Sat Mar 29 16:10:21 UTC 2025: ## NEET Exam Pressure Leads to Two More Student Suicides in Tamil Nadu

**Chennai, March 30, 2025** – The intense pressure surrounding the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) has tragically claimed the lives of two more students in Tamil Nadu. Dharshini, a NEET aspirant in Chennai’s Kilambakkam, reportedly died by suicide on Saturday, allegedly due to exam-related anxiety. She had been preparing for the May 4th exam since 2021. The Kilambakkam Police are investigating her death.

This follows a similar incident on March 1st, where 19-year-old Indhu from Tindivanam, Villupuram district, also ended her life. Indhu, despite achieving good marks in her 12th grade and undergoing NEET coaching, had failed the exam last year. She was found hanging at home, alone, after failing to clear the exam. Her family found her body upon returning from work. A similar incident was reported in October 2024, where S. Punitha of Salem district took her own life after failing to secure a medical seat despite repeated attempts.

These tragedies underscore the immense pressure faced by students preparing for NEET in Tamil Nadu. The state government has long opposed the exam, citing concerns that it disproportionately affects students from disadvantaged backgrounds and those who received their education in Tamil. The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly passed a unanimous resolution against NEET in June 2024, following controversies surrounding leaked question papers and exam postponements. The ruling DMK and its allies continue to advocate for an exemption for Tamil Nadu from the NEET exam. The recent suicides have reignited calls for reform and a reevaluation of the exam’s impact on student mental health.

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