The MK Stalin-led Tamil Nadu government has replaced the Indian rupee symbol (₹) with the Tamil letter 'ரு' (Ru) in its official state budget logo. This change comes against the backdrop of Tamil Nadu's ongoing resistance to the three-language policy outlined under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. This marks the first instance of any Indian state discarding the national currency symbol in an official capacity.

Tamil Nadu's Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu is set to present the 2025-26 state budget on Friday, which will carry the newly designed logo. The symbol 'ரு' represents the first syllable of "Rubaai" — the word for "rupee" in Tamil — and has been used in place of the rupee sign typically seen in official financial documents. Alongside the 'ரு' symbol, the logo includes the tagline "everything for all," reflecting what the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) calls its inclusive approach to governance.

Political Backlash and Opposition Criticism

The decision has drawn sharp criticism from the opposition, particularly from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Tamil Nadu BJP President K. Annamalai lashed out at the DMK government, calling the move unnecessary and provocative. Annamalai pointed out the irony that the Indian rupee symbol — now removed — was itself designed by a Tamilian, Udhay Kumar, who is the son of a former DMK MLA.

Taking to social media, Annamalai wrote, "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. Thiru Udhay Kumar, who designed the symbol, is the son of a former DMK MLA. How stupid can you become, Thiru @mkstalin?"

He also shared an image of the 2024-25 Tamil Nadu budget logo, which still featured the official Indian rupee symbol, contrasting it with the newly released design.

While the Tamil Nadu government has not officially commented on the reason behind this symbolic shift, BJP spokespersons have criticised it as an attempt to "portray Tamil Nadu as separate from India." Speaking to NDTV, BJP leader Narayanan Thirupathy emphasised that "the rupee symbol is universally recognised as representing India", and changing it sends the wrong message.

NEP 2020, Three-Language Policy, and Central Funds

This development also comes amid Tamil Nadu's ongoing opposition to the National Education Policy 2020, particularly the three-language formula, which mandates teaching of any native Indian language along with English and a regional language. Tamil Nadu, under the DMK government, has consistently opposed this policy, asserting its commitment to the two-language formula — Tamil and English — and falsely distorting it as an Hindi imposition.

Due to Tamil Nadu's refusal to adopt key aspects of the NEP, the Central government has withheld ₹573 crore in educational assistance under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) scheme. According to policy guidelines, states must comply with NEP directives to receive SSA funding, of which 60% is contributed by the Centre to states like Tamil Nadu.

Further, under the PM SHRI scheme, states are required to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Centre, agreeing to implement NEP 2020 in return for financial assistance. Tamil Nadu's steadfast refusal to align with these terms has led to stalling of central funds, adding to the growing tension between the state and the Union government.

Symbolism, Politics, and Future Implications

As Tamil Nadu prepares to present its 2025-26 budget, the replacement of the rupee symbol with a Tamil character reflects the state's assertive cultural and linguistic identity under the DMK leadership. However, it has also sparked debates about national unity, linguistic pride and political posturing. Whether this move will escalate tensions between the state and Centre, especially over issues like language policy and financial assistance, remains to be seen.

In the absence of an official explanation from the Tamil Nadu government, the debate around regional assertion versus national coherence is likely to intensify, with the budget presentation on Friday set to attract nationwide attention.