After NEET paper leak, Karnataka pushes for conducting CET for admission to medical courses

BENGALURU: After the National Testing Agency (NTA) scrapped the NEET-UG 2026 exam following a paper leak, the state government is now demanding that it be allowed to conduct entrance exam for admission to medical coursese.

Several ministers are demanding that NEET be scrapped and permission be given to the state to conduct its own exam for admission to medical courses. The state government has been opposing the NEET system from the beginning. Following the paper leak, there is pressure on the Centre to allow Common Entrance Test (CET).

Higher Education Minister Dr M C Sudhakar has also urged that permission be given to conduct CET. The thinking is that if the NEET system is cancelled and the CET system returns, it will benefit the state’s students.

After the ministers, it remains to be seen if Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will raise the issue of scrapping the NEET system and if the state government will exert pressure. Several southern states, including Tamil Nadu, are opposed to the NEET system.

What was the system before NEET?

Before NEET, the CET exam was conducted in the state.

Medical seats were allotted based on marks and rank secured in CET.

100 pc of seats in government colleges were reserved for students from the state.

In private colleges, 45 pc of seats were under government quota and 55 pc under management quota for medical seats.

When the CET system was in place, Karnataka students could get medical seats only in this state. They could not compete for seats in other states.

With NEET, 15 pc of medical seats in other states became all-India quota.

This enabled Karnataka students to get seats in other states on merit.

What are the government’s allegations?

The NEET system is unfair to Karnataka students.

The NEET is extremely difficult for rural students. Because of this, many students struggle to secure ranks.

If CET is allowed instead of NEET, 100 pc of seats will go to Karnataka students children.

The NEET exam is tough. This makes it difficult for our state’s students.

Malpractices in NEET cause mental harassment to students.

For transparent exams and seat allotment, NEET should be cancelled and CET should be allowed.