CHENNAI: The number of students applying for NEET (National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test) 2021 from Tamil Nadu has dropped by 7% compared to previous year. For the second year in a row, the number of applicants from the state has dropped after reaching 1.4 lakh applicants before the pandemic in 2019.
From 1,21,617 applicants for NEET 2020, the number has come down to 1,12,889 for NEET 2021, according to National Testing Agency’s registration data. Among the applicants, 71745 (63.5%) are female candidates and 41,144 (36.5) are male candidates.
Experts cite the delay in conducting the common medical entrance test and increase in the cut-off for medical admissions as reasons for dip in the applications.
Meanwhile, the number of students opting to write the exam in Tamil increased by 16% as the number went up from 17,101 in 2020 to 19,867 in 2021.
NEET 2021 is scheduled to be held on September 12, 2021.
“During the last two years, the cut-off for medical admissions increased by 100 marks. The current students are reluctant to take up the exam without coaching as the cut-off for government colleges has gone up to 570 and 580 marks. This year students did not attend even regular classes as the classes were held online. So, students who are mentally not prepared might have decided to apply after preparing for a year,” said career consultant Jayaprakash Gandhi.
He further said the quota for government school students could be the reason behind the increase in the number of students opting to write in Tamil.
Students counsellors said the delay in conducting the NEET could be the reason for dip in applicants from Tamil Nadu.
“Due to the pandemic, the NEET exam has been conducted in September for the last two years. The more the medical admissions are delayed, students who are not confident and undecided are joining engineering colleges. If the NEET exam is conducted in May, the registrations will be more from Tamil Nadu,” said Manickavel Arumugam, a students counsellor.
From government and government-aided schools, 11,236 students have applied to the exam. Last year, around 10,000 students applied for the exam.
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