Tamil Nadu Finance Minister N. Marie Wilson on Wednesday (August 5, 2026) said the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK)-led State government will launch the ‘Vetri Skill Training Scheme’ to provide industry-aligned skill training to 12 lakh college students and one lakh unemployed youth this year.
He said internship programmes in collaboration with government and private industries will be provided to 20,000 youth in the first phase, with graduates and vocational education holders receiving a monthly stipend. Priority will be given to youth from families without permanent employment. A sum of ₹150 crore has been allocated for this scheme.
Presenting the Revised Budget for 2026-27 in the Assembly, Mr. Wilson said the Tamil Nadu School Programme for Artificial Intelligence, Robotics and Knowledge of Online Tools (TN SPARK) will be expanded from the existing 5,000 government schools to an additional 2,600 schools during 2026-27. Under the revised three-tier framework, students of Classes VI to VIII will learn the fundamentals of emerging technologies, Classes IX and X will receive intermediate-level training, and Classes XI and XII will be offered specialised elective courses.
To reduce dependence on petroleum-based products and curb environmental pollution, the State government will train mechanics currently servicing fossil fuel-powered vehicles in the maintenance of electric vehicles and batteries. Over the next five years, 22,500 persons, including 12,500 existing mechanics, will benefit under the scheme, and a total of ₹3 crore has been allocated for this financial year, Mr. Wilson said.
To help Tamil Nadu’s youth secure emerging global employment opportunities, the government will introduce a new Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning trade in Government Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) at an estimated cost of ₹10 crore. The course will be introduced in 50 ITIs over five years, covering 10 institutes each year, and is expected to train 24,000 students. In addition, five new ITIs will be established at an estimated cost of ₹90 crore, for which ₹7.5 crore has been allocated, the Finance Minister said.
Coaching classes conducted through District Employment and Career Guidance Centres for State government recruitment examinations will be expanded to include examinations conducted by the Staff Selection Commission (SSC), Railway Recruitment Board (RRB), and Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS). The State government has allocated ₹3.38 crore for this initiative, he said.
The State government will launch the AI Industry Development Program to position Tamil Nadu at the forefront of artificial intelligence and technological innovation. An expert committee of academic and industry leaders will develop specialised AI curricula for higher education, and through partnerships with institutions including IIT Madras, the programme aims to skill five lakh youth across engineering colleges, polytechnics, and ITIs by 2031, Mr. Wilson said.
A total of ₹2,022 crore has been allocated for the Labour Welfare and Skill Development Department, while the Special Programme Implementation Department has been allocated ₹17,150 crore, he added.
Published - August 05, 2026 11:49 am IST
Tamil Nadu / budgets and budgeting / state politics / higher education / Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam
Source: The Hindu - India News
