CHENNAI: Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin on Sunday said Tamil Nadu has shown a strong comeback in national-level competitive examinations, particularly the civil services, with a sharp rise in successful candidates under the State government's 'Naan Mudhalvan Competitive Examinations' (NMCE) initiative.
In a statement, Udhayanidhi said the programme was conceived after Tamil Nadu's performance in the UPSC civil services examination dipped to a low of 27 successful candidates in 2021, exposing deep inequities in access to quality coaching, guidance and financial support. "The Dravidian model of governance intervened to correct this imbalance and restore equal opportunity," he said.
The results, he noted, reflect a decisive turnaround. In 2023-24, 453 students from Tamil Nadu cleared the UPSC preliminary examination. The number rose to 559 in 2024-25, of whom 134 qualified for the Mains exam and 50 secured a place in the final list. In the ongoing 2025-26 cycle, 659 candidates have cleared the prelims so far, while 155 students have qualified for the interview stage.
Among them, 87 candidates were trained at the State-run All India Civil Services Coaching Centre (AICSCC).
Udhayanidhi recalled that the NMCE wing was launched on March 7, 2023, under the Tamil Nadu Skill Development Corporation, following extensive interactions with students across districts. Each year, 1,000 aspirants are selected through a transparent process and supported with a Rs 7,500 monthly stipend for 10 months for preliminary preparation, one-time grant of Rs 25,000 for Mains qualifiers and Rs 50,000 for candidates reaching the personality test stage.
The Deputy CM said the initiative has also been extended to SSC, banking and railway examinations. Of the 510 students who underwent residential coaching in the first phase, 80 have already secured jobs in nationalised banks and the Railways.
"The true success of Naan Mudhalvan lies not only in numbers, but in restoring the belief that merit, not money or location, determines success," added Udhayanidhi Stalin.