Chennai: Urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to advise the Veterinary Council of India to permit admissions to the Bachelor of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry (BVSc & AH) degree programme on the basis of Higher Secondary (10+2) examination mark or the criteria determined by State Governments, Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay said it would not be appropriate to introduce the NEET for Veterinary courses. Stating that the move would not preserve equitable access to veterinary education, protect opportunities for students from rural and socially disadvantaged backgrounds and uphold the legitimate policy choices of States, he said veterinary education was not merely a professional course but the foundation to strengthen animal husbandry, improve livestock health, support dairy development and secure the livelihoods of millions of rural households. Pointing out that the National Testing Agency (NTA) had been facing several issues in the conduct of the NEET examinations, he said owing to irregularities, the NTA was recently compelled to cancel the examination and conduct a re-examination. In 2024, allegations of a question paper leak led to an investigation by the CBI. Veterinary education was intrinsically linked to the agricultural and rural economy and the demand for veterinary professionals, the profile of students entering the discipline and the developmental priorities of the livestock sector varied considerably across the country.