NationalThursday, 27 August 2026·Hindu Tamil Thisai
Tamil Nadu says Centre withheld ₹5,109 crore in school education funds over 3 years
Tamil Nadu school education department said the Centre has not released ₹5,109 crore over the last 3 years and only ₹714 crore was released under RTE orders.
Key highlights
Direct fact
In August 2026, Tamil Nadu’s School Education Department said the Union government had withheld ₹5,109 crore over the last 3 years, while ₹714 crore was released for the RTE scheme in 2024–25 and 2025–26 following Supreme Court orders.
Key specifics
- The school education funding pattern is 60% Union government and 40% State government.
- Tamil Nadu refused to join PM SHRI School Scheme after the Centre did not accept demands including exemption from the three-language policy.
- The Union government stopped the Samagra Shiksha funding for Tamil Nadu from the 2024–25 academic year.
- The State government spent ₹2,014 crore in 2024–25 and 2025–26 to continue the projects.
- For 2026–27, Tamil Nadu has allocated ₹647 crore as interim funding, according to the department.
Exam lens
TNPSC polity and education question type: Samagra Shiksha, PM SHRI, 60:40 funding, ₹5,109 crore, ₹714 crore, ₹647 crore — a likely current-affairs question on Centre-State fiscal relations.