Fund allocation for education in Tamil Nadu falls to one-third in 25 years: PMK MP Anbumani Ramadoss
PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss has criticized the Tamil Nadu government for a significant decline in education spending relative to the state's economic output over the last 25 years. He argues that this funding gap is contributing to a shift in student enrollment from government schools to private institutions.
Why it matters
The debate highlights critical concerns regarding public infrastructure investment and the potential privatization of essential social services in India.
PMK president and Rajya Sabha MP Anbumani Ramadoss on Saturday (August 8, 2026) alleged that Tamil Nadu’s allocation for education, as a proportion of its economic output, had declined to nearly one-third of its level 25 years ago, and questioned whether government schools were being deliberately weakened to benefit private institutions.
In a statement, he said the combined allocation for School Education and Higher Education had fallen from 3.92% of the State’s GSDP in 2000-01 to 1.30% in 2026-27.
While ₹4,949 crore was allocated for education in 2000-01, the allocation stood at ₹52,920 crore in 2026-27, against an estimated GSDP of ₹40.67 lakh crore, he said. He pointed out that had 3.92% of the State’s economic output been allocated to education this year, the sector would have received ₹1.59 lakh crore, instead of the current allocation.
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