Tamil Nadu Sets Rs. 139 Crore for Tamil Language Development

The Tamil Nadu government has allocated *Rs. 139.06 crore* for the Tamil Development and Information Department in its 2026-27 Policy Note, tabled by Minister Rajmohan, with a strong focus on language preservation and modernisation.

The funds will support digitisation of rare palm-leaf manuscripts and the continued expansion of the *Sorkuvai* online terminology portal, which now hosts over 1.55 million words used for compiling technical and contemporary Tamil glossaries. The International Institute of Tamil Studies will implement State Planning Commission-backed projects, including an integrated *digital palm-leaf manuscript database*, video repositories for global higher education, and an upgraded international research library.

The budget spans key institutions such as Tamil University in Thanjavur, the Directorate of Tamil Etymological Dictionary Project, and the World Tamil Sangam in Madurai. The policy also emphasises scholar welfare, enforcement of the *Tamil Nadu Official Language Act*, and expanded literary outreach in schools and colleges statewide, reflecting a sustained push to blend heritage preservation with digital innovation in Tamil language development.