Anticipations for Tamil Nadu’s 2025-26 Budget Presentation at 9:30 AM Today

The Finance Minister of Tamil Nadu, Thangam Thennarasu, is set to unveil the state budget for 2025-26 on Friday, amidst a verbal clash between the ruling DMK and the BJP-led central government. This marks the fifth budget presented by the current DMK administration under Chief Minister MK Stalin since they took office in 2021.

The session will commence at 9:30 AM in the Assembly Hall located within the Assembly-cum-Secretariat complex at the Fort St. George campus in Chennai.

This will be Thennarasu’s second budget presentation since he became the Finance Minister following a Cabinet reshuffle in May 2023. He delivered his inaugural budget in February of the previous year.

Later that day, the Tamil Nadu Assembly’s Business Advisory Committee will convene to determine the length of the upcoming Budget session, which is likely to commence on March 17. On March 15, Agriculture Minister MRK Panneerselvam is expected to present the Agriculture Budget.

The state government will also submit the advance demands for grants and the final supplementary demands for the 2024-25 fiscal year in the Assembly on March 21.

The perceived shortage of funding for significant projects in Tamil Nadu may be a topic of discussion in the Assembly. Political sentiments regarding the National Education Policy (NEP) and issues related to programs like Samagra Shiksha and PM Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) are expected to resonate within the Tamil Nadu Assembly throughout the budget session.

This budget holds considerable importance as Tamil Nadu approaches elections next year. Additionally, it comes against a backdrop of heightened political tension revolving around contentious issues such as the NEP and delimitation.

The Stalin-led government has replaced the Devanagari rupee symbol ‘ ₹’ in its budget logo for 2025-26, inciting controversy amidst a fierce language conflict with the Center.

The budget logo, unveiled by the government on Thursday, features ‘ru’, the initial letter of the Tamil term ‘Rubaai’, which refers to the Indian currency in the Tamil language.

The Union Finance Minister criticized the DMK government’s decision and questioned their lack of protest back in 2010 when the Congress officially adopted the symbol.

Achieving a $1 trillion economy by 2030: Economic Survey

The state’s inaugural Economic Survey for 2024-25 has established an ambitious economic strategy for Tamil Nadu. Nonetheless, it points out the “policy constraints” set by the central government, claiming these restrictions have impeded the state’s actual growth potential, as reported by Indian Express.

Despite these challenges, the Economic Survey anticipates that Tamil Nadu’s economy will sustain a growth rate exceeding 8 percent, while aiming for a $1 trillion economy by the year 2030, according to the document officially delivered on Thursday.

Compiled by the State Planning Commission in collaboration with the finance department, the survey critiques the policies of the Union government. It states that constraints such as fiscal borrowing caps and policies like the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) hinder the state’s ability to achieve its maximum potential.

Anticipated Announcements

A variety of significant announcements are expected in today’s budget, particularly concerning the social sector, where the state government has been boosting expenditures, as the Assembly elections are slated for 2026.

An announcement regarding the Magalir Urimai Thogai scheme is anticipated, as the Deputy Chief Minister has recently suggested expanding the program to benefit a larger number of women. This scheme provides monthly financial assistance of ₹1,000 to women residents of Tamil Nadu.

Opposition parties, particularly the AIADMK and the BJP, have been criticizing the state government regarding the alleged decline in law and order and increasing debts, and they are likely to bring these issues up during the Budget session.

Live Streaming of the Budget in Chennai

The Greater Chennai Corporation has organized to broadcast the budget at approximately 100 locations throughout Chennai, including Chennai Central Railway Station, Koyambedu Bus Terminus, Marina Beach, Pondy Bazaar Road, and Thiruvanmiyur Beach.

The live telecast will begin at 9:30 AM.