Telangana NEET 85% Quota: Eligible Candidates Declined. Why?

Synopsis: 

• Recently, a traumatic incident occurred: Telangana domicile students were not allowed to apply for the 85% NEET state quota. In panic, they filed a plea in court, but the verdict favoured the Telangana Government. The episode went viral on social and print media platforms, causing havoc among parents and aspirants. 

• This information explains the facts behind the story and how the Telangana Government defended its move against the select eligible NEET candidates who took the issue to Court. 

• Ultimately, it should be admitted that the Government Order released in 2024 was to benefit Telangana's residents in the health care sector, a positive move. It will never affect an aspirant who plans to serve in Telangana Medical Services or in a private medical institution in Hyderabad.  

Presidential Order & Article 371D: Telangana Govt Defended its move: 

• Remember, students from Telangana or Andhra Pradesh who continue Grade 11 & 12 in their respective states need not fear losing local status. Otherwise, they will lose their local status.  

• The Telangana Government is at the winning edge, as GO 33 aligns with the Presidential Order & Article 371D, granted to the Telugu-speaking states (Telangana & Andhra Pradesh). 

Telangana government defends its moves on these grounds: 

• The Telangana Government passed a strict order (GO 33), stating that a continuous 4-year study is mandatory. After completing the 4th year, the candidate must appear for the qualifying examination for NEET or JEE; in other words, it means the last three grades: 9, 10, 11, & 12.

• Candidates must realise that studying Grades 7 to 10 gives a 4-year education, but if they leave the State for Grades 11 & 12, the chain is broken. 

• Under this clause, the Telangana Govt. rejected the candidate's  local domicile and placed them in the non-local category.

• In this issue, the Supreme Court clarified that studying LKG to 10th class in Telangana does not provide local status if the candidate continues to pursue Grades 11 and 12 outside the State. 

What will the candidate's status be?

• The candidate will lose local status in Telangana and in the other state where they pursued Grades 11 & 12. 

• This means they remain non-local in the country, lose the benefits of local status, and will have to fight for a seat in Telangana under unreserved non-local status, AIQ ( 15 % quota.. 

• The same rule applies to candidates from Andhra Pradesh, as they have invoked Article 371D.

Why did the Telangana Government apply the Presidential Order & Article 371D?

The Telangana Government's motive in applying the Presidential Order is to retain medical talent in the State, focusing on Social and Healthcare needs. 

Why did TG apply for the Presidential Order or Article 371D?

1. Seat Hopping: 

1. Students who pursue NEET coaching in other States return to Telangana solely for high-value government medical seats under the local quota. There is a natural tendency to leave Telangana soon after completing medical graduation. 

2. Practice setup at the Telangana State level.

1. The Telangana Government says students who complete Class 11 & 12 in Telangana are most likely to practice in local state medical services or set up practice in Telangana. 

3. Taxpayers' money should benefit residents.

1. Taxpayers fund Government Medical Colleges, so the Telangana Government wants those benefits to reach residents. 

Conclusion:

1. The Telangana government took preventive measures, making most of the efforts put in place by state governments in India futile. NEET aspirants run across the nation to join coaching for the national-level exam, the NEET. After completing their medical studies, they either fly abroad or set up their own private institutions to stand out. State governments spend taxpayers' money worth crores and ultimately lose the benefit to others. 

2. The motive to support the State's residents in healthcare gets disengaged, and the medical college ecosystem fails to serve the very cause it was meant to serve. 

3. By applying the Presidential Order and Article 371 D, the Telangana Government plans to filter the deserving medical professionals interested in serving the State.  

4. In this effort, the TG has applied the Presidential Order to benefit Telangana's residents. Although it may seem unjust, these initiatives can protect Telangana's healthcare sector.