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FREE PREVIEW Week 3-4 3 lessons

Tamil Nadu: Administration, Welfare Schemes and Current Affairs

How Tamil Nadu is governed, its local bodies, major welfare schemes (with their status after the 2026 change of government), and key Tamil Nadu events of 2025 and 2026.

Lessons in this module

1

State Government and Local Bodies

Lesson • 5 quiz questions

Read notes ↓
2

Major Welfare Schemes of Tamil Nadu

Lesson • 5 quiz questions

Read notes ↓
3

Tamil Nadu Current Affairs 2025–2026

Lesson • 5 quiz questions

Read notes ↓

Lesson notes

1. State Government and Local Bodies

Tamil Nadu follows the same constitutional structure as other states, but has some special features: a one-House legislature, one of India's oldest High Courts and a long tradition of local bodies. Learn the numbers well.

Executive and legislature

  • The Governor is the constitutional head, appointed by the President. R. N. Ravi was Governor from September 2021 to March 2026.
  • Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar (Governor of Kerala) held additional charge from March 2026, and was appointed full-time Governor of Tamil Nadu in October 2026; he took charge on 15 October 2026.
  • The Raj Bhavan in Chennai is now called Lok Bhavan.
  • Tamil Nadu has a unicameral (one-House) legislature: the Legislative Assembly with 234 elected members. 118 seats are needed for a majority.
  • The Tamil Nadu Legislative Council was abolished with effect from 1 November 1986.
  • Tamil Nadu sends 39 members to the Lok Sabha and 18 to the Rajya Sabha. The Secretariat and Assembly function from Fort St. George, Chennai.

Judiciary and commissions

  • The Madras High Court was established in 1862 and is one of the three oldest High Courts in India (with Calcutta and Bombay).
  • Its bench at Madurai started functioning in 2004. The Madras High Court also has jurisdiction over Puducherry.
  • The Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC) traces its roots to the Madras Service Commission of 1929.
  • The Tamil Nadu State Election Commission conducts elections to rural and urban local bodies.
  • The Tamil Nadu Lokayukta was set up under the Tamil Nadu Lokayukta Act, 2018.

Local bodies

  • Rural local bodies have three tiers under the Tamil Nadu Panchayats Act, 1994: Village Panchayat, Panchayat Union (block level) and District Panchayat.
  • The Gram Sabha (all voters of a village panchayat) meets on fixed days such as Republic Day, Labour Day, Independence Day and Gandhi Jayanti.
  • Urban local bodies are Municipal Corporations, Municipalities and Town Panchayats.
  • The Greater Chennai Corporation (formerly Madras Corporation, 1688) is the oldest municipal body in India.
  • Tamil Nadu reserves 50% of seats in local bodies for women.
Quick facts
Legislative Assembly
234 seats; majority 118
Legislative Council
Abolished from 1 November 1986
Parliament seats
Lok Sabha 39, Rajya Sabha 18
Governor
Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar (full-time from October 2026)
Madras High Court
Established 1862; Madurai bench 2004
Panchayat law
Tamil Nadu Panchayats Act, 1994 (three tiers)
Chennai Corporation
1688, oldest in India
Women in local bodies
50% reservation

💡 Remember '234 - 39 - 18': Assembly, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha seats of Tamil Nadu. And remember: no Legislative Council since 1986.

📝 5-question quiz on this lesson: enrol free to take it and track your score.

2. Major Welfare Schemes of Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu is known for its welfare schemes, especially for school children and women. After the change of government in May 2026, some schemes continued, some were renamed and some new ones were announced. This lesson describes them factually.

Food and nutrition for students

  • K. Kamaraj introduced a free midday meal in schools in 1956. M. G. Ramachandran expanded it as the Nutritious Meal Programme in 1982.
  • The Chief Minister's Breakfast Scheme was launched in September 2022 to give free breakfast to Classes 1 to 5 in government schools.
  • In July 2026 the new government renamed it the Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Breakfast Scheme, after K. Kamaraj.
  • From 17 September 2026 it was extended to Classes 6 to 8 in government schools, adding about 15 lakh students.
  • Tamil Nadu's school meal schemes are widely cited as a model for the national PM POSHAN scheme.

Schemes for women and students

  • Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thogai (launched 15 September 2023): Rs 1,000 a month to eligible women heads of families. The new government continued the Rs 1,000 payment, and the 2026-27 budget provided funds for it (as Magalir Urimai Thogai).
  • Pudhumai Penn (2022): Rs 1,000 a month to girls who studied in government schools from Class 6 to 12, while they pursue higher education.
  • Tamil Pudhalvan (2024): a similar Rs 1,000 a month for boys from government schools.
  • Free bus travel for women in ordinary town buses began in 2021 (later called Vidiyal Payanam). In July 2026 buses began showing it as Magalir Payanam, and on 2 October 2026 it was expanded to more bus types as Vettri Payanam.
  • Naan Mudhalvan (2022) was a skill-training programme for college students. In June 2026 the new government was reported to have renamed it; check the latest government order for the official new name.

Health, education and new 2026 schemes

  • Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam (2021) took healthcare to people's homes, especially for diabetes and blood pressure patients.
  • Illam Thedi Kalvi (2021) used volunteers to help school children recover learning lost during COVID-19 school closures.
  • New schemes in the 2026-27 budget, as announced: Thaaimaaman Thanga Mothiram (a one-gram gold ring for each newborn delivered in a government hospital) and Annan Seer (an 8-gram gold coin and a silk saree for eligible brides).
  • The 2026 budget also earmarked about Rs 2,000 crore for free laptops for college students (Vetri Laptop Scheme).
  • Scheme names and benefits can change; check the latest government orders before your exam.
Quick facts
Midday meal
K. Kamaraj, 1956
Nutritious Meal Programme
M. G. Ramachandran, 1982
Breakfast scheme
Started 2022; renamed Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Breakfast Scheme (2026); Classes 1-8
Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thogai
Rs 1,000 a month to women heads of families (from 2023)
Pudhumai Penn / Tamil Pudhalvan
Rs 1,000 a month to girls / boys from government schools in higher studies
Free bus travel for women
From 2021; expanded as Vettri Payanam on 2 October 2026
Thaaimaaman Thanga Mothiram
One-gram gold ring for newborns in government hospitals (2026-27 budget)

💡 For each scheme, remember three things: who benefits, how much, and when it started. 'Rs 1,000' appears in several schemes, so note who gets it.

📝 5-question quiz on this lesson: enrol free to take it and track your score.

3. Tamil Nadu Current Affairs 2025–2026

2026 brought a major political change in Tamil Nadu. This lesson lists key facts on the Assembly election, the new government, the Governor, the budget and other events. Party positions are given only as their own stated views.

2026 Assembly election

  • Polling for the 234-seat Assembly was held on 23 April 2026, with a record turnout of about 85%. Results were declared on 4 May 2026.
  • Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), founded by actor Vijay in February 2024, won 108 seats, the largest number but short of the 118 needed for a majority.
  • The DMK won 59 seats and the AIADMK 47. Congress won 5; PMK 4; VCK, CPI, CPI(M) and IUML 2 each.
  • Congress joined the government, and some other parties gave support, giving the TVK government a majority.
  • Vijay won from two constituencies, Perambur and Tiruchirappalli East, and kept Perambur.

New government

  • C. Joseph Vijay was sworn in as Chief Minister on 10 May 2026 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium, Chennai, along with nine ministers.
  • The oath was administered by Governor Rajendra Arlekar. The government won a confidence vote in the Assembly on 13 May 2026.
  • J. C. D. Prabhakar (TVK) was elected Speaker of the 17th Tamil Nadu Assembly on 12 May 2026. M. Ravisankar became Deputy Speaker.
  • Udhayanidhi Stalin (DMK) became Leader of the Opposition, as the DMK became the largest opposition party.
  • It was only the second hung Assembly in the state's history; K. A. Sengottaiyan became Leader of the House.

Other events

  • On 27 September 2025, a crowd crush at a TVK political rally in Karur killed 41 people.
  • The new Pamban rail bridge, India's first vertical-lift sea bridge, connecting Rameswaram to the mainland, was inaugurated on 6 April 2025.
  • R. N. Ravi's term as Governor ended in March 2026; Rajendra Arlekar became full-time Governor in October 2026.
  • The first budget of the new government was presented on 5 August 2026 by Finance Minister N. Marie Wilson.
  • Chennai's D. Gukesh became the youngest undisputed world chess champion in December 2024 and received the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna in January 2025.
Quick facts
Polling day
23 April 2026 (turnout about 85%)
Results
4 May 2026: TVK 108, DMK 59, AIADMK 47
Chief Minister
C. Joseph Vijay (TVK), sworn in 10 May 2026
Speaker
J. C. D. Prabhakar (elected 12 May 2026)
Leader of the Opposition
Udhayanidhi Stalin (DMK)
Governor
Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar
New Pamban bridge
Inaugurated 6 April 2025; vertical-lift sea bridge

💡 Make a 2026 timeline: 23 April polling, 4 May results, 10 May oath, 12 May Speaker, 13 May confidence vote, 5 August budget, 15 October full-time Governor.

📝 5-question quiz on this lesson: enrol free to take it and track your score.

Other modules in TNPSC Group 4 Exam Prep: Tamil Nadu GK, Aptitude & Tamil

Start Here: TNPSC Group 4 Exam PatternFREE PREVIEW → Tamil Nadu: History, Culture and Social ReformFREE PREVIEW → Ancient IndiaFREE PREVIEW → Medieval IndiaFREE PREVIEW → Colonial Rule and the Freedom StruggleFREE PREVIEW → Tamil Nadu: Geography and EconomyFREE PREVIEW → Indian Geography for National ExamsFREE PREVIEW → The Constitution of IndiaFREE PREVIEW → How India Is GovernedFREE PREVIEW → India's Economic Journey and PoliciesFREE PREVIEW → General ScienceFREE PREVIEW → Static GK for National ExamsFREE PREVIEW → Quantitative Aptitude: Number BasicsFREE PREVIEW → Quantitative Aptitude: Arithmetic IFREE PREVIEW → Quantitative Aptitude: Arithmetic IIFREE PREVIEW → Reasoning: Verbal BasicsFREE PREVIEW → Reasoning: Logic and ArrangementsFREE PREVIEW → Tamil Language Basics for the Eligibility TestFREE PREVIEW → General English: GrammarFREE PREVIEW → General English: Vocabulary and ComprehensionFREE PREVIEW → Computer KnowledgeFREE PREVIEW → Final AssessmentFREE PREVIEW →

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