Top News

The biggest and most interesting news is emerging from Tamil Nadu politics right now. State Finance Minister N. Mary Wilson presented the Tamil Nadu Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) government’s first official budget (Tamil Nadu Budget 2026) in the Assembly on Wednesday. During the presentation, she lavishly praised the numerous public-friendly initiatives implemented under Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay’s leadership. In her address, the Finance Minister clearly declared that the government has permanently ended the age-old and corrupt practice of “cuts,” or commissions, given to certain parties and select individuals in contracts and tenders. Furthermore, the government has made a substantial provision of over ₹1,300 crore for two gold subsidy schemes, one of TVK’s key election promises, and also claimed to take several drastic steps to safely pull the state out of its severe “financial crisis.”

Gold gifts for brides and a big stance on the NEET exam

During his budget speech, the Finance Minister strongly reiterated his long-standing demand for the complete abolition of the country’s highly-publicized National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). He urged the central government to immediately restore the old and simple system of admission to medical colleges based solely on 12th-grade board exam scores. Additionally, the government has made a significant provision of ₹812 crore under the special “Gold Coin and Silk Saree Scheme” for women. Under this scheme, brides in the state will receive a full eight grams of gold and a stunning silk saree, free of charge, from the government, at the time of their wedding.

Additionally, the government has allocated ₹560 crore for the “Golden Ring Scheme” for newborns born in government hospitals, a major election promise of Chief Minister Vijay’s TVK party. Furthermore, a massive ₹2,000 crore has been allocated for the “Vettri Madikanini Thittam” scheme to distribute free laptops to all college students, ensuring a brighter future for students. The Finance Minister also announced that the government subsidy for pilgrims undertaking their first Haj pilgrimage, through the Haj Committee, will be increased from ₹25,000 to ₹35,000.

Financial reforms and other welfare schemes

The Finance Minister emphasized that a series of strict measures are being taken to revive the state’s economy and rescue it from the “financial crisis.” Upon coming to power, the TVK government released a White Paper on the state’s actual financial situation, estimating the total outstanding debt at approximately ₹10 lakh crore. Wilson proudly stated that Chief Minister Vijay has achieved a significant milestone by eradicating the practice of “cut money” in tenders for a select few. He assured that every penny of revenue will now flow directly to the government treasury, for which several reform measures have been implemented, including complete transparency in the tender process.

To further improve the quality of education, the government has announced a plan to revamp and modernize schools under the “Palli Niravu Thittam,” allocating ₹300 crore for the current year. Furthermore, ₹125 crore has been sanctioned for a state-of-the-art government residential school scheme for students from grades 9 to 12, named after the legendary former Chief Minister K. Kamaraj. A provision of ₹7 crore has been made to accelerate the “Drug-Free Tamil Nadu” campaign to promote a healthier society. The Finance Minister, citing other significant government initiatives, stated that 717 liquor shops have been closed in the state so far, and that ordinary domestic consumers are receiving 200 units of free electricity. In this budget, he outlined visionary initiatives such as women’s empowerment, social justice, and permanent housing for all those in need.