Mon May 19 19:10:00 UTC 2025: **Summary:**

The Tamil Nadu government is accelerating its plan to distribute laptops or tablets to 2 million college students over the next two years. Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin chaired a meeting to review the progress, urging officials to expedite the distribution. The initiative, announced during the 2025-26 budget presentation by Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu, aims to equip students with the necessary technology to thrive in an AI-driven world. The government has allocated ₹2,000 crore for this scheme in the financial year 2025-26.

**News Article:**

**Tamil Nadu Government Speeds Up Laptop Distribution for 2 Million College Students**

Chennai, India – May 20, 2025 – The Tamil Nadu government is ramping up efforts to provide laptops or tablets to approximately 2 million college students across the state. Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin chaired a meeting on Monday, urging officials to expedite the distribution process.

The initiative, first announced during the 2025-26 budget presentation by Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu, aims to empower students with the technological skills needed to succeed in an increasingly AI-driven world.

“In the first phase, 20 lakh college students will be provided with a tablet or laptop, based on their preference, over the next two years,” Minister Thennarasu stated during the budget announcement. “Launched with the objective of ensuring that our youth succeed in the high-tech world of the future, an amount of ₹2,000 crore will be allocated for this scheme in the financial year 2025-26.”

Chief Secretary N. Muruganandam confirmed that the distribution plan has been prepared and tenders will be floated shortly. The high-tech devices will be available to students across various disciplines including arts, science, engineering, agriculture, and medicine.

Minister for Higher Education Govi. Chezhiaan, Minister for Information Technology and Digital Services Palanivel Thiaga Rajan, and other senior officials were present at the meeting, underscoring the government’s commitment to this ambitious project. The move is expected to significantly enhance the digital literacy and employability of Tamil Nadu’s student population.

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