The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin deputing DMK MPs to personally meet and apprise Chief Ministers of 12 non-BJP ruled States about the adverse impact of the ‘National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET)’ for admissions to medical courses on students from backward and oppressed classes, has drawn the attention of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). Apparently taking note of the DMK Chief Minister’s move to bring about a consensus against NEET being imposed on all states by sending party MPs as ambassadors to meet the respective Chief Ministers, the Union government has appointed retired IAS officer and former Higher Education Secretary Amit Khare as advisor to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 12. Political observers see this as a significant decision as Mr Khare who was earlier appointed Higher Education Secretary in December 2019, had played a key role in bringing about key policy changes in Education and in implementing the Union Government’s New Education Policy (NEP). A 1985-batch IAS officer from Jharkhand cadre, Mr Khare is known for being a strong and resolute bureaucrat. Mr Khare, being roped in to the PMO, is expected to handle issues arising out of...