Finance Minister N. Marie Wilson presented the first Budget of the TVK government, outlining its fiscal roadmap and key policy initiatives for 2026–27. The TVK government has projected Rs 16,000 crore in additional revenue, including Rs 1,000 crore from a liquor production cess, and announced Rs 129 crore for the ‘Super Clean, Super Campus’ scheme in 10,000 government schools. The Budget proposals include the constitution of a Revenue Enhancement Committee.
The Tamil Nadu government has reaffirmed its goal of transforming the State into a $1.5 trillion economy by 2036, outlining the vision as a key long-term economic objective in the Budget.
ஊழல்னு வார்த்தைய கேட்டாலே கொத்துஸ் கதறானுங்க 🤣
#TNVettriBudget2026_27 pic.twitter.com/FRZMW0brgN
— BOSS TVK ❤️💛❤️ (@BossTVK) August 5, 2026
The Budget proposes plans to transform the Cooum and Adyar rivers into world-class urban waterways, adding that a detailed feasibility study and project report will be prepared, with proposals including boating facilities, riverfront promenades and recreational spaces. This initiative aims to make the two rivers new landmarks for Chennai.
The government announced that it would provide five goats free of cost under a 100% subsidy to widows, destitute women, transgender persons and persons with disabilities. The Budget has allocated Rs 110 crore for the livelihood support scheme.
The Finance Minister said that the government would establish Thai (Mother) Care service and assistance centres for pregnant women across the State. Expectant mothers nearing delivery can stay at these centres and receive free accommodation, food, medical care and continuous health monitoring.
Key points of the Budget include:
‘Thai Maaman Thanga Mothiram Thittam’ – Every newborn delivered in a government hospital will receive a 1-gram gold ring; Rs 560 crore allocated.
1,000 Mobile Geriatric Treatment Centres to be introduced in phases across Tamil Nadu; Rs 33 crore allocated.
‘Thai Care’ maternity support centres to be established for pregnant women, offering free meals, medical care and health monitoring; Rs 23 crore allocated.
Hub-and-Spoke Telemedicine System to connect specialist doctors with Primary Health Centres and government hospitals, beginning with five hubs and 200 spokes; Rs 10 crore allocated for preparing the Detailed Project Report. Five zonal cancer care hospitals to be established under a Hub-and-Spoke model.
Rs 100 crore additional allocation to ensure an uninterrupted supply of medicines for patients with hypertension, diabetes and cancer.
Rs 23,357 crore allocated to the Health and Family Welfare Department.
The Budget states:
Financial assistance for women’s marriages with 8 grams of gold and one silk saree”; Rs 812 crore allocated.
Under the Secular Social Justice Initiatives, educational assistance for minorities has been announced, the Haj subsidy has been increased from Rs 25,000 to Rs 35,000, Rs 1.05 crore has been allocated for Christian and Muslim women’s self-help groups, and Rs 34 crore has been allocated for burial ground and cemetery development.
For senior citizens, the Budget announces the setting up of libraries, yoga, meditation and indoor recreation facilities initially in five districts.
The TVK government has expanded the Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Breakfast Scheme to cover students of Classes 6 to 8. The scheme will benefit 15.14 lakh students studying in 15,414 schools, with an allocation of Rs 710 crore.
Besides, a new AI Economy Mission will be launched to equip students, graduates and professionals with AI skills, and five institutions will receive special financial assistance to promote AI-related education and research.
The finance minister announced that the Drugs Free Tamil Nadu mobile app will be strengthened to enable the public to report incidents related to the spread of narcotics.
The government plans to set up 10 Olympic Centres of Excellence across the State to nurture athletes with the goal of winning Olympic gold medals. Nearly 5.32 lakh Class 11 students will receive bicycles equipped with helmets and water bottles under the ‘Puthiya Payanam Puthiya Vegam’ scheme.
The finance minister announced that the government will soon constitute a Revenue Enhancement Committee to identify measures for increasing the State’s revenue.
The TVK government expects Rs 1,000 crore from the liquor production cess and Rs 15,000 crore through revenue enhancement measures.
The Tamil Nadu Finance Minister quoted Dr B.R. Ambedkar, E.V. Ramasamy (Periyar), M.G. Ramachandran (MGR) and other leaders during his 2026–27 Budget presentation in the Assembly.
His bringing the Budget papers along with a Rosary mala (Japa Mala) stoked a stir, with critics questioning the secular nature of the government.
பட்ஜெட் தாக்கல் செய்ய வருகை தந்த அமைச்சர் மரிய வில்சன் அறிக்கையோடு கையில் ஜெப மாலையை எடுத்து சென்றார்#MariaWilson #TNBudget #TNBudget2026 #Secretariat #ThanthiTV pic.twitter.com/AzTd9qyi5g
— Thanthi TV (@ThanthiTV) August 5, 2026
Hindu Munnani, taking to the X platform, questioned whether he was going to present the Budget in the State Assembly or attend a prayer meeting of a church congregation. It also questioned whether carrying a Rosary mala was part of Tamil culture.
நிதித்துறை அமைச்சர் மரிய வில்சன் கையில் ஜெப மாலையுடன் சட்டசபை கூட்டத்தில் கலந்து கொள்ள செல்கிறாரா அல்லது ஜெபகூட்டத்துக்கா??
பட்ஜெட் வாசிக்கவா அல்லது பைபிள் வாசிக்கவா?
தமிழர் பண்பாடு ஜெபமாலையா??@MarieWilson_TVK @CMOTamilnadu #MarieWilson | #TNBudget | #TNBudget2026 |… pic.twitter.com/24WQHDoo8H
— Hindu Munnani (@hindumunnani_tn) August 5, 2026
Critics now ask, “Where are the leaders like CPI(M) MP Su Venkatesan and others who objected when the Tamil Nadu Agriculture Minister took the Agriculture Budget highlights to Tirumala for the blessings of Bhagwan Venkateswara?”
They argue that, for such leaders, opposing Hindu traditions is not considered secular, while carrying a Japa Mala, the Speaker J.C.D. Prabhakar quoting Biblical verses, a Muslim MLA quoting Quranic verses, and Muslim ministers assuming office after clergy conducted prayers at the Secretariat do not attract similar objections.
CPI(M) MP Su Venkatesan had questioned the earlier decision in a post on X, stating that the Budget documents were “neither offerings to the divine nor spiritual items” but political and constitutional documents explaining how taxpayers’ money is proposed to be spent.
