Balancing a call for greater State autonomy with an assurance of cooperation, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay said on Thursday (June 11, 2026) that his government would work constructively with the Centre even while safeguarding the State’s interests and aspirations.

In his debut address at the 11th Governing Council meeting of NITI Aayog chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, Mr. Vijay said Tamil Nadu wholeheartedly supported the nation’s aspirations and believed a developed India could be built only through empowered States, cooperative federalism, and inclusive development. “The people of Tamil Nadu have entrusted our government with a historic mandate founded on transparent governance, social justice, inclusive growth, youth empowerment, and equitable development. We remain committed to working constructively with the Union government while firmly safeguarding the interests and aspirations of Tamil Nadu,” he said.

Pending funds

The Chief Minister demanded the early release of the pending funds under Samagra Shiksha Scheme, amounting to ₹3,284 crore, without any condition and without linking them to the implementation of the National Education Policy or insisting on the three-language policy.

He urged the Centre to provide the committed Central government assistance of ₹2,283.40 crore for the Hogenakkal Phase-III Combined Water Supply Scheme and permit employment generation activities under VB-G RAM-G for the State government’s rural housing schemes.

Opposition to NEET

He made it clear that Tamil Nadu opposed the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) for admission to undergraduate medical and dental courses, as its introduction had adversely affected students from rural and socio-economically disadvantaged families. He urged the Centre to permit Tamil Nadu to fill all the seats under the State quota in the MBBS, BDS, and AYUSH courses solely on the basis of Class XII marks.

He also sought the declaration of the ISRO’s Space Manufacturing Hub at  Kulasekarapattinam as a National Space Manufacturing Hub, facilitating end-to-end manufacture of propellants and launch vehicles, among other products, and helping the nation tap into the global space economy. Mr. Vijay also requested the establishment of a second AIIMS in Tamil Nadu at Coimbatore, for which, he said, the State government would give the land.

Employment mission

He envisaged a Youth Skill and Employment Mission under which five lakh youth would annually receive stipend-supported internships and industry-linked training in emerging technologies at the district level. He urged the Centre to protect the traditional fishing rights of Indian fishermen in the Palk Bay and guarantee their safety and security and secure the release of their fishing boats (from Sri Lanka’s custody). Mr. Vijay also sought enhanced support for permanent flood mitigation infrastructure in coastal cities and a Comprehensive Disaster Management Mission aimed at zero casualties.

The State was working to become a $1.5-trillion economy by 2036, reflecting the strength of its diversified economy and the productivity of its workforce, and underscoring its commitment to a Developed India by 2047. Tamil Nadu’s rapid economic growth also required the timely development of key national highway and rail corridors, Mr. Vijay said, urging the Centre to sanction the six-laning of the Chengalpattu-Tiruchi section of GST Road (NH-32); the Tiruchi (Panjapur)-Jeeyapuram-Karur section of NH-81; and the Karur-Coimbatore section of NH-81, besides the elevated corridor from Madhavaram to  Sholavaram (NH-87) and the high-speed rail corridor from Chennai to Kanniyakumari.

He also requested the Centre to declare The Thirukkural the National Literature. Mr. Vijay called on Mr. Modi on the sidelines of the meeting.