A group of students today opposed the cancellation of the mandatory proficiency test in Tamil for the clerical test in public sector banks in Tamil Nadu.

The students, appearing for the banking service examinations told media persons that the decision to do away with Tamil would be a major blow for students in the State and deny them an opportunity to get into public sector banks.

There are more than 1,200 vacancies for the posts of clerks and cancellation of the mandatory proficiency test in Tamil would severely affect lakhs of students from Tamil Nadu.

The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection, which is conducting common written exam, should make Tamil mandatory for the posts to be filled in Tamil Nadu, they added.