Tamil Nadu: Students of government colleges to get free laptops, CM Vijay allocates 2,000 crore rupees for Vetri Laptop Scheme

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay has directed the implementation of the 'Vetri Laptop Scheme' for college students. The state government stated on Saturday that 2,000 crore rupees have been allocated for this scheme. This scheme is the free laptop scheme announced in the 2026-27 state budget. According to the government, a high-level committee led by the Chief Minister will be formed for the effective monitoring of its implementation.

Which students will get the benefit

According to the government release, students in the first and second year of undergraduate (UG) courses and diploma (including polytechnic) courses studying in government and government-aided colleges in the 2026-27 session will be eligible for this scheme. This includes courses such as arts, science, engineering, medicine, veterinary, agriculture, fisheries, and law.

The benefit of the scheme will also be extended to those students who could not avail the benefit of the free laptop scheme in the 2025-26 academic year and are now in the third or fourth year of their professional courses in government or government-aided institutions.

Procurement of laptops

According to the government, engineering students will be provided with laptops featuring Intel Core i5 processors or equivalent, keeping their requirements in mind. Administrative approval has been granted to the government agency ELCOT to ensure the procurement of laptops that meet all quality standards. According to the government, the financial allocation has received administrative approval, and detailed guidelines for implementing the scheme have also been issued.

Government's rationale

In its statement, the government said that in today's digital world, a laptop is an essential educational tool for students pursuing higher education, which will help in enhancing technical knowledge, skill development, online studies, and preparation for future employment. The government is confident that this scheme will prove significant for students from underprivileged and middle-class families.

What is not yet clear

The government has not yet made public the number of laptops, the date of distribution, and the details of the members of the high-level committee.