Data shows decline in no. of students getting admission in the first attempt. Students take a break year for coaching
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%. 36% made it on the second While 44% succeeded on the third attempt. At least 15% needed four or more attempts. During the same period, the share of first-time entrants under the remaining 92.5% govt quota fell from 25% to 20%, while the drop in the management category was from 40% to 30%. 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 `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. “A good score does not always lead to a good outcome in MBBS counselling,” said student counsellor Manickavel Arumugam. NEET is meant to reward merit, but the way seats open can work against high scorers, he said.
“NEET has drifted from its purpose. The shift is sharpest among govt school students. Two students wrote NEET more than five times. “The preparation process is standard. 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.