Tamil Nadu CM Vijay Orders ₹2,000 Crore Vetri Laptop Scheme for College Students

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Saturday ordered the implementation of the Vetri Laptop Scheme, allocating ₹2,000 crore to provide laptops to eligible college students across the state.

The scheme was announced in the Tamil Nadu Budget for 2026-27 and is intended to improve students’ technological skills, digital access and employment readiness.

Who Is Eligible for the Vetri Laptop Scheme?

Under the programme, first and second-year undergraduate and diploma students studying in government and government-aided institutions during the 2026-27 academic year will be eligible.

Students from a wide range of courses are covered, including:

• Arts and science

• Engineering

• Polytechnic

• ITI

• Medicine

• Veterinary science

• Fisheries

• Agriculture

• Law

The government has said the initiative will cover students across multiple higher-education and professional streams.

Third and Fourth-Year Professional Students Also Covered

The Vetri Laptop Scheme will also benefit third and fourth-year students enrolled in professional courses who did not receive laptops during the 2025-26 academic year.

This provision is intended to ensure that students missed under the previous distribution programme are also brought within the new scheme.

Engineering Students to Get Higher-Specification Laptops

The government said engineering students would receive laptops equipped with Intel Core i5 processors or equivalent specifications to meet the higher technical requirements of their courses.

The specifications are intended to support activities such as programming, engineering applications and other technology-intensive academic work.

Vijay to Head High-Level Steering Committee

A High-Level Steering Committee headed by Chief Minister Vijay will be constituted to monitor the implementation of the scheme.

The committee will oversee the rollout and ensure that laptops reach eligible students across Tamil Nadu without unnecessary delays.

ELCOT to Handle Laptop Procurement

The Electronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu (ELCOT) has been given administrative approval to procure the laptops.

The state government said ELCOT would also be responsible for ensuring quality standards during procurement and distribution.

₹2,000 Crore Allocated in 2026-27 Budget

The TVK government had announced the ₹2,000 crore Vetri Laptop Scheme while presenting its first full budget in August.

The programme is a continuation and expansion of Tamil Nadu’s existing effort to provide digital devices to college students, with the new government rebranding it as the Vetri Laptop Scheme.

Scheme Aims to Improve Digital Skills

The Tamil Nadu government said the scheme is intended particularly to help students from middle- and lower-income families compete in an increasingly technology-driven economy.

Providing laptops is expected to give students greater access to online learning, digital resources, programming tools and employment-oriented technology skills.

The government has described the Vetri Laptop Scheme as an important step towards improving technological proficiency and reducing the digital divide among college students.