Tamil Nadu Government Replaces Rupee Symbol with Tamil Letter in Budget Logo Amid Language Dispute
- Posted on March 13, 2025
- News
- By Arijit Dutta
- 43 Views
Tamil Nadu replaced the rupee symbol with the Tamil letter for ‘Ru’ in its budget logo, amid its opposition to NEP 2020 and the three-language policy. The BJP criticized the move, linking it to separatism. Meanwhile, the Centre withheld ₹573 crore in education funds due to the state’s non-compliance with NEP.
The Tamil Nadu government, led by Chief Minister MK Stalin, has replaced the national rupee symbol with the Tamil letter for ‘Ru’ in the state budget logo. The move comes amid the ongoing three-language policy debate, reflecting the state's firm stance against the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
This is the first instance of a state government opting out of using the national currency symbol, marking a significant political statement. Tamil Nadu has consistently opposed the imposition of Hindi and the three-language policy promoted under NEP. The ruling DMK government supports the two-language system of Tamil and English, rejecting any mandatory Hindi learning.
While the state government has not officially commented on the change, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has criticized the decision. BJP leader Narayanan Thirupathy alleged that the move signals Tamil Nadu’s intention to separate itself from the national identity. He emphasized that the rupee symbol is recognized worldwide as a representation of India’s economy.
The language row has also affected Tamil Nadu’s access to central education funds. The state has been denied ₹573 crore under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) due to its refusal to implement NEP 2020 guidelines. Under the PM SHRI scheme, states are required to sign an MoU committing to NEP’s adoption to receive central funding.
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Tamil Nadu's decision to replace the rupee symbol aligns with its broader opposition to the Centre’s education policies, reinforcing its demand for greater autonomy in language and governance matters. The debate is expected to intensify as the state continues to resist the NEP framework.
