Tamil Nadu Budget 2025: Rs 55,261 crore allocated for education department
The Tamil Nadu government has allocated Rs 55,261 crore to the School and Higher Education Department for the financial year 2025-26. This includes ₹46,767 crore for School Education and ₹8,494 crore for Higher Education. Presenting the budget in the Legislative Assembly on Friday, March 14, Tamil Nadu’s Minister for Finance, Environment, Climate Change, and Forests, Thangam Thennarasu, emphasized the government’s commitment to education. This marks the last full budget by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government before the state elections in 2026.
Under the Perasiriyar Anbazhagan School Development Scheme, Rs 1,000 crore has been earmarked to improve infrastructure in government schools, including the construction of additional classrooms, science laboratories, and drinking water facilities. To modernise education, the government will upgrade computer labs in 2,000 schools at a cost of Rs 160 crore and enhance 880 hi-tech laboratories at Rs 56 crore. Additionally, smart classrooms will be introduced in 2,676 government schools, with an estimated allocation of Rs 65 crore.
The minister pointed out that the Union Government has withheld Rs 2,152 crore due to Tamil Nadu’s non-acceptance of the New Education Policy, particularly its three-language formula. “Despite this, keeping in mind the welfare of students, the State Government has allocated funds, including salaries of teachers, from its own resources to ensure that the education of Government school students remain unaffected, even in the slightest way,” he said.
To accommodate increasing demand for higher education, 15,000 additional seats will be added to popular courses in government arts and science colleges, with Rs 15 crore allocated for infrastructure and faculty support. The 7.5% reservation for government school students in professional courses such as engineering and agriculture will continue, with Rs 550 crore set aside to cover tuition fees, hostel charges, and transportation costs for 41,038 students in the coming financial year.
A key announcement in the budget is the establishment of the Chennai Science Centre in collaboration with the Singapore Science Centre. With an estimated cost of Rs 100 crore, this center will feature STEM-based exhibits, a children’s science park, modern astronomical telescope installations, digital experience theaters, and conference halls. The initiative will be implemented in partnership with the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA).
It was announced that the state would recruit 1,721 postgraduate teachers and 841 graduate teachers through direct recruitment. The Teachers Recruitment Board is expected to release the notification soon, the minister added. The government has also announced that 14 high schools in remote hilly areas will be upgraded to higher secondary schools to improve access to education for tribal students. These schools shall be located in districts Dharmapuri, Erode, Kallakurichi, Krishnagiri, the Nilgiris, and Tiruvannamalai.
A strategic roadmap has also been proposed to position Anna University among India’s top 10 institutions and within the top 150 in QS global rankings over the next five years.