Students queue up for the test (File photo)
In 2021–2022, 50% got admission on their first attempt under the 7.5% govt school students quota introduced in Oct 2020. In 2025–2026, it was 5%. Coaching for a year in the break period costs 1.2 lakh to 3 lakh offline. Online coaching costs 30,000 to 1 lakh. Parents also pay up to Rs 75,000 for a crash course. Some students start training in Class VI, paying 30,000 to 1 lakh each year. In 2025, 7.9 lakh students from 7,513 schools appeared for Class XII, and 7.5 lakh passed. That was 11.3% fewer than the number who appeared in 2017.
A test meant to reward merit now favours students who can afford to wait, repeat and pay,” said Dr R Karthikeyan, founder and managing trustee of Aatrupadai Foundation, which guides govt school students through the exam and the admission process. Most students take a break for one or two years after Class XII,” said P B Prince Gajendra Babu, general secretary of the State Platform for Common School System. “Over the past few years, several matriculation schools have converted to CBSE or opened a branch,” Babu said. “In every category, from govt school students to management quota, it’s the richest who benefit,” said school education minister A Rajmohan.
“NEET has drifted from its purpose. The shift is sharpest among govt school students. “The preparation process is standard. “During the break years, students join offline coaching. Those who can afford it join another coaching centre online and buy material from yet another. So, they get trained by three institutes. The need for intensive coaching has hurt demand for state board schools. To save on cost and travel, parents choose CBSE schools that offer integrated coaching programmes. State board numbers moved the other way. “The only way this can be resolved is to abolish NEET. The inequality does not end when NEET results are declared. For families, counselling is where rank, reservation, college fees and admission rules meet.
