely watching the development and implementation of the new entrance exam.