Free Laptop Scheme: Good news for students. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay has ordered the launch of a free laptop program for college students, named the “Vettri Laptop Scheme.” The state government has set aside Rs 2,000 crore for the initiative, which was announced in the 2026–27 budget.
Free Laptop Scheme Announced
According to so many reports, the Vijay-led TVK government announced on Saturday, November 7, that it will establish a high-level committee chaired by the Chief Minister to oversee the scheme. An official statement said the program will benefit first- and second-year undergraduate (UG) and diploma students enrolled in a range of courses—including medicine, agriculture, and law—at government and state-aided colleges.
Who is eligible?
The Vetri Laptop Scheme covers students studying arts, science, engineering, medicine, veterinary science, agriculture, fisheries, and law. Students attending polytechnics and ITIs are also eligible.
The Vijay government has also decided to include students who did not receive laptops under the 2025–26 free laptop scheme. In addition, third- and fourth-year students in professional courses at government and government-aided institutions will be provided with laptops.
STORY | TN CM orders implementation of ‘Vetri Laptop Scheme’ for college students; allocates Rs 2,000 crore
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay has ordered the implementation of the ‘Vetri Laptop Scheme’ for college students, and Rs 2,000 crore is the allocation for the… pic.twitter.com/MUL8PS2zct
“>November 7, 2026
Special arrangements for engineering students
To address engineering students’ needs, the Tamil Nadu government will provide laptops with Intel Core i5 processors or equivalent specifications. The state-owned company ELCOT has been assigned to procure and supply the laptops, and administrative approval has been granted. ELCOT will need to ensure that all purchased laptops meet the required quality standards.