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The Tamil Nadu government will establish a specialised Government Law College in Madurai offering advanced legal education on a par with a School of Excellence in Law, Finance Minister Marie Wilson said while presenting the Revised Budget in the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday (August 5, 2026).
The college will commence operations in the 2027-28 academic year with an intake of 300 students.
The Minister said ₹8,393 crore had been allocated to the Higher Education Department in the Revised Budget Estimates.
NEET abolition
Reiterating Tamil Nadu’s opposition to the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET), the Minister said repeated leaks in the examination at the national level had severely affected the higher education prospects of the next generation. He urged the Union government to immediately abolish the NEET-based admission system and restore medical admissions based on Class XII public examination marks (in Tamil Nadu).
Mr. Wilson also announced the government’s plan to implement the Vetri Laptop Scheme for college students, with an allocation of ₹2,000 crore. The initiative, he said, would equip students with laptops as an essential learning resource.
Improved housing
Emphasising the need to provide decent accommodation for students, the Minister announced the government would establish the Tamil Nadu Student Housing and Infrastructure Corporation (TNSHIC), a dedicated Special Purpose Vehicle, with an initial equity infusion of ₹10 crore.
Under the flagship TN-SUDAR (Tamil Nadu State Upgradation, Development and Advancement of Student Residences) initiative, the government will construct 200 integrated student hostels providing one lakh modern hostel beds across major educational hubs in the State.
The project will be implemented through a de-risked Design, Build, Finance, Operate, and Transfer (DBFOT) public-private partnership model, with an estimated capital outlay of ₹3,200 crore. It will be supported by a 20% State Capital Construction Grant amounting to ₹640 crore, to be released over the next two financial years.
“It will replace segregated housing with integrated, high-amenity campuses featuring fully air-conditioned study hubs, round-the-clock security, hygienic kitchens, and an automated allocation framework designed to ensure diversity and social equity. In the years to come, TN-SUDAR will help integrate youth from diverse communities and faiths,” the Minister said.
Published – August 05, 2026 02:33 pm IST
