Tamil Nadu Approves ₹2,000 Crore Laptop Scheme

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay has approved ₹2,000 crore for the Vetri Laptop Scheme, which will provide free laptops to eligible students at government and government-aided colleges. The scheme was announced in the state’s 2026-27 budget, and the government has issued an order granting administrative approval and setting out implementation guidelines.

For the 2026-27 academic year, the scheme covers first- and second-year undergraduate and diploma students enrolled at government and government-aided colleges. The government said eligible courses include arts and science, engineering, polytechnic, industrial training, medicine, veterinary science, fisheries, agriculture and law.

The government has also included third- and fourth-year students in professional courses who did not receive laptops during the 2025-26 academic year, according to the implementation details. The reports do not establish that procurement has begun or that laptops have been distributed.

A steering committee led by Vijay is to oversee the programme, monitor progress and coordinate work among the departments involved. The government assigned procurement to the Electronics Corporation of Tamil...