India
Tamil Nadu Allocates ₹2,000 Crore for Vetri Laptop Scheme to Boost College Students’ Tech Skills
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay announced on Saturday, November 7, 2026, that the state government will sanction ₹2,000 crore to launch the Vetri Laptop Scheme, aimed at improving the technological skills of college students. The scheme, introduced in the 2026-27 Budget, will be overseen by a High‑Level Steering Committee chaired by the Chief Minister. The Electronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu (ELCOT) has received administrative approval to procure laptops and manage quality control. Eligible recipients are first‑ and second‑year undergraduate and diploma students in government and government‑aided colleges for the 2026-2027 academic year, covering courses in arts, science, engineering, polytechnic, ITI, medicine, veterinary sciences, fisheries, agriculture and law. Third‑ and fourth‑year students in professional courses who were not covered in the 2025-26 academic year will also be included. Engineering students will receive laptops with Intel Core i5 processors or equivalent specifications. The announcement was published at 11:53 a.m. IST on November 7, 2026.