Tamil Nadu Replaces Rupee Symbol in Budget with Tamil Character

The move by MK Stalin's government emphasizes Tamil identity, drawing criticism from BJP leaders over its political and cultural implications.

The Tamil Nadu government replaced the national rupee symbol (₹) with a Tamil character in its 2025-26 state budget documents, citing a focus on promoting the Tamil language.
DMK leaders defended the decision as legal and symbolic of Tamil pride, while clarifying it only applies to budget materials and not the currency itself.
The BJP criticized the move as divisive, accusing the DMK of exploiting linguistic identity for political gain and undermining national unity.
This decision comes in the backdrop of Tamil Nadu's ongoing opposition to the National Education Policy (NEP) and its three-language formula, which the state views as an imposition of Hindi.
The controversy highlights broader tensions between Tamil Nadu's regional identity and the BJP-led central government's policies on language and education.