On September 15, 2020, the Tamil Nadu Cabinet passed a bill approving 7.5% reservation in UG medical courses for students from government schools who cleared the NEET exam but could not get a seat in a medical college.

Earlier in July, Tamil Nadu cabinet has approved the proposal of 7.5% of quota in NEET for those students who have passed their class XII from TN State Government School. The proposal was only for the UG medical courses offered after clearing the national level exam NEET. 

• The 7.5% quota will be included within the existing reservation. In simple words, we can say that it is the Quota within Quota. 
• This quota will also be applicable to the government seats available in private colleges. 

Mr. P Kalaiyarasan, a retired judge, had prepared a report on the same and recommended reservation of 7.5 to 10% of seats for government school students. The decision has been taken under the Right to Education (RTE) act. 

Why this Quota is required in TN state?

It has been observed in Tamil Nadu that the number of government school students getting admitted into the state’s medical colleges had been decreased. This has happened after the introduction of NEET. 

• After observing a decline in the number of government school candidates getting admission in medical colleges he had formed commission under the observation of former Justice P Kalaiyarasan.
• Only 34 students from Tamil Nadu’s government schools were admitted in MBBS in the year 2016. 
• The number further declined to 7 in the year 2017. 
• In 2018, the number of government school students who had taken admission in MBBS in Tamil Nadu went down to 5. 
• In 2019, only 2 students were admitted in MBBS programs in Tamil Nadu. 

Directorate of Medical Education (DME) provided the data and based on that it has been found that the number of students who have finished Class 12 from a government school is also steadily decreasing over the past few years. 

What Tamil Nadu CM has to say?

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami had said that the state government will work to provide for reservation for students who clear NEET. The reservation will be provided within the existing quota system. Also, the reservation will be provided to students who did their entire schooling that is from Classes 6 to 12 in a government school. 

• The Kalaiyarasan Commission has been appointed by the Chief Minister of TN state. The purpose of this commission was to study the socio-economic background of all the students. 
• The major task of the commission was to come up with the report and suggestions to increase the candidates from the government schools in medical colleges. 

Mr. P Kalaiyarasan was given a time period of 1 month to prepare and submit his report to the government. After receiving his report, the cabinet had decided to provide the 7.5% Quota in NEET for TN Government School Students. The decision will encourage the students who appearing for NEET 2020 and also planning to appear to the exam in the coming years. 

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