CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu government has announced a new welfare initiative under which newly married women will receive an 8-gram gold coin and a silk saree as part of a state-supported marriage assistance programme.
The announcement was made during the presentation of the Tamil Nadu Budget 2026, which also included new investments in sports infrastructure and artificial intelligence (AI) education.
Marriage assistance scheme expanded
Presenting the state’s first budget of 2026, Tamil Nadu Finance Minister Dr. Anne Mary Wilson said the government has allocated ₹812 crore for the “Brothers Gift Scheme”, under which eligible women will receive an 8-gram gold coin and a silk saree on the occasion of their marriage.
The initiative is aimed at supporting women through a state-backed welfare programme.
Investment in Olympic training
The budget also earmarks ₹5.50 crore to establish 10 Olympic Centres of Excellence across Tamil Nadu.
The government said the centres are intended to strengthen athlete development and improve the state’s performance in future international sporting events, including the Olympic Games.
AI training for 500,000 students
Highlighting the state’s technology agenda, Finance Minister Dr. Anne Mary Wilson announced that 500,000 students enrolled in engineering colleges, polytechnic institutions, and Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) will receive artificial intelligence (AI) skills training by 2031.
The initiative is designed to prepare students for emerging technologies and future workforce requirements.
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