Tamil Nadu Budget 2025-26 focuses on cultural preservation, women, students

The government has prioritised initiatives like providing laptops or tablets to college students, expanding skill development programs, and enhancing women’s welfare through financial aid and free transportation.

Subash Chandra Bose

Published Mar 14, 2025 | 2:20 PM ⚊ Updated Mar 14, 2025 | 2:45 PM

Tamil Nadu Finance Minister Thangam Thenarasu handing over the budget copy to Chief Minister MK Stalin.

Synopsis: The budget for 2025-26 outlines that the Tamil Nadu government aims not only to boost its economic growth but also to protect its unique identity and promote inclusivity across all sectors of society. Finance Minister Thangam Thenarasu highlighted the importance of balancing tradition with innovation.

Tamil Nadu Finance Minister Thangam Thenarasu presented the state’s budget for the financial year 2025-25 on Friday, 14 March, with a vision to reshape the state’s future.

The budget emphasises cultural preservation, empowering marginalised communities, fostering gender equality, and modernising infrastructure to overcome the existing as well as potential challenges.

With far-reaching initiatives, the Tamil Nadu government aims not only to boost its economic growth but also to protect its unique identity and promote inclusivity across all sectors of society.

The budget also focuses on inclusive growth, economic stability, and social welfare, with significant allocations for key areas such as education, women’s empowerment, infrastructure, healthcare, and employment.

Infrastructure projects include the expansion of Chennai Metro Rail, upgrading urban and rural roads, and developing a 2,000-acre Global City near Chennai.

Additionally, the budget aims to fill 40,000 vacancies in various government departments, promote green energy with investments in renewable energy and storage systems, and strengthen healthcare services, including HPV (Human papillomavirus) vaccination and doorstep healthcare programs.

Preserving Tamil culture: A commitment to heritage

One of the most notable aspects of the budget is the state government’s unwavering commitment to preserving and promoting Tamil culture, language, and heritage.

In a move to globalise Tamil culture, the budget outlined several key initiatives, including:

Global translation of Thirukkural: An allocation of ₹1.33 crore will fund the translation of the Thirukkural into all the official languages of the United Nations member nations over the next three years, ensuring its universal reach.
Translation of Tamil literary works: Over the next five years, ₹10 crore will be allocated to translate 500 Tamil literary masterpieces into English, making Tamil literature accessible to a global audience.
Machine translation of technical textbooks: ₹2 crore will be used to translate technical textbooks in fields like medicine and engineering, further expanding Tamil’s influence in academia and technology.
Digitisation of Tamil heritage: A ₹2 crore allocation will go towards the digitisation of ancient Tamil manuscripts and rare texts, to preserve them for future generations.
Tamil book fairs: ₹2 crore will be invested in organising Tamil book fairs both within India and abroad, further promoting Tamil literature and culture on the global stage.
Tamil language and arts for non-resident Tamils: ₹10 crore will be allocated to fund Tamil language and arts classes for Tamil youth abroad, keeping the connection to their roots strong.
World Tamil Olympiad: A ₹1 crore allocation dedicated to rewards for outstanding performers in the global Tamil Olympiad, a testament to the growing importance of Tamil culture worldwide.
Agaram Museum: Madurai will be home to a new museum dedicated to showcasing Tamil’s ancient linguistic history, providing a space for the preservation and celebration of Tamil heritage.
Archaeological research: ₹7 crore to fund archaeological excavations, including deep-sea research, to uncover and understand Tamil culture’s rich history.
Tamil heritage museums: New museums like the Noyyal and Naavaai Museums, with a ₹40 crore allocation for a bronze sculpture gallery, will highlight the state’s ancient culture.

Empowering women and gender minorities

Tamil Nadu’s budget for 2025 has a strong focus on gender equality, aiming to dismantle the structural barriers that have hindered access to opportunities for women and gender minorities.

The government has introduced several key initiatives:

Vidiyal Payanam: A new initiative that provides free bus travel for women, benefiting 50 lakh women daily. ₹3,600 crore has been allocated for this initiative in 2025-26, making public transportation more accessible and empowering for women.
Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thittam: This scheme, which provides ₹1,000 per month to 1.15 crore women, has been allocated ₹13,807 crore in the budget to further promote financial independence among women.
Moovalur Ramamirtham Ammaiyar Puthumai Penn Thittam: ₹420 crore has been earmarked to promote higher education for girls from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, benefiting 4.06 lakh students.
Self-Help Groups (SHGs): The budget proposes the creation of 10,000 new SHGs, with ₹37,000 crore in loans for women entrepreneurs, empowering them to start and sustain businesses.
Thozhi Women’s Hostels: ₹77 crore has been allocated for the expansion of hostels for working women, ensuring their safety and accommodation.
Hostels for girl students: New hostels in cities like Chennai, Coimbatore, and Madurai will accommodate 1,000 students each, with a ₹275 crore allocation to ensure access to education for marginalised groups.
Support for transgender welfare: The Pudhumai Penn scheme has been extended to transgender individuals, providing employment opportunities in the Home Guard Force along with training programs. These initiatives are part of a comprehensive strategy aimed at promoting dignity, inclusion, and empowerment for gender minorities.

Infrastructure: Building a robust and inclusive future

Infrastructure development is central to the Tamil Nadu 2025 budget, with a vision to modernise urban spaces, improve rural connectivity, and create a sustainable environment.

Chennai Metro Rail Phase II: ₹63,246 crore is allocated to expand Chennai’s metro network by 119 km, significantly improving urban transportation.
Urban Infrastructure: ₹2,000 crore is earmarked under the Kalaignar Nagarpura Membattu Thittam for urban infrastructure, while ₹3,750 crore will be used to upgrade 6,483 km of urban roads.
Rural Roads: ₹2,200 crore will be allocated for the development of 6,100 km of rural roads, enhancing connectivity across Tamil Nadu’s rural areas.
Global City Development: ₹2,000-acre Global City near Chennai will house IT parks, fintech hubs, and high-tech infrastructure, strengthening the state’s role as a business and innovation hub.
Chennai Smart City: ₹10,000 crore is dedicated to projects aimed at transforming Chennai into a smart city, including green buildings, advanced transportation systems, and public spaces.
Rural connectivity: ₹5,000 crore will focus on improving infrastructure in remote villages, enhancing access to clean water, and developing healthcare facilities.
Transportation revolution: ₹7,000 crore is allocated for expanding metro networks in cities like Coimbatore, Trichy, and Madurai, while ₹1,500 crore will be invested in electric buses and EV (electric vehicle) charging stations.
Digital infrastructure: ₹1,500 crore is committed to the Digital Tamil Nadu initiative, ensuring high-speed internet access and the development of e-governance platforms.

Also Read: Finance minister focuses on all-round development

Focus on sustainability and green growth

The 2025-26 Tamil Nadu budget highlighted environmental sustainability as a critical aspect for the state’s growth and development. The state government is investing in clean energy and water conservation to ensure long-term ecological health:

Green Development Fund: ₹2,500 crore will fund clean energy initiatives, including solar and wind power projects, with a target of 50 percent reduction in carbon emissions by 2030.
Water conservation: ₹3,000 crore will be allocated for constructing new reservoirs and developing rainwater harvesting systems to secure the state’s water supply.

Concluding his budget address, Thenarasu highlighted the importance of balancing tradition with innovation.

“The 2025 budget reflects Tamil Nadu’s commitment to socio-economic equality, sustainable growth, and gender inclusivity. By focusing on preserving Tamil heritage while implementing policies for gender empowerment, infrastructure development, and environmental conservation, this budget lays the foundation for Tamil Nadu’s progress in sustainable and inclusive development,” he said.

“With targeted investments and initiatives, Tamil Nadu aims to make strides toward sustainable growth, ensuring a better future for all its residents,” he added.

(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)