Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu govt to invest ₹25 crore in space startup Agnikul Cosmos

The Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO) will invest Rs 25 crore in Chennai-based Agnikul Cosmos under the TIDCO Startup Investment Policy 2025. Established in 1965, TIDCO is a premier industrial development agency of the Tamil Nadu government, and undertakes joint ventures and facilitates big industrial and infrastructure projects in the state. The latest investment would help accelerate Agnikul's operational readiness, supporting the scaling of its aerospace manufacturing capabilities, advancing its stage recovery program, and strengthening the development of its integrated space campus on the 300 acres allocated by the Tamil Nadu government near Kulasekharapatnam. In a statement, Moin SPM, co-founder and COO of the company, said, "This investment from the state government is a strong motivation for all of us to build and give back to the local community." Agnikul is currently scaling its first orbital launch with Agnibaan, a small satellite launch vehicle capabl

TIDCO board approves investment of ₹25 crore each in AgniKul Cosmos, Raptee

The Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation will invest ₹25 crore each in AgniKul Cosmos and Raptee Energy under the Startup Investment Policy 2025

Oil ministry issues advisory, warns petrol pumps against selling loose fuel

The ministry warned petrol pumps against selling petrol and diesel in loose containers and urged consumers not to store fuel improperly, citing serious safety risks

TN govt offers ₹2 per unit power subsidy for eateries using induction

The Tamil Nadu government on Saturday announced a subsidy of Rs 2 per unit of electricity for restaurants, hotels and tea shops that switch to electric stoves instead of commercial LPG cylinders to run their businesses. Chief Minister M K Stalin has been holding review meetings since the conflict in West Asia began on February 28, which has led to a shortage of commercial LPG cylinders for eateries, the government said. At a review meeting held on Saturday, it was decided to provide a subsidy of Rs 2 per unit for the additional electricity consumed by the hotels, tea shops and cloud kitchens using induction stoves. "This subsidy will remain in effect as long as the commercial LPG usage restrictions announced by the Centre are in place," Additional Chief Secretary J Radhakrishnan said. Briefing reporters at the Secretariat here, he said electricity consumption by hoteliers and restaurants has increased, with demand rising by about 50 MW above the average in the recent days. Referri

Stalin urges PM to release ₹3,112 cr pending Jal Jeevan Mission dues to TN

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Friday sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi's intervention to release Rs 3,112 crore in pending dues to ensure completion of the ongoing Jal Jeevan Mission schemes in the state. In a letter to Modi, Stalin pointed out that the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, recently indicated that central assistance cannot be extended to the Hogenekkal Phase-III Combined Water Supply Scheme. This comes despite the project receiving approval in June 2023. "The scheme was approved in the State Level Scheme Sanctioning Committee of the Ministry of Jal Shakti on June 15, 2023, at a cost of Rs 8,428 crore, including the central government's Jal Jeevan Mission share of Rs 2,283 crore," he said.

2 held for hoarding 398 LPG cylinders in Tamil Nadu's Madurai amid crisis

Two persons were arrested and detained under the Goondas Act in Madurai for allegedly hoarding 398 LPG cylinders for black marketing, marking the first time such stringent action has been taken in Tamil Nadu for cylinder hoarding, police said on Friday. Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Petroleum Dealers' Association urged people not to panic-buy petrol or diesel, stating that 14 terminals in Tamil Nadu have enough stock to replenish 7,000-plus retail outlets as per their demand. The arrests in Madurai followed a tip-off received by the Civil Supplies Criminal Investigation Department (CS-CID) regarding the illegal diversion of subsidised domestic gas cylinders for commercial use. Acting on the information, a special team conducted a raid at an open plot near the residence of Palani in the Kovilpappakudi area, where they seized 100 subsidised domestic cylinders and 109 commercial cylinders. In a subsequent raid at the house of Madan Kumar, 27, in Anandam Nagar, officials recovered another 189

Ashok Leyland breaks ground for EV battery pack facility in Tamil Nadu

Ashok Leyland breaks ground for a battery pack manufacturing facility near Chennai with an investment of Rs 400-500 crore to support localisation and strengthen India's EV ecosystem

PM Modi launches ₹5,650 cr projects in Tamil Nadu, vows jobs for youth

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated, dedicated and laid the foundation stone for multiple development projects across Tamil Nadu worth about Rs 5,650 crore, on Wednesday and said these projects would create thousands of jobs for the youth of the state. Also, he flagged off two Amrit Bharat Express trains: the NagercoilCharlapalli Amrit Bharat Express and the Podanur (Coimbatore)Dhanbad Amrit Bharat Express, two express trains: the RameswaramMangaluru Express and the TirunelveliMangaluru Express, and a new train service between Mayiladuthurai-Thiruvarur-Karaikkudi, strengthening rail connectivity between Tamil Nadu and other regions, including Telangana, Karnataka, Kerala and eastern India. In the petroleum sector, the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited's City Gas Distribution Network in Nilgiris and Erode districts at an investment of more than Rs 3,680 crore. The project will provide PNG connections to over 8.8 lakh households, ...

Section of TN hotels declare holiday citing shortage of LPG cylinders

A section of hotels and restaurants operating in Chennai and parts of Tamil Nadu on Wednesday declared a holiday following the lack of commercial LPG supply to the establishments, employees said. Early morning customers who had come for tea and coffee expressed disappointment over the closure of the hotels and expressed hope that the Centre would take up measures to ease the situation. "Due to lack of LPG supply, March 11, 2026 has been declared a holiday," a notice displayed in a popular hotel in the city said on Wednesday. "If this is the case for commercial LPG, then it may impact the domestic LPG supply also. Already, the booking period for domestic gas has been extended from the existing 21 days to 25 days. We do not know what we will do," a resident who had come for a coffee said, after the hotel in Thiyagaraya Nagar declared a holiday. On March 10, the hotel association had voiced concern over sustaining their businesses as the existing stock of commercial LPG "would be ...

PM Modi to dedicate infra projects, address rally in Tiruchirappalli today

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate, dedicate to the nation and lay the foundation stone for multiple development projects worth about Rs 5,650 crore here on Wednesday. He would later address the NDA rally at around 6.30 pm during his brief visit to the state. AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss, AMMK general secretary T T V Dhinakaran, TMC leader G K Vasan and other leaders will share the dais with the prime minister at the rally. BJP Tamil Nadu in-charge Piyush Goyal, who arrived here ahead of the prime minister's visit, said the NDA will collectively dethrone the DMK government in the upcoming election and bring in good governance that was once seen during the late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa's reign. "The NDA will form the government under the leadership of Edappadi K Palaniswami, and it is a strong alliance," he said, speaking to reporters here on Tuesday night. On the speculation of Vijay-led TVK joining the NDA, Goyal ...

CBI summons TVK chief Vijay to appear on March 15 in Karur stampede probe

The CBI has asked actor and TVK chief Vijay to appear before it on March 15 here in the Karur stampede case, officials said Tuesday. The agency, which questioned Vijay twice in January, had again summoned the actor on March 9, but he had requested that it be deferred by 15 days, they said. The actor had also urged that the questioning be conducted in Chennai or any office in Tamil Nadu, citing political engagements due to upcoming assembly elections in the state, they said. The CBI has now asked him to appear on March 15 in Delhi at the agency headquarters, they said. The central probe agency has also asked the DMK MLA from Karur, Senthil Balaji, to appear for questioning on March 17, they said. In a message posted on 'X' in Tamil, Balaji, a former state minister, wrote that he intends to appear before the CBI on March 17 and give clarification regarding the Karur stampede tragedy. The CBI took over the case from an SIT following a Supreme Court order and has been gathering evide

Commercial LPG shortage: Stocks can last only 1-2 days, say TN Hotels

Restaurants across Tamil Nadu are staring at a bleak future with existing stock expected to last only for one or two days due to a lack of commercial LPG cylinder supply amid the West Asia conflict, hoteliers said on Tuesday. Some of the hotels and restaurants have already cut the number of food items offered in order to reduce the LPG use, officials said. "It is like a second COVID-19-enforced lockdown for us. We are cutting down on the usage of LPG cylinders. We have reduced the number of food items. For Dosa, tea or coffee, the stove should be receiving LPG supply non-stop. We have cut the number of items now and are providing food only in limited numbers," the chairman of a popular restaurant chain told PTI on condition of anonymity. To a query, he said, "We expect to run for one or two days with existing stock. If there is no supply of the commercial LPG cylinders, we have no other go than to close down operations. COVID-19 lockdown-like situation returning." Meanwhile, Sri .

TVK chief Vijay announces slew of freebies for women, including 8 gm gold

In poll-bound Tamil Nadu, Vijay announced several welfare promises for women a day ahead of International Women's Day

RN Ravi appointed West Bengal Guv in major reshuffle of gubernatorial posts

Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi was on Thursday appointed as the new governor of West Bengal, replacing C V Ananda Bose, who resigned abruptly earlier in the day, a move that has sparked a fresh confrontation between the BJP and its rivals here and in the state. The appointment was a part of a major reshuffle of gubernatorial posts effected in several states and Union territories by President Droupadi Murmu late on Thursday night. Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain (retired) was appointed as the new Bihar governor, while Ladakh's Lieutenant Governor Kavinder Gupta has been made the governor of Himachal Pradesh. Hasnain succeeds Arif Mohammed Khan, who took oath as Bihar Governor on January 2 last year. However, the political circles were abuzz with the unexpected resignation of Bose as the West Bengal governor just weeks before the Assembly polls there. In a communique, the Rashtrapati Bhavan said that President Murmu has accepted Bose's resignation. Talking to PTI over the phone from Delhi, Bo

CV Ananda Bose resigns as Bengal Governor; TN Guv RN Ravi to replace

West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose resigned from his post in New Delhi on Thursday evening. Bose, who was appointed Bengal governor on November 17, 2022, told PTI: "Yes, I have resigned. I have been the Governor of Bengal for three-and-a-half years; it's enough for me." He, however, did not disclose the grounds of his sudden resignation and whether there was any political pressure that may have prompted his decision.

MRF to invest ₹5,300 crore in new tyre plant in Tamil Nadu's Sivaganga

MRF has signed a non-binding MoU with the Tamil Nadu government to set up a greenfield tyre manufacturing unit in Sivaganga with an investment of Rs 5,300 crore over 12 years

Tamil Nadu unveils Shipbuilding Policy 2026 to boost green tech

In a definitive push toward environmental stewardship in the maritime sector, the Tamil Nadu government has placed green shipbuilding and circular economy practices at the forefront of its newly unveiled Shipbuilding Policy 2026. The policy aims to establish the state as a global leader in sustainable maritime technology, focusing on zero-emission vessels and world-class green recycling facilities. Released by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Wednesday, the policy provides specialised incentives for the construction of "green vessels," including those powered by green hydrogen, ammonia, and electric propulsion. These initiatives are designed to align with India's Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, which targets a significant reduction in carbon emissions across the shipping fleet. A key highlight of the policy is the promotion of Green Ship Recycling clusters. To discourage hazardous dismantling practices, the state has announced a 15 per cent capital subsidy for the first fiv

TN CM announces special fund of ₹2,000 to 3.7 mn marginalised beneficiaries

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Tuesday announced that his government has credited a special fund of Rs 2,000 to the bank accounts of 37.79 lakh people from the marginalised sections of society. Responding to requests for additional support for the elderly, widows, aged transgenders and persons with disabilities, today the government has provided Rs 2,000 over and above their existing monthly pensions, Stalin said in a social media post. He noted that the move is aimed at alleviating the financial hardships of those living on the margins. The current round of funding follows the distribution of a Rs 2,000 special summer package provided for women in February under the 'Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thogai' scheme, which triggered several requests from vulnerable groups for similar support. According to CM, the government has transferred the special assistance package of Rs 3,200 to 29.29 lakh beneficiaries comprising senior citizens and widows, who were receiving benefits under

Permit 5 people named for prayers atop Tirupparankundram hill: HC to govt

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has suggested to the administration to permit five persons named by the court to offer symbolic prayers for 15 minutes near the stone pillar atop the Tirupparankundram hill. Hearing a contempt petition filed for non-compliance of an earlier direction on lighting Karthigai Deepam atop the Deepathoon, the court said the symbolic prayers (not lighting the lamp) could be allowed if the government wanted to show respect to the earlier orders of the court. Also, the Bench comprising Justice G R Swaminathan remarked that state Minerals and Mines Minister S Regupathy had "given a mischievous political spin" to the Tirupparankundram issue when he stated that the government would not permit the lighting of the Karthigai Deepam at the Deepathoon (stone pillar). Madurai collector K J Praveen Kumar had filed an additional affidavit stating that he promulgated the prohibition orders on December 1, 2025, in order to prevent law and order situation and not

Poll season potboiler in TN: Panneerselvam's crossover adds new complexity

O Panneerselvam's crossover adds new complexity to a finely poised electoral battle shaped by shifting alliances and Vijay adding a new variable