NEET aspirants have expressed disappointment with the Union Budget 2024-25, as it did not address their demands for a reduction in the 18 percent GST on coaching fees. Many students had hoped for tax relief to alleviate the financial burden on their families.
Vaishnavi, a NEET aspirant from Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh, voiced her frustration, saying, “Education is a right; there should be no tax on it. If the GST on coaching fees was reduced, it could have relieved financial pressure on our parents.”
While Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s budget presentation included a 3 percent reduction in interest rates on education loans, which was welcomed by students from financially weaker backgrounds, it did not meet the broader expectations of the NEET community. “The interest reduction will help those who cannot afford high fees,” Vaishnavi added.
Another NEET aspirant, Mahendra Solanki from Jodhpur, Rajasthan, also criticised the budget for its lower allocation for education and the continued GST on coaching fees. He echoed the sentiment that education loans should be interest-free and emphasised that education is a right.
The budget also faced criticism from parents and professionals. Sushil Kumar, a parent of a coaching student, described the budget as “not very fulfilling,” while Dr Laxman Lal Gurjar, a surgeon, appreciated the reduction in prices for medical drugs and X-ray machines but called for tax relief on advanced medical equipment.
In a separate development, the Supreme Court dismissed pleas seeking the cancellation and re-test of the NEET UG 2024 exam, stating there was no evidence of a systemic breach in its sanctity. Concerns had been raised after 67 students scored a perfect 720, with six from a single centre in Haryana. The revised results reduced the number of top scorers to 61.
Despite some positive measures, the budget left many NEET aspirants and their families feeling let down, hoping for more substantial support for education and training in future budgets.