The Tamil Nadu government has fixed a purchase ceiling of ₹26 lakh for official vehicles allotted to ministers and senior legislative functionaries, and ₹15 lakh for all other members of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, under revised travelling allowance rules notified on 22 October 2026. The changes were introduced through a gazette amendment to the rules governing vehicle entitlements for legislators.

Who Gets What

The ₹26 lakh ceiling applies not only to ministers but also to the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Leader of the Opposition, and the Government Chief Whip. All remaining Assembly members fall under the lower limit of ₹15 lakh.

Crucially, the prescribed ceiling is all-inclusive — it covers the vehicle's ex-showroom price, taxes, registration charges, and motor insurance premiums. These costs must be absorbed within the applicable limit rather than billed as additional government expenditure.

Built-In Annual Escalation

The revised framework incorporates a 5% annual increase in purchase ceilings, allowing permissible expenditure to rise each year in line with vehicle price inflation. This provision is a departure from static limits that historically required periodic ad hoc revisions through fresh government orders.

Procurement and Ownership Rules

Vehicles allotted to ministers will be purchased directly by the Tamil Nadu government in its own name. For the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Leader of the Opposition, Government Chief Whip, and other legislators, procurement will be handled through the Assembly Secretariat.

All vehicles must comply with Bharat Stage VI (BS-VI) emission standards and must be procured through the Union government's Government e-Marketplace (GeM) portal — a transparency-focused requirement that standardises the buying process and limits discretionary vendor selection.

Return Conditions and Recurring Costs

Ministers are required to return their allotted vehicles to the government upon leaving office, completing their tenure, or vacating their positions due to reasons such as disqualification. Similar return obligations apply to the Speaker and other senior office-holders.

For ordinary MLAs, recurring expenses — including upkeep, repairs, fuel, and driver costs — must be met from the vehicle allowance payable under existing rules. The amended framework thus draws a clear line between the one-time purchase cost and day-to-day running expenditure.

Official Order

The government order introducing the amended provisions was issued by Public Department Secretary E. Sundaravalli. The revised framework specifies both the financial entitlement of each category of legislator and the administrative responsibility for vehicle procurement, while tying continued possession to the conditions attached to holding the relevant office.

The notification marks one of the more structured overhauls of legislative vehicle entitlements in the state in recent years, embedding both fiscal discipline and environmental compliance directly into the procurement rules.