Karnataka's government wants the central government to end the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) for undergraduate medical admissions starting in 2026 . State Education Minister Sharan Prakash Patil announced this demand, calling NEET unfair to students. The state seeks to bring back its own Common Entrance Test (CET).
Karnataka's Case for CET
Minister Patil argued that Karnataka's CET system was more transparent and efficient than NEET. He pointed to recent NEET paper leaks and cheating allegations. The state expressed distrust in the National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducts NEET.
Patil stated that NEET has raised serious questions about accountability over the years. He added that Karnataka's CET historically benefited students from rural areas and economically weaker backgrounds. The state believes its system provided a fair chance based on consistent academic performance, unlike NEET's single-day, high-stakes format.
Official Request to Union Government
The Karnataka government has formally written to the Union Government. It requested permission for the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) to handle medical admissions. The state aims to restore public confidence. It wants medical seats awarded through a corruption-free process focused on merit.
Karnataka maintains that returning control of entrance exams to states is vital for the integrity of medical education in India. The move comes as a significant policy proposal, seeking to alter the national admission landscape for medical courses.
The demand for NEET's dissolution from 2026 highlights ongoing debates about centralized versus state-controlled education and examination systems. Karnataka's proposed return to its CET model aims to address perceived flaws in the current national framework.
