T.N. Budget 2025: Govt. to establish science centre in Chennai, 10 new arts and science colleges

Tamil Nadu Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu on Friday (March 14, 2025) announced that a state-of-the-art Chennai Science Centre will be established in collaboration with the Singapore Science Centre to foster scientific thinking among students, at a cost of ₹100 crore.

Tamil Nadu Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu on Friday (March 14, 2025) announced that a state-of-the-art Chennai Science Centre will be established in collaboration with the Singapore Science Centre to foster scientific thinking among students, at a cost of ₹100 crore.

Presenting the State Budget 2025-26, Mr. Thennarasu said this centre will feature true-to-life miniature models covering science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, along with exhibits on space and astronomy. “The grand Chennai Science Centre will be developed with world-class facilities, including a children’s science park, modern astronomical telescope installations, and digital experience theatres,” he said. The government will implement this initiative in partnership with the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority.

Further, the Minister said to enhance the research ecosystem in basic sciences and mathematics, the State government will provide ₹100 crore for establishing two Basic Sciences and Mathematics Research Centres in Chennai and Coimbatore, in collaboration with renowned research institutes like Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR).

The Finance Minister said a roadmap will be drawn to make Anna University one of the top 10 institutions in the country and top 150 institutes in the global QS rankings in the next five years. Smart classrooms, state-of-the-art technology labs, new research and development centres, start-up parks, and virtual labs will be established with the support of leading technology companies and technical experts, and foreign professors will be engaged in special short-term research programmes of up to three months.

He said these initiatives will be undertaken with contributions from the government, university funds, alumni, and industry at a cost of ₹500 crore.

Under the Perunthalaivar Kamarajar College Development Scheme, infrastructure facilities will be developed in all government-run polytechnic colleges, arts and science colleges, engineering colleges, and Anna University-affiliated colleges across Tamil Nadu at cost of ₹300 crore, the Minister said.

Further, to mitigate the fiscal constraints faced by State universities, block grant will be enhanced to ₹700 crore, the Minister announced, adding that a dedicated corpus fund of ₹200 crore will be established to enhance academic performance, strengthen research and development, and reform the examination system and administration in State universities.