Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay and Finance Minister N. Marie Wilson pose for a photo ahead of the presentation of the maiden budget of the TVK-led coalition government in the Legislative Assembly, in Chennai on Wednesday. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT The allocation for the Higher Education Department in Tamil Nadu Revised Budget 2026-27 has dropped by ₹101 crore compared to last fiscal year prompting sharp response from educationists and activists. The total outlay for the department has been put at ₹8,393 crore. In his Budget speech, State Finance Minister N. Marie Wilson highlighted allocation of ₹2,000 crore for the “Vetri Laptop Scheme” for college students and the proposal to establish a specialised government law college in Madurai with an intake of 300 students. He also announced the setting up of Tamil Nadu Student Housing and Infrastructure Corporation to build 200 integrated students’ hostels with one lakh beds through a Public-Private Partnership model at a total capital outlay of ₹3,200 crore with a State grant of ₹640 crore. Although the Finance Minister’s speech …