Tamil Nadu 2026 Budget Highlights: TVK Announces Gold Schemes, Free Laptops; Renews Call To Scrap NEET

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Tamil Nadu Finance Minister N Marie Wilson said Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay remains steadfast in his resolve to ensure corruption-free transparent regime and various measures were being taken to shore up revenue mobilisation.

In his address in the Assembly on revised budget estimates for 2026-27, the minister detailed the steps being taken to eliminate corruption. He said the chief minister remains steadfast in this resolve.

"We will not touch a single paisa of the people's tax money. We will not allow anyone to touch it. If touched, we will not spare them. And we will not spare those who have touched it in the past," he said.

The CM stands unshakeable in this resolve and seeing him and hearing his name, "we witness corrupt individuals fleeing in fear every day", Wilson said.

A long-term plan will be prepared for the expanded Chennai Metropolitan Area covering 5,904 sq. km. Allocation: Rs 25 crore.

• New BESS Promotion Policy: A policy will be introduced to attract private investment in battery energy storage systems and develop Tamil Nadu as a BESS hub.
• Rooftop Solar Subsidy Scheme: Domestic consumers installing rooftop solar panels may receive a subsidy of up to Rs 1 lakh. Allocation: Rs 50 crore.
• Public EV Charging Programme: The government will establish 20,000 public EV charging stations over five years under the public-private partnership model. Current-year allocation: Rs 50 crore.
• RWA EV-charging subsidy: Resident welfare associations will receive subsidies to install charging stations in residential complexes. Allocation: Rs 5 crore.
• Enhanced free-electricity entitlement: Free electricity will be increased from 100 units to 200 units for domestic consumers whose bi-monthly consumption is up to 500 units. Allocation: Rs 1,545 crore.
• Smart-meter programme: Smart meters will be introduced for all consumers in Chennai and for 50 lakh industrial and commercial consumers elsewhere in Tamil Nadu.

• Tamil Nadu Artificial Intelligence Mission: The mission will be expanded to cover AI, quantum technology and AVGC-XR, with applications in health, agriculture, education, citizen services and social welfare.
• e-Sevai 2.0: All e-Sevai centres will be upgraded with high-speed internet connectivity and additional public-welfare services.
• Namma Arasu WhatsApp Chatbot: The chatbot will be expanded from 76 services across 20 departments to 275 public-welfare services.

• Tamil Nadu Institute of Design: A state-level institution will be established for design education, research, innovation, product development and entrepreneurship in textiles, apparel and handicrafts. Estimated cost: Rs 60 crore.
• Technical Textiles Transformation Scheme for Entrepreneurs: MSMEs and textile manufacturers will receive international exposure, technical training, technology transfer, market intelligence and business mentorship.
• Tamil Nadu Palmyra Development Corporation: The corporation will support neera processing, palm jaggery production and exports of value-added palm products. Allocation: Rs 16 crore.
• Tiruppur Textiles Technology Centre: The centre will support environmentally sustainable textile production. Allocation: Rs 10 crore.
   

1. New Tamil Nadu Industrial Policy: A new policy will focus on emerging sectors, innovation, technology-driven growth, sustainable development and exports.
2. Tamil Nadu Industrial Capability Directory: A digital platform will list the state’s manufacturing and supply capabilities for investors.
3. Guidance 3.0: An AI-powered investment service system will provide information, clearances and investor services on a unified platform.
4. Tamil Nadu Single Window Portal 3.0: An upgraded portal will integrate statutory approvals, clearances and no-objection certificates required for industrial projects.
5. Non-Resident Tamil Investment Facilitation Desk: A dedicated desk will be established within Guidance to promote investment from the global Tamil diaspora.
6. Industrial parks in backward districts: SIPCOT will establish industrial parks based on district-specific strengths. Estimated outlay: Rs 3,200 crore over five years.
7. Space Industrial Investment Zone: Thoothukudi and Tirunelveli will be declared a space-industry investment zone. A Space Vehicle Common Technical Facility will also be established.
8. Arivagam AI and Innovation City: A proposed AI and deep-tech city will include an AI university, international skill centre, semiconductor testing laboratory and innovation incubators. Allocation: Rs 5 crore for a feasibility study.
9. Tamil Nadu Women Entrepreneurs Empowerment Scheme: Allocation: Rs 225 crore.
10. Capital Subsidy Scheme: Capital assistance will be provided to new entrepreneurs and MSMEs. Allocation: Rs 352 crore.
11. Green Steel Production Initiative: Assistance will be provided for environmentally sustainable production by steel-rolling mills. Outlay: Rs 300 crore over five years; current-year allocation: Rs 60 crore
     

• Forty-one new veterinary hospital buildings will be constructed.
• Twenty-five veterinary hospitals will be upgraded into polyclinics.
• Two hundred and ten veterinary dispensaries will be upgraded into hospitals.
• One hundred and forty-three mobile veterinary units will be established.
• Combined allocation: Rs 122 crore.
   

Lean-period fishing assistance: Assistance will be increased from Rs 6,000 to Rs 7,000 per family, benefiting 1.93 lakh traditional fishing families. Allocation: Rs 135 crore.

Deep-sea fishing boat assistance: Interest subsidy will be provided to traditional fishermen purchasing deep-sea fishing boats with modern processing facilities. Allocation: Rs 12 crore.
 

• Vetri Magalir Goat Rearing Scheme: Five goats or sheep will be provided with a 100% subsidy to around 30,000 destitute widows, deserted women, transgender persons and persons with disabilities in rural areas. Allocation: Rs 110 crore.
• Kaalnadaigal Kaappom: A new livestock insurance scheme to protect farmers against livestock deaths caused by disease, disaster or other unforeseen events. Allocation: Rs 31 crore.
• Fodder support: Fodder seed banks and depots will be established, while green fodder cultivation and restoration of grazing lands will be promoted. Allocation: Rs 19.7 crore.
• Free Milch Cow Programme: Milch cows will be provided free to 10,000 eligible rural women every year. Allocation: Rs 57 crore.

• Co-operative Crop Loan Waiver: Full waiver for crop loans of up to Rs 75,000 and a waiver of Rs 35,000 for other eligible farmers. The measure will benefit 14.43 lakh farmers. Loan waiver amount: Rs 5,932 crore.
• Kuruvai Package Scheme: Assistance for paddy cultivation through mechanical transplantation, direct seeding, seed incentives and distribution of seeds, bio-fertilisers and micronutrients. Allocation: Rs 134 crore.
• Electricity subsidy for farmers: Allocation: Rs 7,432 crore.

Hub-and-Spoke Telemedicine System: Five specialist hubs will initially connect with 200 primary health centres and government hospitals. The network will later expand to 1,000 hubs and spokes. Allocation: Rs 18.5 crore.

Hub-and-Spoke Cancer Care System: Five zonal cancer hospitals will be established as treatment, research and patient-contact centres. Allocation: Rs 10 crore for preparing the detailed project report.

Essential medicines: The provision for medicines for hypertension, diabetes and cancer patients has been increased by Rs 100 crore.

Thai Maaman Thanga Mothiram Thittam: Every newborn delivered in a government hospital will receive a 1-gram gold ring. Allocation: Rs 560 crore.

Mobile Geriatric Treatment Centres: One thousand mobile centres will be introduced in phases. Each will have a doctor, nurse and physiotherapist to provide free check-ups and medicines in village panchayats. Allocation: Rs 33 crore.

Thai Care: Maternity care and support centres will provide accommodation, free meals, medical care and continuous monitoring to pregnant women nearing delivery. Allocation: Rs 23 crore.

Skill training, subsidy-linked bank credit and subsidy support of up to Rs 50,000 will be provided for self-employment.

Aran Shelter Homes: Shelter homes for transgender persons will be established in five districts. Short-stay homes will also be opened in 15 districts.

Integrated Senior Citizen Homes: Twelve homes will be established across 12 districts in the first year, with capacity for 40 beneficiaries each. Allocation: Rs 6.6 crore.

Senior Citizen Recreation Centres: Centres with libraries, yoga, meditation and indoor-sports facilities will be established initially in five districts.

Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Breakfast Scheme: Expanded to students in Classes VI-VIII in government and government-aided schools from September 17. The expansion will benefit an additional 15.14 lakh students across 15,414 schools. Allocation: Rs 710 crore.

Anganwadi Centres: The government will construct 500 Anganwadi centres with drinking water, toilets and electricity.

Annan’s Seer: Women will receive an 8-gram gold coin and a silk saree on their wedding day. Allocation: Rs 812 crore.

AI-Based and Advanced Assistive Devices Assistance

Financial support for devices not covered by the existing distribution scheme, including sports prosthetic legs, myoelectric upper-limb prostheses, high-end assistive devices and cochlear-implant batteries.
Assistance: Up to 50% of the equipment cost, subject to a maximum of Rs 30,000.

Nambikkai Illam

Government institutions for persons with intellectual disabilities in Thanjavur, Tiruvannamalai, Salem, Cuddalore and Virudhunagar. They will provide special education, early intervention, rehabilitation and vocational training for children aged three and above. Each centre will initially operate as a 50-student day school and later add residential facilities.
Allocation: Rs 4 crore.
 

Enhanced Hajj Subsidy
Subsidy for first-time Hajj pilgrims through the Tamil Nadu State Hajj Committee increased from Rs 25,000 to Rs 35,000.

Christian and Muslim Women Aid Societies
Formation of additional aid societies.
Allocation: Rs 1.05 crore.

Burial-Ground and Kabarsthan Infrastructure Programme
Improvement of infrastructure at burial grounds and Kabarsthans.
Allocation: Rs 34 crore

Pre-Matric and Post-Matric Scholarship Support

Scholarships for students belonging to Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes and De-notified Communities.

Allocation: Rs 372 crore.

Medical and Dental Tuition-Fee Support
Tuition-fee assistance for eligible students admitted under the 7.5% reservation.
Allocation: Rs 77 crore.

Girl-Student Dropout Prevention Incentive
Financial incentives to help girls from Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes and De-notified Communities continue their education.
Allocation: Rs 13.41 crore.

Minority Educational Scholarships
Continuation of educational scholarship assistance for minority students.

1. Annal Ambedkar Business Champions Scheme
Loans and capital subsidies to encourage entrepreneurship and economic self-sufficiency among Adi Dravidar and Tribal communities.
Allocation: Rs 165 crore.

2. Mannin Magal Thittam
Assistance to turn Adi Dravidar and Tribal women agricultural labourers into landowners, accompanied by training in modern agricultural technologies.
Allocation: Rs 20 crore.

3. Iyothee Thass Pandithar Habitation Development Scheme
Comprehensive infrastructure improvement in urban and rural Adi Dravidar habitations.
Allocation: Rs 300 crore.

4. Aandror Membattu Thittam
Improvement of houses, roads, drinking water, street lights, livelihoods, health facilities, scholarships, schools and hostels in Tribal habitations.
Allocation: Rs 250 crore.
 

Annal Ambedkar Overseas Higher Education Scholarship Scheme
Assistance of up to Rs 36 lakh per student for study at recognised international universities.
Beneficiaries in 2026-27: 362 students.
Allocation: Rs 131 crore.

Vetri Entrepreneur Scheme
Capital subsidy and interest subvention for enterprises established by Adi Dravidar and Tribal beneficiaries.
Allocation: Rs 75 crore.

A “Take Up Sports, Give Up Drugs” programme integrating the NCC and NSS with the Health, Police and Social Welfare Departments to promote sports, community service, civic responsibility and drug-free educational campuses.

Ten Olympic Centres of Excellence
Establishment of centres across Tamil Nadu to develop athletes capable of competing at the Olympic level.
Allocation: Rs 50 crore.

World-Class Sports Training for School Students
Specialised training for selected students aged eight to 18 with sporting aptitude.
Allocation: Rs 5 crore.

Financial Assistance for Elite Athletes
Assistance for 500 athletes performing in national and international competitions.
Allocation: Rs 22 crore.

Tamil Nadu Rural Sports Competition
Competitions intended to promote traditional Tamil sports.
Allocation: Rs 42 crore.

Daily After-School Sports Programme
One hour of structured sports and physical exercise after school each day in Government and Government-aided schools, supported by equipment and facilities.

Neighbourhood Sports Facilities Programme
Establishment of neighbourhood sports facilities, small gymnasiums and sports complexes in all blocks and urban local bodies.

Vetri Laptop Scheme: Distribution of laptops to college students as a learning and skill-development resource.

• Allocation: Rs 2,000 crore.

TN-SUDAR 

Construction of integrated student hostels through the newly proposed Tamil Nadu Student Housing & Infrastructure Corporation, or TNSHIC.

• Coverage: 200 integrated hostels providing one lakh beds.
• Capital outlay: Rs 3,200 crore.
• State construction grant: Rs 640 crore over two financial years.
• TNSHIC initial equity: Rs 10 crore.

Specialised Government Law College, Madurai

• Opening: Academic year 2027-28.
• Annual intake: 300 students.

Branded bicycles, helmets and water bottles for Class XI students in Government and Government-aided schools.

• Beneficiaries: About 5.32 lakh students.
• Allocation: Rs 277 crore.

Conversion of the 38 district central libraries into digital learning and innovation hubs with universal membership, digital content, 24x7 mobile and internet access, free Wi-Fi and co-working spaces.

Allocation: Rs 10 crore.

Establishment of Anti-Drug Clubs and student volunteer groups, display of the 10581 helpline, and use of the Drug-Free Tamil Nadu mobile application for confidential reporting.

Allocation: Rs 7 crore.

Revision of the curriculum to include experiential learning, critical thinking, creativity, financial literacy, gender equality, environmental awareness, digital competence, competitive-examination preparation and global citizenship.

Allocation: Rs 25 crore.

Modern residential schools for academically talented students from socio-economically disadvantaged families, covering Classes IX to XII. Education, food, accommodation, textbooks and uniforms will be free.

Allocation: Rs 125 crore for infrastructure.

Modernisation and infrastructure improvement of Government schools according to prescribed norms.

• Coverage: 3,734 schools—2,514 primary, 365 middle and 855 high and higher-secondary schools.
• Estimated cost: Rs 2,132 crore.
• 2026-27 allocation: Rs 300 crore.

The Tamil Nadu Government is set to implement the 'Super Clean Super Campus' Scheme. Under this scheme, daily  cleaning activities, maintenance of drinking water  facilities and toilets, and 24-hour security for school  campuses will be ensured, delivering Super Safety, 
Super Students and Super Campuses.

This scheme will be  implemented in 10,000 schools in the first phase,  with an allocation of Rs.139 crore in the Revised Budget Estimates for 2026-27

Tamil Nadu Finance Minister Dr. N. Marie Wilson said, "An allocation of Rs 5.50 crores has been made to establish 10 Olympic Centres of Excellence across the state, with the aim of winning Olympic gold medals and elevating Tamil Nadu to the highest level in international sports.

Haj subsidy for first time pilgrims will be increased to Rs 35,000 from Rs 25,000, Tamil Nadu Finance Minister Marie Wilson said in Budget 2026-27.

In Assembly, Tamil Nadu Finance Minister Marie Wilson lists reformative initiatives, including transparency in tenders.

VIDEO | Chennai: In Assembly, Tamil Nadu Finance Minister Marie Wilson (@MarieWilson_TVK) lists reformative initiatives, including transparency in tenders.

(Source: Tamil Nadu Assembly)

(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/UvUO9E3kqd

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 5, 2026

TVK regime's first TN Budget allots Rs 812 crore for 'gold coin, silk saree scheme' for women beneficiaries.

During Budget speech, Tamil Nadu Finance Minister Dr. N. Marie Wilson said, "Vijay entered politics solely to repay debt of gratitude to the people. The Chief Minister has emerged victorious over numerous conspiracies and now leads the state with a commitment to provide good governance and healthy politics. He continues to champion the cause of genuine social justice. Tamil Nadu government has drawn up plans to achieve a 1.5 trillion Dollar economy by 2031."

Tamil Nadu Finance Minister Dr. N. Marie Wilson announced Rs 44,527 crore for the School Education Department. A Special Law College will be established in Madurai from the 2027–28 academic year. Rs 8,393 crore has been allocated to the Higher Education Department. 

Presenting state Budget 2026-27, Tamil Nadu Finance Minister Dr. N. Marie Wilson says, "Tamil Nadu Government urges Central Government to restore medical admissions based on Class 12 public examination marks...The State Government will implement the 'Vetri Laptop Scheme' for college students.

Tamil Nadu Finance Minister Dr. N. Marie Wilson says, "By 2031, artificial intelligence (AI) skills training will be provided to 500,000 students studying in engineering colleges, polytechnic colleges, and Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) across the state."

A Special Law College will be established in Madurai from the 2027–28 academic year. Rs 8,393 crore has been allocated to the Higher Education Department. The Finance Minister announced five new Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) will be established across Tamil Nadu at a total estimated cost of Rs 90 crores.

Presenting state Budget 2026-27, Tamil Nadu Finance Minister Dr. N. Marie Wilson says, "Tamil Nadu Government urges Central Government to restore medical admissions based on Class 12 public examination marks...The State Government will implement the 'Vetri Laptop Scheme' for college students. Rs 44,527 crore has been allocated for the School Education Department.

(Source: ANI)

The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly began with Finance Minister N. Marie Wilson's address. Wilson said, Tamil Nadu’s outstanding debt has doubled over the last five years with the new government bringing transparency in the tender process.