DMK govt presents budget in Tamil Nadu Assembly

In Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister M K Stalin-led DMK regime on Friday presented its Budget 2025-26 in the Assembly, a full-fledged exercise ahead of the state election next year, and made big allocations for its flagship welfare schemes which include the fare-free bus travel scheme for women. Presenting the Budget, Finance Minister Thangam Thenarasu said women using fare-free bus services has risen to 65 per cent from 40 per cent. "On an average, 50 lakh women travel daily in the buses run by State Transport Undertakings, leading to a total of 642 crore trips so far. Notably, a study by the State Planning Commission revealed that women save an average of Rs 888 per month due to this initiative. For the year 2025-26, the government has allocated a subsidy of Rs.3,600 crore for the scheme in the Budget Estimates," he said and added that Earned Leave Surrender system will be restored, allowing Government employees and teachers to encash by surrendering up to 15 days of earned leave from 01.04.2026.
To ensure the overall well-being of senior citizens, 25 ‘Anbucholai’ centres will be established in Municipal Corporations, including Madurai, Coimbatore, Trichy, Salem, Tiruppur, Erode, Thoothukudi, Vellore, Thanjavur, and Dindigul, with a financial allocation of Rs.10 crore. In these day care centres, the elderly can engage in companionship and meaningful activities. Each ‘Anbucholai’ centre will provide various services, including day-care assistance, arrangements for essential medical care, and recreational activities, with the support of voluntary organizations. 
Noisy scenes were witnessed in the Assembly as the main opposition AIADMK walked out after attempting to raise alleged graft in state-run liquor corporation TASMAC as the Enforcement Directorate has held searches related to the state-owned company.The BJP walked out of the Tamil Nadu assembly during the state Budget 2025-26  in protest the DMK government's move to replace the rupee symbol.