Tamil Nadu's Rs 2,000 crore laptop plan: What Vijay's big student push means

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay has cleared the Rs 2,000 crore Vetri Laptop Scheme, extending free laptops to undergraduate and diploma students across government and aided institutions, with a special provision for engineering students and those previously excluded.CM Vijay clears Vetri Laptop Scheme for Tamil Nadu college students, Rs 2,000 crore allocated (Photo: ITG)New Delhi,Nov 8, 2026 11:43 ISTTamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay has ordered the implementation of the Vetri Laptop Scheme, a Rs 2,000 crore initiative aimed at providing free laptops to college students across the state.Announced in the Tamil Nadu Budget for 2026-27, the scheme will cover students pursuing undergraduate, diploma and professional courses in government and state-aided institutions. The state government has also approved the formation of a high-level committee under the chief minister to oversee its implementation.A Government Order granting administrative sanction for the financial allocation and laying down detailed guidelines for the rollout has also been issued.WHO WILL BENEFIT FROM THE SCHEME?The scheme will primarily cover first- and second-year undergraduate students, along with diploma students enrolled in government and state-aided institutions during the 2026-27 academic year. Students pursuing courses in arts, science, engineering, medicine, veterinary science, agriculture, fisheries and law will be eligible. The scheme will also include students enrolled in polytechnic and Industrial Training Institute (ITI) programmes.In addition, the government has decided to extend the benefits to students who missed out on the free laptop scheme during the 2025-26 academic year. This provision will cover those currently studying in the third and fourth years of professional courses at government and state-aided institutions.ENGINEERING STUDENTS TO GET LAPTOPS WITH INTEL CORE i5 PROCESSORS The state government has made a specific provision for engineering students, considering the technical requirements of their courses.Under the scheme, engineering students will receive laptops equipped with Intel Core i5 processors or equivalent configurations. The government has also granted administrative sanction to the state-run Electronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu (ELCOT) to procure laptops that meet the prescribed quality standards.WHY HAS THE GOVERNMENT INTRODUCED THE SCHEME?According to the state government, laptops have become an essential educational resource in an increasingly digital learning environment.The initiative is intended to help students improve their technological knowledge, access online education, undertake skill development programmes and prepare for employment opportunities.The government said the scheme would particularly benefit students from marginalised communities and middle-income families by improving their access to digital resources.The initiative is also expected to strengthen students' ability to acquire skills relevant to an increasingly competitive global job market and improve their employability.The word 'Vetri' translates to 'victory'. The TVK-led government's initiatives, including its free bus travel scheme for women, also carry the Vetri prefix.(With PTI inputs)- Ends