As the protest against the NEET and resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan in Delhi by students led by the CJP, the student members belonging to DYFI assembled near the BSNL office adjacent to the Head Post Office signal, a busy road in Tiruchy City, on Wednesday and staged a protest. They expressed their solidarity with the protesters in Delhi and raised slogans against the Union Education Minister and demanded his resignation.

They also demanded to scrap NEET for medical admission and went on raising slogans. Suddenly, they went to the middle of the road and attempted to block the traffic, and soon, the police, who were on duty, held talks with the agitators and asked them to ease the traffic. This triggered a minor scuffle between the police and the protesters.

But still, the protesting members continued to block the traffic, and so, the police forcibly removed them one by one and took them to the police vehicle. As many as 10 members, including a woman, were arrested. Traffic was disrupted for a while, and the members continued to raise slogans while being taken away by the police.

The traders downed shutters along the Coonoor-Kundha Road, alleging that measures taken by the Ulikkal Town Panchayat, including fumigation, had failed to contain the infestation.

"Our business has been affected severely as these flies land on food items such as cakes and other bakery products, rendering them unfit for consumption. The state government should intervene and take appropriate measures to control the menace," said Bhaskar, a shopkeeper.

Residents said swarms of flies have invaded homes, hotels and commercial establishments across Selas, affecting daily life and business activity.

Amid growing public concern, a team of researchers from the Wildlife and Nature Conservation Trust and Ongil Nature Trust conducted field inspections in Selas and identified the insects as black-winged fungus gnats belonging to the Sciaridae family.

The team comprised A Samson, A Abinesh, Azad Kamil, N Sadiq Ali, N Moinudheen, Mohammed Shahir, E Vignesh and F Suhaib Yatoo. "We observed high concentrations of flies in the central town, along the Upper Road and the Downhill Road section in Selas. These flies do not pose any direct threat to humans as they do not bite, sting or inject venom. Their life cycle lasts between 21 and 28 days, during which females lay up to 200 eggs in damp soil and decaying organic matter. The adult flies feed primarily on nectar and are harmless," said Azad Kamil, founder of Ongil Nature Trust.

According to the researchers, the surge in the fly population is linked to a decline in rove beetles, which naturally prey on the larvae of fungus gnats. They said the beetle population has fallen due to the extensive use of chemical pesticides. Predatory mites also feed on the larvae and could help regulate their numbers.

The researchers noted that the nuisance becomes more pronounced after dark as the flies are attracted to artificial lights. They advised residents to keep damp areas, waterlogged spots and containers left in the open clean and dry to help reduce breeding.

"There is no need for the public to panic. Although complete eradication is difficult, the infestation is expected to subside naturally with changes in weather conditions," the researchers said.

When the case came up for hearing before Justice K Rajasekar, the State Government Counsel, opposing the bail plea, submitted that the investigation had revealed a criminal conspiracy between the vendor and the purchaser.

The prosecution further submitted that although the vendor had claimed that the sale consideration was paid through five or six cheques, no actual monetary transaction had taken place. The counsel further told the court that while the government's guideline value of the property was around Rs 16 crore, the entire property had been sold for only Rs 2 crore.

The prosecution also informed the court that Rs 1 lakh had been paid to the Thanpani Mutt on the very day the property was purchased. It contended that the petitioner had purchased the land with the intention of cheating and usurping the property.

The petitioner's counsel did not offer any explanation to these allegations.

After hearing the arguments, Justice Rajasekar observed that the truth would emerge only if the investigation were allowed to proceed unhindered.

"The transfer of a total of Rs 1 lakh to those who passed the resolution to register the land raises suspicion," the judge observed.

Observing that government officials were also alleged to have been involved in the case, the judge held that granting anticipatory bail to Vellaithurai at this stage would affect the investigation. The court accordingly dismissed his anticipatory bail petition.

Addressing reporters, Arunraj called for education and medicine to be restored to the state list or placed under a specialised concurrent arrangement as a permanent solution to persistent entrance exam irregularities.

"Conducting a single exam for lakhs of students across India through a centralised body inherently creates vulnerabilities," the Minister said, adding, "the Union government has vast responsibilities; it should allow state governments to manage medical admissions for state-funded institutions"

On the ongoing stir by the students against NEET irregularities, he urged the central government to engage with protesters amicably rather than suppressing peaceful demonstrations.

Addressing seasonal public health, Arunraj noted that Tamil Nadu has recorded 9,000 dengue cases so far in 2026, a marked decline compared to 23,000 in 2024 and 11,000 in 2025.

"However, with doctors reporting localised upticks, the health department has stepped up mosquito eradication drives and requested public assistance in clearing stagnant water," he added.

Aadhav condemns police action on students in Delhi

In a scathing critique of the union government, Tamil Nadu Minister for Public Works and Sports Development, Aadhav Arjuna, has strongly condemned the police crackdown on students and opposition leaders protesting against the NEET paper leak in the national capital.

Terming the action against peaceful demonstrators as a direct "crushing of democracy," the Minister reiterated Tamil Nadu's unwavering stance against the centralised entrance examination.

"The first voice of opposition to NEET echoed from Tamil Nadu, and today, that echo has resonated across the entire nation," he said in his social media "X" platform.

He highlighted that students nationwide are exercising their constitutional right to peaceful protest, demanding an end to a system that disempowers state-level education and youth futures.

Condemning the severe police action in New Delhi, the Minister criticised authorities for treating protesting students like "criminals".

He further called out the high-handed detention of the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, and MP Priyanka Gandhi, who had joined the youth in solidarity, calling their removal an overt attack on fundamental democratic rights.

The Minister urged the Centre to recognise the legitimacy of the student movement, demanding the immediate scrapping of NEET and the restoration of Education to the State List. "We will take every firm step toward scrapping NEET and will always stand as an unshakable shield for students' rights and welfare," he affirmed.

TNCC, Youth Congress stage widespread demonstrations

Meanwhile, members of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee and Youth Congress staged widespread demonstrations across the state, demanding the immediate scrapping of the NEET and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over recurring examination irregularities and alleged paper leaks.

Congress party members in Sankarapuram, Kallakurichi staged a road blockade late Tuesday night to protest the arrest of senior leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, in Delhi.

Holding banners and shouting anti-Centre slogans, protesters attempted to march towards government centers, highlighting what they termed "systemic administrative failure" by the National Testing Agency (NTA).

Speaking to reporters at Coimbatore International Airport, Radhakrishnan said only if the nation remains united will our voice be heard at the global stage. “India’s ability to respond effectively to global powers stems from its unity,” he said.

To a query on the ongoing protests in Delhi, Radhakrishnan declined to comment, saying it was a political question and that an appropriate response should come from political leaders.

Replying to a query on the performance of the new government in Tamil Nadu, the Vice President said the government should be given some time to function. “That’s everyone’s wish, and it is my wish as well,” he said.

In a statement, Palaniswami alleged that the registration of trust land worth around Rs 100 crore in favour of private individuals had triggered widespread outrage among devotees.

He said concerns over lands belonging to the Palani Dhandayuthapani Swamy Trust had been raised since the previous DMK regime and noted that a case relating to the temple land is already pending before the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court.

Palaniswami further said the government itself had acknowledged that three key accused in the alleged land fraud were absconding and were being searched for by the police. This, he said, had cast doubts over the government's handling of the issue.

"If this hide-and-seek game is to end, the matter must be investigated by an impartial agency such as the CBI," he said.

Condemning the TVK government over the alleged fraudulent registration of temple land, the AIADMK will hold the protest at 9.30 am on July 25 near the Mayil Roundabout in Palani under the banner of the party's Dindigul West district unit.

The demonstration will be led by AIADMK Treasurer, Dindigul East district secretary and former minister Dindigul C. Srinivasan.

Palaniswami appealed to the public and AIADMK functionaries to participate in large numbers in the protest.

The Thoothukudi District Crime Branch arrested MLA Markandeyan for his alleged defamatory remarks against the CM during the public meeting. He was questioned for nearly 11 hours at the district police office before being remanded to judicial custody till August 3 by Judicial Magistrate-I Sumathi.

The bail petition was scheduled to be heard on Wednesday morning. Meanwhile, the Thoothukudi District Crime Branch police filed a petition seeking permission to take Markandeyan into police custody for further interrogation. The court decided to hear both petitions together in the afternoon and directed the authorities to produce Markandeyan, who was lodged in Palayamkottai prison, before the court.

Accordingly, Markandeyan was produced before Judicial Magistrate-I Sumathi at the Thoothukudi Judicial Magistrate Court.

During the hearing, the police sought custody of the MLA for further interrogation. Opposing the plea, counsel for Markandeyan submitted that he had already been questioned for 11 hours, during which the police had asked more than 170 questions, and that he had signed all the documents required by the investigating agency. Therefore, no further police custody was necessary.

Arguing for bail, the defence counsel contended that the speech delivered by the MLA at the public meeting had been made without any malicious intent. The prosecution strongly opposed the plea and urged the court not to grant bail.

After hearing both sides, Judicial Magistrate-I Sumathi dismissed both the MLA's bail petition and the police application seeking police custody for further interrogation.

The government also announced that the expansion of the scheme to include students of Classes 6 to 8 would be launched on September 17.
This is also considered to be a deft political move by the alliance leader TVK, as the move would endear itself with the Congress, a key constituent in the ruling coalition.

According to a government order issued by Social Welfare and Women Empowerment Department Secretary M Pallavi Baldev, the expansion of Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Breakfast Scheme will benefit 15,14,274 students studying in 15,454 government schools across the State. The government has allocated Rs 217.63 crore for the expansion.

Incidentally, the order is dated July 15, Kamaraj’s birth anniversary, and the expansion will be launched on September 17, the birth anniversary of Dravidian icon Periyar EV Ramasamy.

"The scheme will be extended to 447 schools in Chennai, where the Commissioner of the Greater Chennai Corporation will oversee its implementation," the order said. In the remaining districts, the scheme implementation will be monitored by Collectors. The order also stated that the existing menu, operational guidelines, and monitoring mechanism would continue without any changes.

The breakfast scheme, conceived by the previous DMK government and launched by the then chief minister MK Stalin in 2022, currently provides nutritious breakfast to 19.34 lakh primary school students in government schools.

Under the scheme, students are served upma, kichadi, or pongal on weekdays, with rava kesari or semiya kesari added to the menu on Fridays. Locally available millets feature on the menu at least twice a week. The government spends upward of Rs 12.71 per child on each breakfast.

The direction was issued by a Division Bench comprising Justices CV Karthikeyan and Sakthivel while hearing a public interest litigation petition filed by Narmadha of Gomathipuram in Madurai.

The petitioner sought a direction to the State government to formulate a policy providing women with fully paid menstrual leave, taking into account their welfare.

During the hearing, the Bench observed that "When there is no policy decision at all, it is necessary to formulate one. It may appear to be insignificant, but when more than half of the population consists of women, it is necessary to take their issues into consideration. At present, there has been a change in Tamil Nadu. The government can hold appropriate deliberations on fulfilling the petitioner's request. A policy should be framed in a manner acceptable to women from all sections."

The Bench further observed that the government could hold consultations on the petitioner's request and evolve a policy acceptable to women from all sections of society.

The court directed a competent officer from the Labour Welfare Department, who is authorised to make recommendations on policy matters, to explain the government's position on the issue and adjourned the case to July 28.

Members of Students' Federation of India (SFI) and Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), both pro-CPI(M) organisations, staged an agitation in Coimbatore to express solidarity with students protesting in New Delhi.

DYFI District Secretary Dinesh Raja strongly condemned the Union government and Delhi Police for cracking down on parliament-bound students and arresting activist Sonam Wangchuk, who has been on a hunger strike since June 20.

Raja demanded Wangchuk's unconditional release and strict action against the police personnel responsible for brutality against the Jantar Mantar protesters.

The student leaders criticised the Tamil Nadu police for detaining demonstrators in Chennai, Madurai, and Mayiladuthurai, questioning the absence of a designated protest venue like Jantar Mantar in the state. Citing the loss of 20 student lives nationally due to NEET, the organisations announced a 48-hour wait-in protest in Coimbatore, even as police intervened to detain the demonstrating activists.

In a related development in Chennai, CJP (Cockroach Janata Party) members continued their protest over the ongoing issue for the third consecutive day, with visuals depicting the sustained agitation.

Annamalai, who now heads the "We the Leaders" movement, demanded to know why a meaningful engagement was delayed until the protest escalated to a flashpoint and wondered what kept the government waiting.

"I urge the BJP-led Central Government to engage in meaningful dialogue, uphold transparency, and take swift, appropriate action to address the concerns at hand. The strength of any nation lies in the confidence its youth place in its institutions. If our students lose faith in the fairness and credibility of our education system, we are jeopardising the future of our nation," he said in a statement.

Despite the controversy, 'Jana Nayagan' has crossed Rs 15 crore in domestic advance bookings, with trade analysts projecting a Rs 50-60 crore opening day. Vijay's first release as Chief Minister and his final acting project is directed by H Vinoth, produced by KVN Productions, and also stars Pooja Hegde, Mamitha Baiju, Bobby Deol and Prakash Raj, among others.

Ahead of the film's release tomorrow (July 23), here's a complete timeline of how the controversy unfolded.

Certification and legal battle

1. December 18: KVN Productions submits 'Jana Nayagan' to the CBFC's Chennai regional office for certification ahead of its Pongal release.

2. December 22: The 5-member Examining Committee recommends a U/A 16+ certificate, subject to 27 cuts and modifications, which the producers accept.

3. December 24: The revised version, incorporating the suggested changes, is resubmitted to the CBFC.

4. January 5: 'Jana Nayagan' producers receive an email stating that the film has been referred to a Revising Committee under Rule 24 following a complaint by an Examining Committee member alleging:

• Religious sentiments could be hurt.

• Indian Armed Forces were improperly portrayed.

• Film suggests foreign elements are fuelling religious unrest.

5. January 6: KVN Productions files a writ petition in the Madras High Court challenging the delay in film certification.

6. January 7: The makers indefinitely postpone 'Jana Nayagan''s January 9 release.

7. January 9 (Morning): Justice PT Asha, sitting as a single judge, rules in favour of the film's producers:

• Quashes the January 5 communication.

• Directs the CBFC to immediately grant an U/A certificate.

• Calls the complaint an "afterthought".

• Observes that, "once the Examining Committee's recommendation was accepted on December 22, the Chairperson no longer had the authority to refer the film to a Revising Committee."

The judge also observes, "Such a volte-face by a member... would give rise to a dangerous trend of members reneging on their recommendation... the sanctity placed on the decision of the Examining Committee... would stand eroded."

8. January 9 (Evening): CBFC immediately appeals before a Division Bench, which stays the single judge's order, observing that the Censor board had not been given adequate time to file a counter-affidavit.

How the legal proceedings on Jan 9 transpired: Hours after CBFC ordered to clear Jana Nayagan, Madras HC puts the brake on it

9. January 12-15: 'Jana Nayagan' producers move Supreme Court. On January 15, the apex court declines to intervene, sending the case back to the High Court.

10. January 20: The Division Bench hears arguments and reserves its verdict; CBFC argues it was denied a proper hearing while producers argue the complaint came from within the committee that had already cleared the film.

11. January 27: In a major setback for the producers, the Division Bench sets aside the single judge's order. Judges on the bench are quoted saying, "The single judge ought not to have gone into the merits of the complaint without giving the CBFC sufficient opportunity to file its counter-affidavit." The case is remitted to a single judge for a fresh hearing, and the producers are allowed to amend their petition to directly challenge the chairperson's referral order.

12. Feb 9–10: Realizing that prolonged litigation could delay the film indefinitely, KVN Productions shifts strategy. They submit a letter to the registry to withdraw their writ petition, electing to comply with the statutory CBFC Revising Committee to fast-track a theatrical release. Justice Asha officially dismisses the case as withdrawn.

CBFC review, delay and OTT setback

13. March 9: Censor board review postponed after a member of their revising committee reportedly falls ill.

14. March 12: 'Jana Nayagan''s OTT rights reportedly cancelled.

15. March 17: CBFC hands the DCP (Digital Cinema Package) to the applicant in Mumbai with due acknowledgement.

16. March 17: The film is screened for CBFC officials in Mumbai, following which the board seeks ECI's intervention on whether the content could impact the level playing field during the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. 

Piracy leak and crackdown

17. April 9: In a shocking turn of events, a five-minute high-quality clip (including Vijay's introduction scene) from 'Jana Nayagan' begins circulating on social media, followed by reports of the full HD print being leaked on piracy websites.

18. April 11: CBFC denies responsibility for the leak, calling reports that 'Jana Nayagan' was leaked from the board "baseless and false". It says access to the film is password-protected, with the KDM (Key Delivery Message) remaining solely with the producer, making unauthorised access impossible. The board also clarifies that the DCP was handed over to the applicant on March 17 and has remained with them since.

On the same day, KVN Productions issues a statement confirming the leak and warning of strict legal action.

19. April 12: The Cyber Crime Wing police of Tamil Nadu arrest six people in relation to the leak. 

20. April 15: State Cyber Crime Wing arrests three main accused in the case, including a freelance film assistant editor. The accused are S Prashanth, S Selvam, and Bala alias Balakrishnan. 

21. April 24: Southern India Film Editor's Association (SIFEA) suspends film editor Pradeep E Raghav for allegedly violating union bylaws and failing to prevent the illegal online leak of the film.

22. May 15: The State Cyber Crime Wing invokes preventive detention under the Goondas Act against three key accused in the 'Jana Nayagan' leak case.

23. May 25: Reports of some booking apps listing the film for June 19 (Vijay's birthday) emerge, but no official confirmation emerges.

24. June 3: Six more persons involved in the unlawful circulation and dissemination of the pirated movie content are arrested by the cyber wing.

Certification cleared for release

25. July 2: Around 1.2 crore people watched the present Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay-starrer 'Jana Nayagan' online even before it received CBFC certification, police informs the Madras High Court. 

26. July 5: Sources tell DT Next that the film is likely to hit theatres later this month, with Vishnu Vishal's Irandu Vaanam, and Madhavan's GDN likely to put their release plans on hold. Tirupur Subramaniam, president of the Tamil Nadu Theatre Owners and Exhibitors Association, said Vijay's son Jason Sanjay's Sigma too is likely to postpone its July 30 release to avoid clashing with the film.

Release countdown

27. July 9: CBFC grants the film an 'A' certificate after directing the makers to do 12 modifications in the film including removal of references to Dr BRAmbedkar and TVK, besides muting religious and politically sensitive dialogues.

The film has a runtime of 183 minutes and 21 seconds after 20 seconds of deletions and 10 seconds of replacements.

28. July 15: KVN Productions releases a new poster referring to Vijay as the Honourable Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and announces July 23 as release date.

29. July 22: On comparisons with the Telugu film 'Bhagavanth Kesari', H Vinot told PTI: "There is 50-50 (mix). There is deep sensitive politics. We took the core idea of fear from the original and explored it through a political lens and how fear functions politically."

30. July 22: Advance bookings for Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay’s final cinematic outing, 'Jana Nayagan', open ahead of its Thursday (July 23) release; theatres report sold-out shows within minutes of tickets going live.

First-day-first-show screenings are scheduled to begin at 8.40 am across Tamil Nadu on July 23.

"This 2027 census is going to be India's first census conducted using complete digital technology," Tamil Nadu Census Director M Sundaresh Babu said.

Addressing a press conference after a consultative meeting, Babu outlined the preparatory work for the decennial exercise, noting that approximately 1.6 lakh personnel will be deployed across the state. Nationwide, around 30 lakh enumerators will be involved in the process.

Babu stated that the census will primarily be conducted in two phases, with the first phase comprising house listing and housing census, and the second phase focusing on population enumeration. In Tamil Nadu, the fieldwork for the first phase will be held over 30 days from August 1 to August 30.

A significant feature of this census is the introduction of a self-enumeration portal, allowing citizens to register their details online themselves, added Babu.

"A 15-day window, concluding on July 31, has been allocated for this self-registration facility. In Madurai district alone, around 9,000 households have already utilised the self-enumeration option," according to him.

During the 30-day field exercise in August, enumerators are tasked with visiting households to record responses to a standardised set of 33 questions applicable across India. Each enumerator will cover approximately 200 to 250 households, translating to a population of 800 to 900 people.

Allaying public fears regarding the purpose of data collection, Babu clarified that details concerning household amenities -- such as the ownership of air conditioners, televisions, or mobile phones -- will not be used to strip individuals of below poverty line (BPL) status or deny them government benefits.

"The information collected is strictly for planning and acts as a baseline framework," Babu said, adding that individual data is not shared on any platform and will not be used to decide direct benefits, voting rights, or citizenship.

Addressing queries on specific demographics, the official stated that the houseless population will be enumerated during a special drive in the final days of the second phase in February 2027. Individuals who have migrated abroad and are not physically present in India during the census period will not be counted in this exercise.

For households found locked during initial visits, enumerators have been instructed to make two to three attempts to reach the residents, including gathering contact information from neighbours to schedule convenient appointments.

The official also said to ensure the enumeration process does not disrupt regular school functioning, participating teachers have been granted full flexibility to schedule their field visits outside of school hours or on holidays. Local district collectors and charge officers will coordinate with the education department to manage workloads locally.

In a statement, Chief Minister Vijay condemned the detention of Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and other Opposition leaders who participated in a protest supporting the anti-NEET agitation in New Delhi, describing the police action as undemocratic.

He said the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) had extended its full support to the demonstration staged by Opposition parties in the Parliament complex.

"The TVK's uncompromising stand is that the NEET examination should be abolished completely. We should not give false promises on NEET, as it affects not only students but also their parents," Vijay said.

Appealing to the Union government, the Chief Minister said education should be brought back to the State List if NEET was to be abolished. He suggested that if there were constitutional or legal hurdles in doing so, the Centre should consider creating a Special Concurrent List that would empower State governments to decide matters relating to education and medical admissions.

"Such a measure would give State governments full authority over issues such as education and medical admissions. TVK had already raised this demand during the party's education awards function," he said.

Urging the BJP-led Union government to respect the sentiments of students and the people of Tamil Nadu, Vijay said abolishing NEET was the only solution to the present crisis.

Echoing the Chief Minister's demand, DMK president M K Stalin said the anti-NEET protest in New Delhi had now captured the attention of the entire country.

In a post on X, Stalin said the DMK was the first party to warn that NEET was designed to facilitate large-scale irregularities and had consistently opposed the examination since its inception.

"We were the first to warn that NEET was designed to enable large-scale irregularities. That is why the DMK has opposed NEET from the very beginning, consistently pointing out the dangers it poses," Stalin said.

He asserted that the abolition of NEET should be the central demand of the ongoing protests, adding that scrapping the examination alone would provide a lasting solution to the issues faced by students. He concluded his message with the hashtag "Ban NEET, Save Students."

The police arrested Surya (26) of Kurumbur in connection with the case. "We are searching for the other accused involved in the alleged smuggling operation," a police source said.

Acting on a tip-off received by Q Branch Inspector Vijay Anitha, a police team led by Sub-Inspector Ramachandran, along with Special Sub-Inspectors Geethan and Ramar and other police personnel, conducted surveillance in the area.

During the operation, the team intercepted an Eicher goods vehicle (registration number TN 07 BA 8762) on the road leading to Senthoor Nagar beach at around 4 a.m. on July 22. The vehicle was allegedly transporting 79 bundles of beedi leaves, each weighing about 35 kg, for smuggling to Sri Lanka by boat.

The seized beedi leaves, the goods vehicle, and the accused will be handed over to the Customs Department for further action. The international market value of the seized beedi leaves is estimated at around Rs.1 crore, police said.

According to a police source, gangs are involved in smuggling beedi leaves, medicines, soap, and fertilizers to Sri Lanka to evade taxes. "If these goods are imported into Sri Lanka legally, the buyers have to pay high import duties. For instance, one bundle of beedi leaves costs between Rs.240 and Rs.250 in Thoothukudi, but the same bundle costs around Rs.2,500 in Sri Lanka," the source said.

As of July 20, 2026, Coimbatore had recorded 10,725 rooftop solar installations benefiting 15,889 households, while Chennai followed with 9,410 installations covering 12,788 households. Chengalpattu ranked third with 6,428 installations and 10,698 beneficiary households.

Overall, Tamil Nadu has installed 83,906 residential rooftop solar systems under the scheme since its launch in February 2024, benefiting 99,321 households across the State.

Replying to a starred question in the Lok Sabha, Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi said the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana is a demand-driven scheme available to all residential consumers with grid-connected electricity connections in both urban and rural areas. Applications are processed through the National Portal.

The Centre said it has released Rs 576.66 crore for the scheme in Tamil Nadu since February 2024, resulting in the creation of 303.63 MW of rooftop solar capacity.

Among other districts, Tiruchirappalli (3,899), Namakkal (3,826), Tiruppur (3,790), Thiruvallur (3,560) and Madurai (3,358) also recorded strong adoption. At the other end of the scale, The Nilgiris reported the fewest installations at 122, followed by Ariyalur (206), Perambalur (283) and Nagapattinam (344).

The Ministry said it has introduced measures including an end-to-end online application and subsidy disbursal process, concessional collateral-free loans, simplified approvals, streamlined vendor registration, awareness campaigns and strengthened monitoring to accelerate rooftop solar adoption across the country.

Highlights

Rank District Installations Households

1 Coimbatore 10,725 15,889

2 Chennai 9,410 12,788

3 Chengalpattu 6,428 10,698

4 Erode 4,014 4,349

5 Salem 3,957 4,139

Total 38 districts 83,906 99,321

The details were provided by Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal in reply to a question in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday (July 21).

Rise in export share, surge in revenue

According to the data that the minister submitted, the State has made significant strides over the years, growing from 9.88 per cent of the total merchandise exports from India in FY 2024 and 11.84 per cent in FY 2025 to now account for 13.35 per cent.

The figures look even more impressive in absolute numbers: From USD 43,218.25 million (USD 1,000 million = USD 1 billion) in FY 24 to USD 51,825.18 million in FY 25, and now at USD 58,950.70 million in FY 26.

That is, the revenue that the State has earned from merchandise exports has grown by a whopping 36.40 per cent in just two years from FY 24.

Five key export sectors for Tamil Nadu

Of the total export earnings, USD 53,923.96 million came from just five sectors: engineering goods, electronics, textiles and allied products, automobiles, and leather.

Engineering goods is the largest component, accounting for USD 20,397 million, working out to 16.66 per cent of India's exports. The sector marked a healthy growth over the years since FY 2024 (USD 16,841.3 million, 15.41%), and FY 2025 (USD 18,200.3 million, 15.59%).

The second highest in revenue terms was electronics, with merchandise worth USD 19,966.7 million being exported across the world. This is a key sector for Tamil Nadu, as the State has a massive 41.63 per cent share in Indian electronics export. It was USD 9,562.56 million (32.84%) in FY 24 and USD 14,652.06 million (38%) in FY 25. In other words, electronics exports surged by more than double in just two years.

Textile and allied products came third in the list with USD 8,260.69 million in FY 2026. While the absolute number has fallen marginally from USD 8,285.99 million (a fall of USD 25.3 million), Tamil Nadu's share in India's export in the sector went up to 23.13% from 22.74%, implying that the textile export suffered a dip across the country, but the State managed to perform better than others. For the record, it was USD 7,362.8 million (21.38%) in FY 24.

Interestingly, the story was just the opposite in the export of motor vehicles. The annual export figure recorded a substantial jump to USD 3,701.14 million in FY 26 from USD 3,146.92 million a year ago – a rise of 17.61 per cent. However, absolute numbers do not give the full picture. Tamil Nadu's share of auto exports fell to 33.38 per cent from 34.95 per cent. This is a continuing story: Tamil Nadu's share was 36.68 per cent (USD 3,028.12 million) in FY 24.

This indicates that auto sector exports have surged across the country, with other states performing better than Tamil Nadu – even if not by a large margin.

In the leather sector, Tamil Nadu recorded a fall in both absolute numbers and share in exports, the same trend that has been reported in FY 25 and now in FY 26. It was USD 1,666.53 million (37.3%) in FY 24, which fell to USD 1,636.97 million (35.76%) in FY 25, and now USD 1,598.03 million (35.59%) in FY 26.

In a statement issued on X Wednesday, Vijay also expressed TVK's solidarity with opposition parties staging a protest inside the Parliament complex following Monday's police action against demonstrators participating in the 'Sansad Chalo' Parliament march.

'NEET must be abolished completely'

Reiterating his party's stand, Vijay said TVK's position on NEET has remained unchanged since its inception and that the examination should be scrapped permanently. He said the party would never make "false promises" on an issue that has deeply affected students and their families merely for electoral gains.According to Vijay, the permanent solution lies in transferring education from the Concurrent List to the State List, enabling states to independently decide their admission policies. He added that if immediate constitutional changes were not feasible, the Centre should consider creating a Special Concurrent List to temporarily empower state governments to exercise greater control over general and medical education.

"This has been our stand from the very beginning of the party. We had clearly explained both the permanent and interim solutions during our educational awards function," he said. Vijay also urged the Union government to respect the sentiments of students and the people of Tamil Nadu by withdrawing NEET altogether.

Police action sparks nationwide protests

The Chief Minister's statement comes amid growing protests against NEET across India following allegations of question paper leaks, examination irregularities and concerns over transparency. On Monday (July 20), thousands of students, youth organisations and members of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) participated in the 'Sansad Chalo' Parliament march in New Delhi demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, justice for students affected by the NEET controversy and reforms in the examination system.

The protest witnessed heavy police deployment, barricading and lathi-charge as demonstrators attempted to march towards Parliament. Several protesters were detained, while opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, were also taken into custody after joining the demonstration in support of the students.

In Tamil Nadu, student organisations and political parties also staged protests condemning the police action in Delhi and reiterating the demand for the abolition of NEET.

The decision came after the daily quota of 10,000 time-slotted darshan tickets for Wednesday's darshan, issued at 5 am on Tuesday was sold within an hour.

As a result, devotees who arrived later, including those who had travelled from distant places, were unable to secure tickets.

The 2,000 darshan tokens issued at the Srivari Mettu footpath were also distributed.

Unaware of the cancellation, many devotees waited at ticket counters.

Temple authorities said tickets for the day after tomorrow's darshan will be issued as scheduled on Thursday.

82,105 devotees had darshan on July 21, while 34,484 devotees offered their hair as part of the ritual.

The temple also received Rs 5.18 crore through the hundi, and 4.17 lakh laddus were sold.

The unidentified persons also wrote slogans on the station walls demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET issue. The incident triggered tension in the area.

Student organisations have staged similar protests in several parts of Tamil Nadu, including Madurai, against the alleged irregularities in the NEET examination.

Police said the unidentified persons allegedly entered the railway station during the night, erased the Hindi lettering on the railway name boards and wrote slogans protesting against the alleged irregularities in the NEET examination and criticising the Union government.

The slogans included "Prime Minister Narendra Modi, resign", "Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, resign", and "Stop Podhigai Express trains at Sholavandan."

Railway authorities removed the slogans from the station walls on Wednesday.

Police and the Railway Protection Force (RPF) have launched an investigation to identify those responsible for the incident.

M Vijayalakshmi, who was serving as Deputy Inspector General of Police, Armed Police, Tiruchy, has been posted as Deputy Inspector General of Police, Home Guards, Chennai. The appointment has been made by downgrading the vacant post of Additional Director General of Police/Director of Civil Defence and Additional Commandant General, Home Guards. The government has also revived the cadre post of Deputy Inspector General of Police, Armed Police, Chennai.

R Shiva Prasad, Superintendent of Police, Sivagangai district, has been transferred and posted as Superintendent of Police, Thoothukudi district, replacing Abhishek Gupta, who has been posted as Superintendent of Police, Sivagangai district.

D Shanmuga Priya, Superintendent of Police, Central Zone, Crime Branch-CID, Chennai, has been appointed Superintendent of Police, Vigilance and Anti-Corruption, Western Range, Chennai, against an existing vacancy.

P R Meera, Assistant Superintendent of Police, Rameswaram Sub-Division in Ramanathapuram district, has been posted as Assistant Superintendent of Police, Office Automation and Computerisation, in the office of the Director General of Police/Head of Police Force, Chennai.

According to a Daily Thanthi report, the Thoothukudi II Additional Sessions Court found Murugavel guilty of causing the death of Sub-Inspector Balu while he was on night patrol. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on the convict.

Drunken altercation led to police action

Murugavel, a mechanic from the Vazhavallan-Korkai Junction area near Eral in Thoothukudi district, had allegedly created a disturbance at a pushcart stall on Bharathiyar Road on the night of January 31, 2021, while under the influence of alcohol.

After receiving information, police constable Pon Subbiah reached the spot and seized Murugavel's motorcycle, as he was allegedly riding in an intoxicated condition. The vehicle was taken to the Eral police station. Sub-Inspector Balu later registered a motor vehicle case and instructed Murugavel to appear at the police station the following day to complete the formalities and reclaim the motorcycle.

Police patrol targeted

Police said that around 12.45 am on February 1, 2021, Sub-Inspector Balu and Constable Pon Subbiah were on motorcycle patrol along the Korkai-Nalumukku Road when they again noticed Murugavel standing near a load auto. The officers reportedly questioned and reprimanded him before continuing their patrol.

Investigators said Murugavel, enraged over the seizure of his motorcycle, allegedly stole the load auto and chased the police officers. Near the Vazhavallan Oorkatha Swami Temple, he allegedly drove the vehicle at high speed and rammed it into the police motorcycle. The impact left Sub-Inspector Balu with severe injuries. He succumbed to his injuries, while Constable Pon Subbiah sustained injuries in the collision.

Court awards life sentence

The Eral police registered a case and conducted an investigation into the incident, which triggered widespread shock in the district. Following the trial, Judge Preetha of the Thoothukudi II Additional Sessions Court convicted Murugavel and sentenced him to life imprisonment. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 10,000. Public Prosecutor Xavier Gnanaprakasam appeared for the prosecution during the trial.

On Wednesday (July 22) moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorms and winds gusting at 40-50 kmph is likely at one or two places in the Western Ghats districts, while light rain with thunderstorms is expected in the rest of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal.

• On July 23 moderate rain forecast over the Western Ghats districts, north coastal Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal, and light to moderate rain over the remaining parts of the State.

• On July 24, moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorms and strong winds is likely at one or two places in north coastal Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal, while the rest of Tamil Nadu may receive light to moderate rainfall.

• Moderate rain is also forecast over the Western Ghats districts, north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal on July 25, with light to moderate rain expected elsewhere in the State.

• On July 26, moderate rain is likely at one or two places in Coimbatore, Nilgiris, Erode, Salem, Namakkal, Theni, Dindigul, Madurai, Sivaganga and Pudukkottai districts, while the remaining parts of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal are expected to receive light to moderate rainfall.

• Light to moderate rain is likely at one or two places across Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal on July 27.

Weather in Chennai

In Chennai, the sky is expected to remain partly cloudy on Wednesday (July 22) with light rain likely at a few places during the evening or night.

The maximum temperature is expected to be around 36-37 degrees Celsius, while the minimum is likely to be around 26-27 degrees Celsius.

Warning to fishermen

Meanwhile, fishermen have been advised not to venture into the coastal areas of south Tamil Nadu, the Gulf of Mannar and adjoining Kanniyakumari sea areas from today till July 23, as winds are likely to blow at 45-55 kmph, gusting up to 65 kmph.

Police identified the deceased as Amsa, 35, wife of Saravanan, a construction worker from Thadangam village and their daughters, Jeevitha, 16, six year old Naveena, and three year old son Kumaran.

The villagers noticed the body of a woman floating in a farm well behind the Integrated Court Complex on Tuesday night and alerted the Adhiyamankottai police. Soon, police arrived and found three more bodies of children in the well and recovered them, with the assistance of fire and rescue service personnel. Police found stones tied to each of the bodies.

Preliminary inquiries revealed that the woman had left the house with three children following a heated argument with her husband on 19 July. As Amsa's parents also lived in the same village, Saravanan initially believed she had gone to their house and would return later.

However, as her whereabouts remained unknown, Saravanan and other family members searched for them over the last two days. Their bodies were recovered from a well located in a farm belonging to Amsa’s parents. Further investigations are on.

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Police have arrested three youths in connection with the murder. During interrogation, the accused allegedly confessed that they killed the victim after he made sexual advances toward one of them.

Man goes missing after leaving home

The victim, Mahendran (27), was a resident of Valasai village in Tenkasi district. He left home on July 6 and did not return. His wife, Bhuvaneswari, initially went to the Senthamaram police station to lodge a missing complaint. However, she received a phone call from some of Mahendran's friends, who claimed they had all gone on a trip to Ooty and asked her not to search for him. Believing them, she returned home without filing a complaint. After nearly 10 days without hearing from her husband, Bhuvaneswari became suspicious and lodged a missing complaint at the Senthamaram police station on July 14. Police registered a case and began an investigation.

Motorcycle leads police to suspects

During the investigation, police found Mahendran's motorcycle abandoned near a pond on the road between Mela Kadayanallur and Kasidharmam. The breakthrough led investigators to detain three youths, including Krishnan (24) of Mela Kadayanallur, for questioning.

Accused confess to murder

According to police, the accused confessed that Mahendran had taken one of them to consume alcohol and later allegedly made a sexual proposition to him. The youth reportedly informed his two friends about the incident. The trio then met Mahendran again and consumed alcohol together before attacking him with a wooden log and stones. Police said the accused later purchased a knife from a nearby supermarket, stabbed Mahendran to death and severed his head.

Body and head dumped at different locations

Investigators said the accused threw the headless body into a small well located inside a dense Seemai Karuvelam thicket near the Kadayanallur New Bus Stand along the Madurai-Tenkasi National Highway. The severed head was allegedly taken to Courtallam and buried in a pit near the Courtallam police station in an attempt to destroy evidence. Based on the confession, a police team led by Puliyangudi Deputy Superintendent of Police Namachivayam, along with Senthamaram Inspector Arul Samraj and Kadayanallur Inspector Christy, recovered the headless body with the assistance of Fire and Rescue Services personnel. Forensic experts examined the scene before the body was sent to Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital for post-mortem. Police later recovered the severed head from Courtallam based on information provided by the accused.

In a series of statements posted on social media, Arivu said reports claiming that he had met the Chief Minister were incorrect. He said he met only Health Minister Aadhav Arjuna and urged the Tamil Nadu government to intensify its efforts to secure the complete abolition of NEET.

Clarifies meeting after Tuesday's protest

Arivu was detained by police on Tuesday while staging a protest outside the Secretariat, demanding that the Tamil Nadu government strongly oppose NEET and extend support to students protesting against the examination in Delhi. He was later taken back to the Secretariat, where he met Minister Aadhav Arjuna.

Clarifying the sequence of events, Arivu said he never met the Chief Minister.

"On July 21, I met Hon'ble Minister Aadhav Arjuna at the Secretariat. During the meeting, I conveyed that violence against peacefully protesting students is against the spirit of democracy. I did not meet the Hon'ble Chief Minister. I wish to clarify this in view of media reports stating otherwise," he said.

Calls for abolition of NEET

Arivu said the NEET examination had created fear and uncertainty among students and urged the State government to continue pressing for its abolition.

He said several young lives had already been lost because of the pressures associated with the examination and warned that more students remained vulnerable unless the system was changed.

"The NEET examination has created fear and uncertainty among students. We have already lost many young lives, and the risk of losing more continues. This situation has the potential to seriously affect the mental well-being of students and the future of our nation," he said.

Appealing to the Tamil Nadu government, Arivu urged it to intensify efforts towards securing the complete abolition of NEET and continue supporting students opposing the examination.

Expresses solidarity with students

Arivu also expressed solidarity with students across India who have been protesting against NEET. He urged the Union government to immediately stop the alleged use of force against students demonstrating in Delhi and called on the Tamil Nadu government to extend support to the protesters.

His clarification came a day after his detention outside the Secretariat drew widespread attention and triggered political reactions, including criticism from Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin, who condemned the police action and said voices demanding the abolition of NEET should not be suppressed.

Opposition condemns detention

Earlier in the day, Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin condemned Arivu's detention, alleging that the rapper's voice reflected the sentiments of lakhs of students and parents opposed to NEET.

Udhayanidhi said protests against NEET were intensifying across the country and argued that voices demanding the abolition of the examination should not be suppressed.

Arivu's clarification comes amid widespread public attention over his protest and the subsequent reports surrounding his visit to the Secretariat.

So far eight prison inmates and three jail officials were arrested by the police.

The order comes amid scrutiny over the circumstances leading to Sabari Varman's death while in custody. With the transfer, the specialised investigating agency will take over the probe from the local police and examine the sequence of events surrounding the incident.

The CB-CID is expected to collect evidence, record statements from police personnel and other witnesses, and ascertain whether any procedural lapses or criminal misconduct led to the death.

Sabari Varman was initially arrested by South Thamarikulam police for the possesion of gutka on July 8 and died on July 8 and died on 13 in jail.

In a statement posted on his X account, Aadhav said Tamil Nadu was the first State to oppose the introduction of NEET for medical admissions and had consistently maintained its stand against the examination. He claimed that the opposition to NEET had now spread across the country, with students staging peaceful protests demanding its abolition.

Alleging that the Union government had failed to recognise the legitimacy of the students' democratic protest, Aadhav condemned the reported detention of protesters and the use of force against them.

He also criticised the detention of Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi, who had extended support to the students' protest in New Delhi, describing the action as an attack on democratic rights.

Aadhav urged the Union government to immediately abolish NEET and initiate steps to move education back to the State List. He said he would continue to support the demand for scrapping NEET and stand by the rights of students.

Notably, the statement was issued through Aadhav's personal X account and did not mention either the TVK or the State government, indicating that it was made in his individual capacity rather than as an official government statement.

Meanwhile, rap singer Arivu, who attempted to stage a protest near the Secretariat in support of the anti-NEET agitation in Delhi, was detained by the police. After his release, he met Minister Aadhav Arjuna at the Secretariat. Following a brief meeting, the Minister saw Arivu off cordially. Neither Arivu nor the Minister disclosed the details of their discussion to the media.

In a representation to Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, the Coimbatore Consumer Cause (CCC) welcomed the government's efforts to modernise public transport and improve passenger comfort. However, it stressed that the foremost responsibility of the state transport undertakings is to provide affordable, reliable and accessible transport to the largest section of the population.

Highlighting the wide disparity in fares, the organisation pointed out that the minimum fare in an ordinary town bus is around Rs 5, compared with about Rs 25 in an AC bus. In mofussil services, ordinary buses charge around 58 paise per kilometre, while AC buses cost nearly Rs 1.70 per kilometre.

"An AC bus costs at least Rs 6 lakh more than an ordinary bus, consumes about 40 per cent more fuel and entails nearly 15 per cent higher maintenance costs, placing an additional financial burden on the state transport corporations," K Kathirmathiyon, Secretary of CCC, said in the representation.

The consumer body noted that government buses are the primary mode of transport for students, daily wage earners, workers, senior citizens and low and middle-income families. It said the shortage of ordinary buses has already resulted in overcrowded services, forcing many passengers to travel on footboards despite paying the full fare.

"Most commuters are looking for safe, dependable and affordable transport rather than luxury travel. Expanding the fleet of ordinary buses would better serve the needs of the vast majority of passengers than replacing them with premium services," Kathirmathiyon said.

The CCC urged the government to adopt a balanced procurement policy by continuing to prioritise ordinary buses while introducing AC buses selectively on routes where there is demonstrable passenger demand.

The gate connects Athur with Vadapathi, Ambedkar Nagar and Kuppam, and serves as the primary access route to nearly 1,000 acres of farmland. The Railway officials closed the crossing on Monday night to facilitate the construction of a railway subway, and the residents have been asked to use another nearby subway as an alternative route.

However, villagers and farmers have strongly opposed the move, arguing that the alternative subway gets flooded with three to four feet of water during the monsoon, making it unusable. They also pointed out that tractors carrying agricultural produce, heavy vehicles, ambulances and fire engines would not be able to pass through the proposed subway.

Residents also said they repeatedly urged the Railways to build an ROB instead of a subway, at consultation meetings jointly held by the Railways and the Revenue department.

Officials, however, rejected the demand, citing space constraints. On Tuesday morning, police prevented villagers from staging a road blockade near the Athur bus stop while Railway officials held talks with them. As the discussions failed to resolve the issue, villagers insisted that the closure would force them to travel several kilometres to reach their farmlands, severely affecting agricultural activities.

Police later detained the protesters and shifted them to a private marriage hall. Security has also been tightened around the closed level crossing to prevent the villagers from protesting.

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Announcing the decisions after a meeting of the three parties' state-level coordination committee, CPM State Secretary P Shanmugam said the draft declaration had been prepared and would be finalised at the committee's next meeting, scheduled to be held at the CPM state office on August 4. District-level coordination committees would also be constituted across Tamil Nadu to expand the Left's organisational network, he said.

The September mobilisation would seek to press both the Union and State governments to address issues raised in the declaration, with the date and venue to be announced after the next meeting.

CPI(ML) state secretary Asaithambi said the meeting focused on restoring the political relevance of the Left, arguing that social transformation in India had historically been driven by mass movements rather than legislative interventions alone.

He said Parliament and State Assemblies remained important democratic institutions, but many pressing issues affecting ordinary people were not receiving adequate attention. He cited the agrarian distress in the Cauvery Delta, unemployment among youth, nutritional deficiencies among women and the condition of agricultural labourers as issues that required sustained public campaigns.

CPI state secretary M Veerapandian sought relaxation of access restrictions at the Secretariat, contending that it was a symbol of people's authority and that members of the public should be able to meet ministers and officials without unnecessary procedural barriers.

Shanmugam condemned the police action against protesters in New Delhi demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in national entrance examinations, and called upon the Union government to remove him from office.

The batch of petitions challenging the State government's decision to provide government employment to the legal heirs of those who died in the stampede came up for hearing before a Division Bench comprising Justices CV Karthikeyan and Sakthivel.

Appearing for the State, the Government Pleader submitted that the counter affidavit was not yet ready and sought time to file it. The judges observed that the case had to be heard before the beneficiaries received their first month's salary.

The Government Pleader further informed the court that appointment orders had been issued to 31 persons and that 29 of them had already joined service. The judges, however, observed that all the appointments would be subject to the final decision of the court.

The State again requested the court to adjourn the matter. The judges directed the State to file its counter affidavit by Friday and adjourned the matter to July 27.

The original Public Interest litigation was filed by Santosh Kumar of Vedasandur in Dindigul district, seeking a direction restraining the State Government from issuing appointment orders or taking any administrative action to provide government employment to the legal heirs of the 41 persons who died in the Karur district stampede. Another petition seeking the same relief was also filed on Tuesday.

The judges observed that petitions seeking the same relief had already been filed earlier. They noted that filing another petition seeking identical relief merely for publicity was not acceptable.

Accordingly, the Bench directed that the newly filed petition be tagged with the pending cases.

According to a Government Order issued by the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department, PwDs have been assigned two categories of work based on their abilities.

Under the special works category, PwD workers can supply drinking water to workers at worksites, take care of their children, remove leaves and small shrubs, and level sand on bunds.

Under the second category, they can undertake activities such as planting saplings, digging trenches and constructing earthen bunds for water conservation. These works may be assigned wherever adequate workers are available at a worksite.

The government has directed that PwD workers should be organised into groups of five to ten members. They will be required to complete only 50 per cent of the prescribed workload, work for four hours a day, and will still receive full wages.

The order also mandates that job cards be issued to all eligible PwD workers within 15 days, without imposing any conditions.

Further, separate e-Muster Rolls will be maintained for PwD workers by Block Development Officers. The government has also ordered the conduct of exclusive grievance redressal camps for PwD workers once every two months, on a Tuesday, to address issues relating to the implementation of the scheme.

The G Ram G scheme, which replaces the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), has introduced special provisions to ensure the inclusion of persons with disabilities in the workforce.

Under the partnership, the two institutional venture capital firms will jointly invest up to Rs 10 crore in promising home-grown startups, with each firm committing Rs 5 crore. The initiative is aimed at helping student entrepreneurs transform innovative ideas into scalable businesses through early-stage funding and strategic support.

Thinkuvate, which operates in both Singapore and India, focuses on investments in deep technology, fintech and health-tech ventures. The collaboration is expected to create opportunities for VIT startups to expand into markets across India and Southeast Asia.

ValleyNXT, an early-stage venture capital firm based in Indore, supports startups addressing real-world challenges in sectors such as healthcare, education, climate, employment and livelihoods.

The MoU was formally exchanged by Addison Appu, Managing Partner of Thinkuvate, Harshwardhan Saklecha, Vice President of ValleyNXT, and Sekar Viswanathan, Vice President of VIT.

The signing ceremony was attended by VIT Vice Chancellor Dr VS Kanchana Baskaran, Pro Vice Chancellor Dr Parthasarathy Mallick and Director of Innovations Dr Chidambaram Rameshkumar.