Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to ‘advise’ the Veterinary Council of India to review its decision to introduce a common entrance examination for admission to undergraduate courses in veterinary sciences and animal husbandry in all veterinary colleges.

Alternatively, the States where the examination is not conducted have been advised to adopt the National Eligibility-Cum-Entrance Test (NEET-UG) merit list for admissions from the 2026-27 academic year.

“Veterinary sciences, besides being intrinsically linked to the State’s agriculture and rural economy, formed the foundation of Tamil Nadu’s efforts to strengthen animal husbandry, improve livestock health, support dairy development, and secure livelihoods of millions of rural households,” Mr. Vijay said.

For decades, Tamil Nadu has been admitting students to professional colleges based on higher secondary marks, ensuring that deserving students from rural areas, government schools, economically weaker sections, and socially disadvantaged communities receive a fair opportunity to pursue higher education. The State has consistently maintained that centralised entrance exams, including the NEET, created significant entry-level barriers for meritorious students, especially for those from rural and disadvantaged backgrounds, the Chief Minister said.

Recalling the issues faced by the National Testing Agency over NEET, including the recent paper leak, he said it would not be appropriate to introduce NEET for admission to veterinary courses. “The experience of recent years has reinforced concerns that success in such examinations is often influenced by differential access to specialised coaching, financial resources, and opportunities for repeated attempts, rather than reflecting the merit demonstrated through school education alone,” Mr. Vijay said.

Urging the Prime Minister to leave the determination of admission criteria for B.VSc. and AH courses to the respective State governments, he said such an approach “would respect the federal framework, enable States to evolve admission policies suited to their socioeconomic realities and educational systems, while continuing to uphold academic standards and ensuring the availability of qualified veterinary professionals”.

Published - August 07, 2026 10:39 pm IST