Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin criticized the Union government’s efforts to introduce entrance exams for arts and science colleges under the National Education Policy (NEP), stating it would create barriers for marginalized students.

CHENNAI: The Union govt is trying to introduce entrance examinations not only for medical and engineering courses but also for arts and science colleges under the National Education Policy (NEP), Tamil Nadu deputy chief minister Udhayanidhi Stalin said on Wednesday.Speaking at the launch of College Kanavu 2025, a higher education guidance initiative under the Naan Mudhalvan scheme, Udhayanidhi criticised the NEP for placing additional barriers before students from marginalised backgrounds. “Our govt, led by Chief Minister M K Stalin, believes that entrance exams should not decide who gets to access higher education. The NEP’s push for more exams will only widen inequality,” he said.Udhayanidhi noted that Tamil Nadu’s Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) in higher education stands at 52%, far above the national average of 29%. “It may take other states another 10 to 15 years to catch up. This is a result of decades of social justice-driven policies by Dravidian govts,” he said, pointing to the impact of reservation, free education schemes, and financial aid introduced by leaders such as Periyar, Anna, and Kalaignar.He urged students to study with determination, saying he was not just giving statistics but appealing to their sense of responsibility. “I want you to rise with confidence. Education is your turning point. All the govt can do is hold your hand—College Kanavu is one such step,” he said.The event also saw the release of a higher education guidebook and the felicitation of 58 students who cleared national-level competitive exams like SSC, RRB, and IBPS after receiving training under Naan Mudhalvan. “Your success inspires thousands more preparing for public service,” Udhayanidhi said.