The MK Stalin-led Tamil Nadu government has sparked controversy by replacing the national rupee symbol (₹) with the Tamil letter ‘Ru’ in the logo for the state’s 2025-26 budget. This marks the first time any Indian state has dropped the universally recognized currency symbol, a move that has drawn sharp criticism from the BJP and others.
The decision comes amid the ongoing debate over the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the three-language formula, which Tamil Nadu has vehemently opposed. State Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu is set to present the budget on Friday, featuring the new logo with the Tamil letter ‘Ru’, derived from the word ‘Rubaai’, which denotes the Indian currency in Tamil.
The logo also carries the caption “Everything for All,” reflecting the ruling DMK’s emphasis on inclusive governance. However, the change has been met with backlash, particularly from the BJP.
BJP Tamil Nadu chief K. Annamalai criticized the decision, pointing out that the rupee symbol was designed by Udhay Kumar, a Tamilian and the son of a former DMK MLA. “The DMK Government’s State Budget for 2025-26 replaces the Rupee Symbol designed by a Tamilian, which was adopted by the whole of Bharat and incorporated into our currency. How stupid can you become, Thiru @mkstalin?” Annamalai said in a social media post.
He also shared the logo from the 2024-25 Tamil Nadu budget, which featured the Indian rupee symbol, to highlight the change.
The Tamil Nadu government has not issued an official statement explaining the change. However, BJP spokesperson Narayanan Thirupathy accused the DMK of trying to assert its “difference from India” through such symbolic gestures. “The rupee symbol is widely recognized as a symbol of India. Replacing it with a Tamil letter reflects the DMK’s divisive politics,” he said.
The controversy over the budget logo is set against the backdrop of Tamil Nadu’s refusal to implement key aspects of the NEP 2020, particularly the three-language formula. This has led the central government to withhold ₹573 crore in education assistance under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA).
Under the NEP guidelines, states must comply with the policy to receive SSA funding, with the Centre contributing 60% of the funds. Additionally, states are required to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the central government to implement the NEP under the PM SHRI scheme, in exchange for financial support.