TN cabinet okays 7.5 per cent quota for govt school students in professional courses

The MK Stalin-led Tamil Nadu cabinet on Wednesday resolved to provide 7.5 per cent reservation to students of state-run schools in admission to professional courses, similar to the existing benefit given in medical admission.

The previous AIADMK government headed by K Palaniswami had last year provided 7.5 per cent quota for students of such schools in undegraduate medical courses.

Detailing the decisions taken in the cabinet meeting, an official release said while the ruling DMK's first budget will be presented on August 13, a separate Agri Budget will also be tabled in the Assembly in line with the party's promise mad in its manifesto for the April 6 elections.

The release said the state government had earlier set up a commission led by retired Chief Justice of Delhi High Court, D Murugesan to look into the enrolment ratio of government school students in professional courses like engineering.

The government had then said representations were received stating that only fewer students from government schools got admitted to professional courses and sought measures to reverse such a scenario.

Implementing the committee's recommendations on the matter, the cabinet decided to move a bill in the coming Assembly session to provide 7.5 per cent quota for students from government schools in professional courses, it said.

Meanwhile, a separate official release said Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit has summoned the Legislative Assembly to meet on August 13 and the budget will be presented that day.