CM Vijay orders ₹2,000-crore allocation to implement Vetri Laptop Scheme for college students

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay. File | Photo Credit: S. Siva Saravanan Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on Saturday (November 7, 2026) ordered the sanctioning of ₹2,000 crore to implement the Vetri Laptop Scheme with the objective to enhance the technological skills of college students.Also Read | Free laptop scheme: Delhi, Tamil Nadu, UP models and their impact on studentsAccording to an official release, the administrative sanction has been accorded by the State government to implement the scheme, which was announced in the Budget 2026-27, at a cost of ₹ 2,000 crore.A High-Level Steering Committee, headed by the Chief Minister, will be constituted to monitor the implementation of the scheme. The Electronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu (ELCOT) has been granted administrative sanction to procure laptops and ensure quality control.Under the scheme, students pursuing first- and second-year undergraduate and diploma courses in government and government-aided colleges during the 2026-2027 academic year will be eligible for laptops. The beneficiaries include students pursuing arts and science, engineering, polytechnic, ITI, medicine, veterinary sciences, fisheries, agriculture and law courses.In addition, third- and fourth-year students pursuing professional courses in government and government-aided colleges who did not benefit from the laptop scheme during the 2025-26 academic year will also be covered. Considering the technological requirements of engineering students, they will be provided with laptops equipped with Intel Core i5 processors or equivalent specifications, the release added. Published - November 07, 2026 11:53 am IST