Chennai, Dec 18 (NationPress) The Tamil Nadu government is gearing up to launch a significant initiative aimed at providing laptops and tablets to college students, with the first batch of devices anticipated to be distributed by February 2026.

This announcement, made during the 2025-26 state budget, signifies the revival of a previously stalled program that had previously benefited school students across the state.

The earlier laptop distribution initiative, introduced by the former AIADMK administration, had supplied free laptops to government school students. Unfortunately, this program was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic and was eventually terminated.

Following the DMK's return to power in 2021, there was renewed hope for the program's revival, and recent government announcements indicate a commitment to extending these benefits to college students.

During his budget speech, Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu officially announced that two million college students will be equipped with devices over the next two years.

“In the initial phase, laptops or tablets will be given to 20 lakh college students based on their preferences,” he stated.

To initiate this process, the state has procured 10 lakh laptops from leading manufacturers like HP, Dell, and Acer, with distribution logistics already being organized.

The devices are tailored to meet the academic and technical needs of college students, featuring high-speed processors, long-lasting batteries, and capabilities powered by artificial intelligence.

After the Christmas and New Year holidays, college students returning to their campuses will start receiving these devices, with the government aiming to complete the distribution for the first 10 lakh beneficiaries by February.

This announcement has sparked political controversy. Edappadi K. Palaniswami, the Leader of the Opposition, has accused the ruling DMK of using the scheme for electoral advantages.

“We provided laptops to school students during our time. Now, they are distributing devices to older students simply to target 10 lakh votes,” he claimed.

In response, Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin dismissed the opposition's claims, characterizing them as attempts to undermine a welfare-driven initiative.

“The opposition lacks the perspective to appreciate a program benefiting college students. They are merely trying to obstruct it,” he remarked.

Additionally, a significant development is that the Electronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu (ELCOT) has formed a partnership with the US-based firm Perplexity AI to provide its Perplexity Pro platform free of charge for six months to beneficiaries. This collaboration aims to bolster digital learning, research skills, and AI literacy among students.

With procurement finalized and distribution plans in place, the government asserts that this renewed digital initiative will help close technology gaps and improve higher education outcomes across the state.