CHENNAI: Citing recent question paper leaks, the Tamil Nadu government on Wednesday urged the Union government to scrap the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) and introduce a medical admission system based on Class XII marks in the state.Tamil Nadu Finance Minister Marie Wilson highlighted the demand while presenting the Budget for 2026-27.In his Budget speech, he also announced an allocation of Rs 2,000 crore for distributing laptops to first-year college students.As part of a new initiative, the Tamil Nadu government has created a special purpose vehicle (SPV) to improve hostel facilities.“Under the scheme, 200 hostels in higher educational institutions will be upgraded with digital learning centres, modern kitchens and other facilities at a cost of Rs 3,200 crore. It will establish one lakh hostel beds. The scheme will be implemented under a public-private partnership model, and Tamil Nadu will contribute Rs 640 crore towards it,” the Finance Minister said.He also announced the setting up of a new School of Excellence in Law in Madurai, which will have 300 seats in its first year.The state government has allocated Rs 8,393 crore for higher education for 2026-27.
