Tamil Nadu Universities Face Strain Despite Higher Funding

In Tamil Nadu, the Higher Education Department has received much more funding over the past five years. However, this increase in money has not improved the financial condition of state-run universities.

In the financial year 2021–22, the department was given about ₹5,369 crore. By 2025–26, this amount had risen to around ₹8,494 crore. This is an increase of nearly 60%, showing that the government has been spending more on higher education.

A major increase happened in 2024–25, when the budget went up by ₹1,245 crore compared to the previous year, reaching ₹8,212 crore. Despite this rise in funding, many state-run universities are still facing financial difficulties.

These universities continue to struggle with expenses, debts, and limited resources. The extra funds have not been enough to fully solve their financial problems or improve their overall stability.

Overall, even though the government has increased spending on higher education, the financial health of universities in Tamil Nadu remains weak, raising concerns about how the funds are being used and managed.