Archive · 5 Aug 2026
Tamil Nadu's TVK government presents first Budget in Assembly
In the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, the new government shared its first big money plan, called a Budget.
The finance minister, whose job is to look after the state's money, presented it in the Assembly.
When brides get married, they will receive a small gold coin and a silk saree.
Babies born in government hospitals will get a tiny gold ring.
College students may get laptops to help them study, and schools will be made better.
The government also wants a very hard medical test called NEET to be removed.
The state has a lot of debt, so the government says it will fix its money problems step by step, and it will take about two years.
Some opposition leaders are not happy with the plan.
They say the government forgot its promises, like giving monthly money to women and providing free cooking gas.
Finance Minister N Marie Wilson presented the TVK government's first Budget in the Assembly on Wednesday, hailing Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay for halting the practice of 'cut' (kickbacks) in tenders.
The Budget allocated Rs 812 crore for the gold coin and silk saree scheme for brides, Rs 560 crore for gold rings for newborns in government hospitals, and over Rs 1,300 crore across two gold assistance schemes.
Rs 2,000 crore was set aside for college student laptops under the Vettri Madikanini Thittam, Rs 300 crore for school modernisation, and Rs 125 crore for K Kamaraj residential schools.
The government urged the Centre to scrap NEET, raised the Haj subsidy for first-time pilgrims to Rs 35,000 from Rs 25,000, and earmarked Rs 110 crore for a goat rearing scheme.
Opposition leaders, including M K Stalin, Udhayanidhi Stalin, and Edappadi K Palaniswami, criticised the Budget as lacking new schemes and ignoring key electoral promises.
- Who
- Tamil Nadu Finance Minister N Marie Wilson, who presented the Budget, and Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government.
- What
- The TVK government's first Budget, featuring welfare schemes such as gold coins and silk sarees for brides, gold rings for newborns, laptops for college students, and reforms to curb kickbacks in tenders.
- When
- Wednesday, August 5 (report dated Chennai, Aug 5).
- Where
- Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly in Chennai.
- Why
- To deliver on the TVK's election assurances and bring the state out of what the government describes as a 'financial crunch.'
TVK Government
Opposition Parties
Overall Budget assessment
TVK Government
Finance Minister N Marie Wilson said the Budget balances welfare with fiscal prudence, and Finance Secretary M A Siddique said it strikes a careful balance between welfare and physical capital expenditure without cutting existing schemes.
Opposition Parties
DMK President M K Stalin said the Budget lacked original thinking and did not fulfil promises; Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin called it a 'big zero'; AIADMK's Edappadi K Palaniswami gave it a 'zero' rating, saying no new scheme has been introduced in 85 days.
Delivery of election promises
TVK Government
The government says overall welfare scheme allocation this year is an estimated Rs 15,000-18,000 crore, with phased implementation of populist assurances made before the 2026 Assembly polls.
Opposition Parties
Palaniswami said the government ignored promises including the Rs 2,500 monthly assistance for women, six free LPG cylinders, the Rs 3,000 old-age pension, and the full crop loan waiver, and demanded a concrete revenue generation roadmap.
Education spending
TVK Government
The government earmarked Rs 2,000 crore for laptops, Rs 300 crore for school modernisation, and Rs 125 crore for new K Kamaraj residential schools.
Opposition Parties
Udhayanidhi Stalin alleged the budgetary allocation for education was reduced.
- Gold coin and silk saree scheme
- Rs 812 crore; 8 gm gold plus silk saree for brides
- Newborn gold ring scheme
- Rs 560 crore; 1 gm gold ring for births in government hospitals
- College laptop scheme
- Rs 2,000 crore under Vettri Madikanini Thittam
- Goat rearing scheme
- Rs 110 crore; 5 goats/sheep for about 30,000 beneficiaries
- Haj subsidy for first-time pilgrims
- Increased to Rs 35,000 from Rs 25,000
- School schemes
- Rs 300 crore modernisation (Palli Niraivu Thittam); Rs 125 crore for K Kamaraj residential schools (classes 9-12)
- Projected state debt (31 Mar 2027)
- Rs 10,98,768 crore (27.01% of GSDP)
- Deficits (revised estimates 2026-27)
- Revenue deficit Rs 55,775 crore (Opposition cited Rs 55,785 crore); fiscal deficit Rs 1,21,819 crore (3% of GSDP)
