Published Aug 05, 2026 | 9:59 AM ⚊ Updated Aug 05, 2026 | 11:06 AM
Finance Minister N Marie Wilson (inset) is expected to announce several plans linked to TVK's election promises.
Synopsis: Among the most anticipated announcements is an increase in the monthly women’s entitlement assistance from ₹1,000 to ₹2,500, along with several other major welfare and development initiatives.
Tamil Nadu Finance Minister N Marie Wilson has begun his Budget speech. This is the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK)-led government’s maiden Budget.
The State Budget for the financial year 2026-27 comes a day after the arrest and release of the Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin in connection with an alleged offensive and misogynist remark targeting Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay and a leading cine artiste.
Finance Minister N Marie Wilson.
The Budget is expected to announce several plans linked to the TVK’s election promises.
Among the most anticipated announcements is an increase in the monthly women’s entitlement assistance from ₹1,000 to ₹2,500, along with several other major welfare and development initiatives.
Elected from the Radhakrishnan Nagar Assembly constituency in Chennai, Wilson is associated with the Jeppiaar Group of Institutions. The 47-year-old finance minister holds a B.Tech degree and an MBA. He also has a doctorate in Management Science.
A total allocation of ₹8,028 crore has been made for the Cooperation Department.
The Kuruvai Package Scheme will be implemented with an allocation of ₹134 crore to encourage paddy cultivation in both delta and non-delta districts.
₹14,984 crore for the Department of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare.
Under the Vetri Women's Goat Rearing Scheme, five goats will be provided with a 100% subsidy.
The scheme will benefit widows, destitute women, transgender persons, and persons with disabilities. A total of 30,000 beneficiaries will be covered under the scheme, with an allocation of ₹110 crore.
An allocation of ₹122 crore has been made for strengthening veterinary healthcare infrastructure. The allocation is for:
A hub-and-spoke telemedicine network will be established with an allocation of ₹33 crore.
₹10 crore has been allocated to establish five regional cancer care hospitals. The funding will also support research and development activities related to cancer care.
A total allocation of ₹23,357 crore has been made for the Department of Health and Family Welfare.
Skill development training and subsidised loans for self-employment will be provided to transgender persons.
A subsidy will be provided for bank loans of up to ₹50,000 taken for self-employment.
'Aran' shelter homes will be established in five districts, while short-stay accommodation facilities will be set up in 15 districts.
₹9,818 crore for the Department of Social Welfare and Women’s Rights.
₹33 crore to establish mobile healthcare units for senior citizens.
At an estimated cost of ₹23 crore, Service and Support Centres for pregnant women will be established across the state. Women approaching their expected date of delivery can stay at these centres and avail themselves of free food, medical assistance, and continuous medical monitoring, among other services. services.
A total allocation of ₹1,485 crore has been made for the Department for the Welfare of Persons with Disabilities.
A scheme has been announced to provide an 8-gram gold coin and a silk saree to women in Tamil Nadu on the occasion of their marriage. An allocation of ₹812 crore has been made for the scheme.
The Chief Minister's Breakfast Scheme has been renamed the Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Breakfast Scheme.
An allocation of ₹710 crore has been made for the scheme, which is expected to benefit 1.514 million (15.14 lakh) students.
An allocation of ₹6.6 crore has been made to establish 12 old-age homes across 12 districts.
In the first phase, Senior Citizens' Recreation Centres will be set up in five districts, featuring libraries, yoga and meditation facilities, and indoor recreational amenities.
New buildings will be constructed for 500 dilapidated Anganwadi centres.
Educational scholarships for minority students will continue.
The Haj pilgrimage subsidy has been increased from ₹25,000 to ₹35,000.
An allocation of ₹1.05 crore has been made for Christian and Muslim women's self-help associations.
₹34 crore for the development of Kabristhans and Christian cemeteries.
A total allocation of ₹1,485 crore has been made for the Department for the Welfare of Persons with Disabilities.
An allocation of ₹250 crore has been made under the Tribal Development Scheme to improve basic amenities in tribal habitations. The scheme will cover the construction of houses, roads,
drinking water facilities, street lights, livelihood initiatives, healthcare infrastructure, educational welfare assistance, and the development of schools and hostels.
A total allocation of ₹3,937 crore has been made for the Department of Social Justice.
The government will take firm measures to protect the 69% reservation policy.
An allocation of ₹462.41 crore has been made towards educational scholarships for Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes, and Denotified Communities; financial assistance covering fees under the 7.5% medical education quota; and incentive schemes to prevent dropouts among girl students.
For transforming Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe agricultural labourers into landowners, priority will be given to women.
The scheme provides a full exemption from stamp duty and registration charges, along with training in modern agricultural technologies for cultivation. An allocation of ₹20 crore has been made for the initiative.
An allocation of ₹300 crore has been made for the Ayothidasa Pandithar Habitat Development Scheme, aimed at improving basic infrastructure in Scheduled Caste habitations.
Under the Annal Ambedkar Overseas Education Scholarship Scheme, scholarships will be provided to 362 students during the current financial year. An allocation of ₹131 crore has been made for the scheme.
The Vetri Entrepreneurship Scheme will be implemented to improve the livelihoods of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities and ensure sustainable development. An allocation of ₹75 crore has been made towards capital subsidy and interest subsidy under the scheme.
An allocation of ₹165 crore has been made for the Annal Ambedkar Industrial Pioneers Scheme, which aims to promote entrepreneurship among Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
Young school students aged 8 to 18 years who demonstrate interest and talent in sports will be identified and selected to receive world-class training. ₹5 crore has been allocated for the initiative.
A total allocation of ₹1,051 crore has been made to the Department of Youth Welfare and Sports Development.
₹2,022 crore for the Labour Welfare and Skill Development Department.
₹17,150 crore for the Special Programme Implementation Department.
₹50 crore for establishing 10 Olympic Centres of Excellence.
₹42 crore for conducting Tamil Nadu Rural Games to take Tamil traditional sports to the global stage.
The government will launch the AI Economy Mission to build a self-reliant Artificial Intelligence ecosystem in Tamil Nadu. The mission will create an enabling environment for AI professionals and technology entrepreneurs to thrive.
By 2031, the government will provide free AI training to five lakh students studying in government, aided and private educational institutions.
Under the TN SPARK programme, 2,600 schools will be selected from among 5,000 government schools to strengthen coding and digital learning infrastructure.
An allocation of ₹150 crore has been made for the Vettri Thiran Scheme, which includes:
An allocation of ₹338 crore has been made to provide free coaching in Tamil for competitive examinations conducted by SSC, RRB, IBPS and other recruitment agencies at the Union and State levels.
The government has allocated ₹90 crore to establish five new Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs).
An allocation of ₹10 crore has been made to introduce a new training programme in Artificial Intelligence (AI) at government Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs).
An allocation of ₹3 crore has been made for a Minor and Child Labour Skill Development Programme, under which 22,500 beneficiaries, including 12,500 migrant workers, will be trained over the next five years.
The government has allocated ₹8,393 crore to the Higher Education Department in the 2026–27 Budget.
The government has announced the Vettri Laptop Scheme, under which laptops will be distributed to college students. An allocation of ₹2,000 crore has been made for the scheme.
The government has announced the TN Sudar Scheme, under which integrated student hostels with one lakh modern bed spaces will be developed through the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.
An allocation of ₹44,500 crore has been made for the School Education Department in the 2026–27 Budget.
The government has reiterated its strong opposition to the NEET.
The Tamil Nadu government has urged the Union government to abolish the NEET and reiterated that admissions to medical courses should be based on Class 12 board examination marks.
To curb drug abuse in schools, anti-drug committees and volunteer groups will be established.
The 10581 helpline number will be prominently displayed in schools, and a "Drugs Free Tamil Nadu" mobile application will be launched to enable the public to report drug-related information. ₹7 crore has been allocated for these initiatives.
An allocation of ₹10 crore has been made for the modernisation and renovation of public libraries.
A scheme to upgrade infrastructure in 3,734 schools will be implemented at an estimated cost of ₹2,132 crore. An allocation of ₹300 crore has been made for the project in the current financial year.
A new Kamarajar Modern Residential School for students of Classes 9 to 12 will be established. The government has allocated ₹125 crore for the project.
The government is committed to transforming Tamil Nadu into a $1.5 trillion economy by 2035. To achieve this goal, it will implement all the initiatives outlined in the TVK Vision Document.
The state's debt has doubled over the past five years.
Tamil Nadu's financial constraints have limited the funds available for implementing various government schemes and projects.
The government has undertaken several measures to ease Tamil Nadu's financial constraints. As part of these efforts, it has enhanced transparency in the tendering process and removed several cumbersome regulations governing government procurement.
The government has ensured that public tenders are not cornered by any single political party or individual.
Additional levies have been imposed on liquor manufacturing units. The government expects these measures to generate an additional ₹1,000 crore in annual revenue.
The government expects to generate an additional ₹15,000 crore in revenue through faceless assessments in the Commercial Taxes Department, faceless document registration in the Registration Department, and end-to-end computerisation of the Mines Department.
Finance Minister N Maria Wilson said the government has made a strong start by focusing on key principles such as poverty eradication, transparent governance, and building a drug-free society.
He highlighted initiatives including free electricity units, the waiver of farmers' loans, the establishment of the Singappen Task Force for women's safety and empowerment, anti-drug reforms, and several other welfare and governance measures already implemented by the government.
