Kolkata:  West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, urging him to abolish the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and reinstate the previous system where state governments conducted medical entrance exams.

In her letter, Banerjee expressed serious concerns about the NEET examination process, citing allegations of paper leaks, bribery, and other irregularities. "The recent developments involving NEET have jeopardized the careers and aspirations of countless students who aim to secure admission into medical courses," she wrote. Banerjee emphasized that such issues compromise the quality of medical education and, by extension, the quality of healthcare in the country.

Before 2017, states conducted their own entrance exams, and the central government also held its exams for medical course admissions. This decentralized system, according to Banerjee, functioned smoothly and was better aligned with regional curricula and educational standards. She highlighted that state governments invest significantly in the education and internships of medical students, suggesting that states should have the autonomy to select medical students through the Joint Entrance Examination.

Banerjee criticized the shift to the centralized NEET system, arguing that it undermines the federal structure of India and has led to widespread corruption, benefiting only those who can afford to pay, while meritorious students from poorer backgrounds suffer. She strongly urged the central government to restore the previous state-run examination system to rebuild trust among aspiring students.

Amid ongoing controversies surrounding the NEET-UG and UGC-NET exams, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) recently registered a criminal case over alleged irregularities in the conduct of the NEET examination by the National Testing Agency (NTA). The CBI has formed special teams to investigate these issues, as outlined in an FIR which mentions isolated incidents of malpractice during the NEET (UG) 2024 examination held on May 5, 2024.

The NEET (UG) 2024 exam was conducted by the NTA at 4,750 centers in 571 cities, including 14 international locations, with over 23 lakh candidates appearing. An unprecedented 67 candidates achieved a perfect score of 720 marks, sparking widespread protests.

In response, the Ministry of Education has established a high-level committee of experts to recommend reforms in the examination process, improvements in data security protocols, and enhancements in the functioning of the NTA.

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