Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu: A 19-year-old NEET aspirant died by suicide in Tamil Nadu’s Coimbatore district, reigniting debate over the pressure associated with medical entrance examinations and renewing calls for exemption from the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) in the state.
The student, identified as Anukeerthana, had reportedly appeared for the NEET examination twice and was preparing to take the test again. According to investigators, she had been distressed about having to reappear for the examination following the recent NEET question paper leak controversy, which resulted in a re-test for some candidates.
Police officials said no suicide note was recovered from the scene. Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the exact circumstances surrounding her death.
The incident triggered protests in parts of Coimbatore, with demonstrators demanding the abolition of NEET and reiterating Tamil Nadu’s long-standing demand for exemption from the medical entrance examination.
Political groups and student organizations also expressed concern over the mental stress faced by competitive exam aspirants. Critics of NEET argue that the examination places students from rural and economically weaker backgrounds at a disadvantage compared to those who can afford expensive coaching programs.
Tamil Nadu has consistently opposed NEET since its introduction, maintaining that Class XII marks should play a greater role in medical admissions. Supporters of the state’s position argue that the previous admission system provided broader access to medical education for students from government schools and rural areas.
The tragedy has once again highlighted concerns about academic pressure, mental health, and the challenges faced by students preparing for highly competitive entrance examinations.
