NEET UG Exam will not Happen in 2026? ‘Morally Corrupt, Money-Driven’ MK Stalin

NEET UG Exam: The National Eligilibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) exam has been in controversy since its inception. Especially in the last two years, it has been in controversy for all the wrong reasons, like paper leak, marks scam and all that. It gave an arsenal to the TN CM MK Stalin to further strengthen his case against the NEET UG exam. ‘Morally corrupt, Money-driven’ MK Stalin said in a recent statement. In this article, we will diagnose the question ‘NEET UG Exam not Happen Next Year? ‘Morally corrupt, Money-driven’ MK Stalin said.

MK Stalin described NEET as a “morally corrupt, money-driven” examination system that has hijacked meritocracy, destroyed rural dreams, and commercialised medical education. His remarks strike a powerful chord, joining a growing chorus of political leaders demanding its abolition, especially after the recent NEET-UG 2024 controversy, which exposed systemic loopholes in the country’s most crucial medical entrance test.

There are also more emphasis on NEET UG exam reform and in particular implementation of K Radhakrishnan committee report.

Let’s examine whether NEET UG may be abolished next year and whether the demand is based on fact, politics, or both.

NEET UG Exam: Growing Credibility Crisis

NEET UG 2024 was supposed to be smooth and transparent. No doubt, NEET’s credibility has been severely undermined in recent years.

• Paper leaks in Bihar and Gujarat.
• NEET UG 2024 saw a massive paper leak in Bihar, with criminal rackets distributing answer keys via WhatsApp hours before the exam.
• Allegations of selling question papers for ₹30-50 lakh.
• Suspicious results, many toppers scoring 720/720.
• The NTA’s mishandling of grace marks for over 1,500 students, leading to scores as high as 718 and 719 out of 720, defied statistical norms and shook public trust.
• Fake scorecards, impersonation cases, and opaque handling by NTA added to the chaos.

The question was expected: petitions in the Supreme Court, protests across states, and calls for a re-exam. The National Testing Agency (NTA), the body responsible for NEET, faced criticism from parents, teachers, and state governments alike.

MK Stalin’s statement added fuel to the fire. His stance resonates more sharply today, when even mainstream media is questioning if NEET has lost moral legitimacy.

Read Also: NEET UG Scams: Paper Leak, Marks Manipulation & NTA Credibility Crisis

NEET UG Exam: ‘Morally Corrupt, Money-Driven’ MK Stalin

In a recent statement, Stalin said:

“NEET is not about merit. It is about money. Coaching centers, paper leak syndicates, and corrupt officials have turned it into a racket. Poor and rural students are the biggest victims.”

According to him, the entire NEET ecosystem is structured to favour:

1. Urban, English-medium, CBSE students over vernacular and state-board students.
2. Coaching centres that charge lakhs and breed exam factories.
3. Private colleges that use NEET scores as a pretext to justify exorbitant capitation fees.

For Tamil Nadu, which previously admitted students based on Class 12 marks, NEET has been especially controversial. Stalin argues that NEET has destroyed social justice by creating an entry barrier that benefits only the privileged.

Is It Just a Tamil Nadu Issue?

Not anymore.

Several states have now begun to echo Tamil Nadu’s concerns:

• Maharashtra, West Bengal, and Jharkhand have raised red flags over the centralisation and commercialisation of NEET.
• Opposition leaders across the INDIA bloc are calling for a national review of the exam.
• Even the Supreme Court, though cautious, has agreed to hear multiple petitions questioning NEET’s integrity.

If this momentum continues, NEET could face significant restructuring or even scrapping, particularly if a new political regime with a different education vision comes to power post-2024 Lok Sabha elections.

What If the NEET UG Exam is Repealed?

Repealing NEET will not solve India’s medical education crisis; it will worsen it.

Consequence	Impact
Decentralised State Exams	Admission chaos, regional disparities, and delays
No National Benchmark	Academic standards are diluted across institutions
Return of the Capitation System	Seats sold to the highest bidder
Less Mobility for Students	Students lose access to national-level opportunities
Rise in Admission Fraud	Unverified rankings and influence-based selection

Without NEET, private and deemed universities will regain full control over their admission process, leading to costly MBBS seats, sidelining thousands of deserving but poor students.

Is Scrapping NEET Realistic?

Yes and no.

Yes, if:

• The Supreme Court rules against NTA’s credibility.
• A majority of states demand decentralisation of medical admissions.
• The Parliament introduces reforms or amends the NMC (National Medical Commission) Act.

No, because:

• NEET was introduced to combat corruption in private college admissions.
• It ensures uniform evaluation criteria across states.
• The central government and NMC have continued to defend NEET as necessary for merit and transparency.

In short, scrapping NEET may require more than a protest; it needs policy change and political will.

NEET UG: Medical Education Crisis

At the heart of the NEET debate is the deeper crisis in India’s medical education system:

• Rural doctor shortage remains unresolved.
• Medical college seats are expanding, but not equitably.
• Private colleges dominate, with ₹1 crore-plus MBBS fees.
• Students are fleeing to countries like Georgia, Russia, and Central Asia to pursue MBBS at half the cost.

So, while NEET was meant to democratize access, its unintended consequences have made medicine a distant dream for many.

In this context, Stalin’s comment, though politically charged, reflects a growing sentiment: India’s current system does not serve the majority.

Also Read: AIIMS Faculty Shortage Crisis: Causes, Impact, and Solutions

MK Stalin’s Concerns Are Valid

M.K. Stalin and others raising their voices against NEET aren’t entirely wrong. The system is disproportionately tilted toward urban and upper-class students. The mental health toll, the coaching mafia, and language barriers are all legitimate issues.

But dismantling NEET would not address these problems. It would simply replace one flawed system with a more corrupt and fragmented one. The right path forward is equitable reform, not populist abolition.

NEET UG 2026: Make or Break Point

2026 could be a watershed year for medical admissions in India.

If NEET continues in its current form, it must be urgently reformed, secured, and regulated. Else, the growing perception of unfairness will push more students abroad and erode public faith in meritocracy.

If NEET is cancelled or decentralised, the challenge will be to prevent a return to backdoor entries, political favouritism, and unregulated capitation.

MK Stalin may have been provocative, but his words reflect an uncomfortable truth: India’s future doctors deserve a system that is not just competitive, but also just, transparent, and truly merit-based.

Whether NEET UG will happen next year is uncertain, but the demand for change is now irreversible.

Disclaimer: This is an opinion article and reflects the author’s perspective. For verified updates, refer to official sources like NTA, NMC, and Supreme Court proceedings.