Puducherry government announces free tablet PCs for students, ₹3,000-worth gift items for newborns, enhancement of marriage assistance in 2026-27 Budget

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Puducherry Chief Minister N. Rangasamy presenting the Budget for the financial year 2026-27 in the Legislative Assembly in Puducherry on Monday. | Photo Credit: S.S. KUMAR

Presenting a budgetary outlay of ₹14,300 crore for 2026-27 in the Puducherry Assembly, Chief Minister N. Rangasamy on Monday announced a scheme to provide free tablet PCs to students of Classes 9 and 10; distribute gift items worth ₹3,000 to newborns; enhance freedom fighters pension and marriage assistance to brides belonging to the Below Poverty Line category in the Union Territory.

Delivering the first Budget of the National Democratic Alliance government after the front returned to power in the 2026 Assembly polls in the Union Territory, Mr. Rangasamy, who also holds the Finance portfolio, said the AINRC-BJP government has decided to distribute free tablet PCs to government and government-aided school students studying in Classes 9 and 10.

The scheme was aimed at helping government school students prepare for national-level competitive examinations such as NEET and JEE. Implementation of the scheme benefitting around 16,250 students would cost the exchequer around ₹16.25 crore. The enhancement of freedom fighters pension from ₹15,000 to ₹25,000 would cost the exchequer around ₹6.46 crore per annum, the Chief Minister said.

Expressing his government’s resolve to work for the upliftment of women, the Chief Minister said a scheme to distribute free gift items worth ₹3,000 to newborn children in the Union Territory would be launched this year. Also from the current financial year, the government has decided to increase marriage financial assistance given to brides hailing from economically backward families from ₹35,000 to ₹75,000 and the marriage assistance for daughters of destitutes/widows from ₹40,000 to ₹1, 00,000.

The government has decided to enhance financial assistance given to widows for their remarriage from ₹75,000 to ₹1,00,000. The marriage assistance given to brides belonging to Adi Dravidar and Scheduled Tribe communities will be increased from ₹1,00,000 to ₹1,25,000. The enhancement of marriage assistance would need additional funds to the tune of ₹4.9 crore per annum.

The government has decided to prepare a comprehensive Master Infrastructure Plan for the Union Territory to serve as a long-term road map for planned, integrated and sustainable infrastructure development. The plan will provide a strategic framework for identifying and prioritising infrastructure projects across sectors.