Tamil Nadu budget 2025-26 to be presented today by finance minister Thangam Thennarasu amid rupee symbol row

Tamil Nadu budget 2025-26: This will be Thangam Thennarasu's second Budget presentation after he became the finance minister in 2023.

Published on: Mar 14, 2025, 08:34:19 IST

By HT News Desk

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

The Tamil Nadu Budget 2025-26 will be presented in the assembly on Friday by finance minister Thangam Thennarasu amid a massive political row after the state government on Thursday replaced the Devanagari rupee symbol with a Tamil letter in its logo for the budget.

The Tamil Nadu Budget will be presented today in the state assembly (PTI)

This will be Thennarasu's second budget presentation after he became the finance minister in 2023. It also marks the fifth budget of the DMK-led government.

A discussion on the budget will likely begin on March 17, reported PTI.

Also Read: Annual growth rate of over 12% needed for TN to become $1 trillion economy by 2030: Survey

Opposition parties, primarily the AIADMK and the BJP have criticised the state government, led by chief minister MK Stalin, for alleged lapses in law and order, as well as increasing debts, which will be addressed during the Budget session.

The budget is expected to feature several important announcements ahead of the state assembly election in 2026, including increasing expenditure and focusing on the social sector, reported PTI.

Also Read: ‘How stupid can you become MK Stalin’: BJP's K Annamalai slams Tamil Nadu's 'Rs' move

The agriculture budget will be presented by minister M RK Panneerselvam on March 15.

The budget presentation live stream will be screened from 9:30am onwards by the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) in close to 100 locations across the city, including the Chennai Central Railway Station, Koyambedu Bus Terminus, Marina Beach, Pondy Bazaar Road, and Thiruvanmiyur Beach.

The Agriculture Budget will also be screened in Chennai.

Tamil rupee symbol row

The budget presentation comes after the Tamil Nadu government introduced the new rupee logo - the Tamil alphabet ‘Ru’, as the logo for the state Budget, replacing the usual currency symbol ‘Rs’.

The state's BJP President Annamalai condemned the act and stated that the DMK were trying to divert attention from more pressing issues.

Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman also criticised the government for changing the national currency symbol, stating, “If the DMK has a problem with 'Rs', why didn't it protest back in 2010 when it was officially adopted under the INC-led UPA government, at a time when the DMK was part of the ruling alliance at the Centre?”

She further stated that the ‘Rs’ symbol was deigned by Th. D Udaya Kumar, the son of former DMK MLA N Dharmalingam, and that erasing it would not only be a rejection of a national symbol but also disrespectful to the contributions of Tamil youth to the country.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Get the latest India News, breaking headlines and real-time updates from across the country. Stay informed about politics, government policies, crime, weather and major national developments.