Tamil Nadu has taken its dispute with the Centre to the Supreme Court, accusing the central government of withholding over Rs 2,150 crore in education funds due to the state’s refusal to implement the National Education Policy’s (NEP) three-language formula. The DMK-led government argues that this move is politically motivated, linked to its opposition to the language policy, which they claim forces Hindi on southern states. The controversy highlights ongoing tensions between Tamil Nadu and the Centre over education reforms and federal cooperation.
Centre’s Fund Blocking and Language Policy Dispute
The state government has filed a petition stating that under the Samagra Shiksha Scheme—an integrated program supporting school education from pre-primary to class 12—the Centre has failed to release its allocated share of Rs 2,151 crore. This amount represents the central government’s 60% contribution to the total Rs 3,585.99 crore approved for Tamil Nadu’s educational expenditure starting from April 1 last year. Despite the project approval board’s satisfaction with Tamil Nadu’s compliance, the Centre has withheld funds, linking their release to the implementation of the NEP and the ‘PM SHRI Schools’ scheme, which Tamil Nadu contends are separate and should not be connected.
The NEP recommends a three-language formula requiring students to learn a third language in addition to English and their regional language. Tamil Nadu opposes this formula, advocating instead for a two-language policy. The state government alleges that the three-language formula is a means to impose Hindi on southern states, a charge the Centre denies, asserting that the policy aims to revive and promote Indian languages more broadly.
Legal and Federal Implications
Tamil Nadu’s petition accuses the Centre of violating the principles of cooperative federalism and overstepping constitutional powers by linking fund disbursement to policy implementation. The state claims this is an attempt to coerce it into adopting the NEP in full, disregarding the local educational framework already in place. The suit emphasizes that education is a concurrent subject, and states have the right to legislate their own policies under Entry 25 of the Union List III.
This legal action follows a recent Supreme Court victory for Tamil Nadu, where the court declared Governor RN Ravi’s withholding of assent to ten state bills as “illegal” and “arbitrary.” The ongoing tussle underscores the fragile dynamics between the Centre and state governments over language and education policies, reflecting broader debates about autonomy and federal authority in India.
