Tamil Nadu

Independence Day Announcements & Welfare Schemes

Expansion of Social Welfare Schemes:
- Morning Breakfast Scheme: Expanded to cover students of Classes VI to VIII across government and aided schools, commencing on Thanthai Periyar’s birth anniversary (September 17).
- Amma Unavagam: Continued and made more operational and efficient.
Hike in Welfare Allowances & Pensions:
- Ex-Servicemen Marriage Aid: Increased from ₹25,000 to ₹50,000 for each of two daughters.
- Disabled Ex-Servicemen Assistance: Monthly allowance raised from ₹5,000 to ₹7,000.
- Freedom Fighters’ Pension: Increased to ₹23,000 per month, while family pension raised to ₹12,500 per month.
- Descendants of Freedom Fighters: Monthly assistance raised to ₹11,500 per month for descendants of Veerapandiya Kattabomman, Muthuramalinga, Vijayaraghunatha Sethupathy, Marudhu Brothers, and V.O. Chidambaranar.

Thagaisal Thamizhar Award: Conferred on veteran leader and former TNCC president M. Krishnaswamy.
Kalpana Chawla Award for Courage and Daring Enterprise: Presented to athlete Nausheen Banu Chand.
Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Award: Awarded to renowned diabetologist Dr. V. Mohan.

AI Skilling Mission: Target set to impart AI skills to over 1 crore youth in mission mode over the next year.
Free Competitive Exam Coaching: Utilization of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) to provide free online coaching for competitive examinations.
Nationwide Sports Talent Hunt: Targeting children aged 5 to 15 years in preparation for the 2036 Olympic Games.
‘Saptadhara’ (7 Pillars of Economic Growth): Manufacturing quality, agriculture & food processing, technology & innovation (semiconductors/space), PM GatiShakti, defence production, green/blue economy, and soft power projection.
Nuclear Energy Capacity Goal: Plan to achieve 100 GW nuclear capacity by 2047, with 5 new reactors operational within 6–7 years.
Mission Sudarshan Chakra: Multi-layered defence infrastructure combining AI and cybersecurity to protect critical energy, banking, and data assets.

Foreign Assets of Small Taxpayers-Disclosure Scheme (FAST-DS):
- CBDT notified the voluntary disclosure scheme allowing small taxpayers (students, young professionals, NRIs) to declare undisclosed foreign holdings with an effective 60% tax levy (30% tax + 30% additional amount) without facing prosecution.
- Declaration limits: Up to ₹1 crore for undisclosed foreign assets/income, and up to ₹5 crore for previously taxed/acquired foreign holdings.