Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Stalin Opposes NExT, Calling It A Hardship For Medical Students

The Tamil Nadu government vehemently rejected the National Exit Test (NExT) on Tuesday, telling the Centre that it was an additional load on medical students and "another attempt to dilute the role of State Governments and universities in the health sector." The National Medical Commission (NMC) Act states that NExT will function as a uniform qualifying final year MBBS exam, a licentiate exam to practise contemporary medicine and merit-based admission to postgraduate programmes and a screening exam for international medical graduates who want to practise in India.

Stalin stated in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the Tamil Nadu government has been steadfast in its opposition to the establishment of NEET and NExT in any form for both undergraduate and postgraduate medical admissions.

"The National Medical Commission (NMC) Act's NEET-based medical admission system has already had a negative impact on the equitable, school-based selection process and its contribution to the strengthening of the public health system."

At this point, the proposed implementation of NExT will undoubtedly accelerate this trend and bring irreparable harm to the interests of rural and socially disadvantaged students, as well as public institutions under State Governments," the CM reminded Modi.

The curriculum for medical education is already being developed in all states of the country in accordance with the NMC's standards. Stalin stated that the different State Medical Universities closely oversee the curricula, training, and examination systems. Only after such hard training and examinations do students receive an MBBS degree from an accredited college.