Udhayanidhi Stalin on how Tamil Nadu's Naan Mudhalvan Initiative Boosts Competitive Exam Success

By Udhayanidhi StalinFor more than half a century, Tamil Nadu has stood at the forefront of India’s social development story. The state’s progress was built on a foundational belief of the Dravidian movement that education and opportunity must be available to all, not a select few. This philosophy lifted generations out of poverty, expanded literacy, and created one of the most socially mobile societies in India.Yet, after 2017, the uncomfortable truth began to emerge: data revealed a gradual fall in Tamil Nadu’s representation in national competitive examinations, especially in the civil services examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission.It was clear that one of the main reasons was unequal access to quality coaching, high financial barriers, and a lack of structured mentoring networks to guide aspirants through demanding preparation cycles. This was compounded by unequal access to quality guidance outside metropolitan centres. The number of students who cleared the exam declined sharply to just 27 in 2021.For a state with a proud tradition of turning out efficient administrators and reform-minded officers, this was not only disappointing but also a call to action.The Naan Mudhalvan competitive exams (NMCE) vertical was created under Tamil Nadu Skill Development Corporation on March 7, 2023. The idea came from conversations with students and educators across districts. Many told me the same story in different words: “The will to study is there, the means to continue is not.”NMCE was a structural reform and not a short-term subsidy. Its objective is to rebuild the entire ecosystem of preparation and to make competitive exams accessible, affordable and aspirational again. It aims to restore confidence among youth that Tamil Nadu, a pioneer in social justice, can also be a pioneer in ensuring equal opportunity for modern employment.This initiative is in sync with the larger vision of Naan Mudhalvan, as envisioned by chief minister M K Stalin, to transform every student into a capable first-generation achiever. While the parent programme covers skilling initiatives in all sectors, NMCE has a focused approach toward competitive examinations conducted by recruiting agencies of the Union govt.Aspirants from Chennai or Delhi could access the best coaching centres, while those from Cuddalore or Dindigul struggled with limited materials and little guidance. Many bright students abandoned their preparation midway because they could not bear the cost of training or relocation.NMCE set out to correct this imbalance, its design resting on three pillars — financial support, professional coaching and residential programmes.Under the UPSC civil services incentive scheme, initiated in the 2023–2024 budget, 1,000 aspirants are selected each year through a transparent screening test. They are given a monthly scholarship of ₹7,500 for 10 months while preparing for the preliminary examination. Those who qualify for the mains receive a one-time grant of ₹25,000, and from 2025 onwards, those appearing for the personality test (after clearing the mains) will receive ₹50,000.The results are proof that the model works — in 2023–2024, 453 students cleared the prelims. In 2024–2025, the number rose to 559; 134 cleared the mains, and 50 entered the final merit list. Among them, B Sivachandran of Dharmapuri achieved All India Rank 23, the highest from Tamil Nadu that year. In the current examination of the 2025–2026 cycle, 659 candidates have cleared the prelims. Of them, 155 have been selected for the personality test, and 87 of these candidates received their training from the Tamil Nadu govt-run All India Civil Services Coaching Centre (AICSCC).Perhaps the most meaningful achievement of NMCE is not in its statistics but in its psychology. Across Tamil Nadu, young people now see national examinations as attainable goals; local libraries are fuller, discussion circles are active again, and parents encourage rather than caution. The atmosphere of confidence spreading through smaller towns may, in the long run, prove the programme’s greatest success.One of the stories that captures this transformation is that of S Inba, daughter of a retired bus conductor and beedi-roll worker from Tenkasi, who turned her district public library into her second home. A beneficiary of the Naan Mudhalvan UPSC scheme, she was selected for the Indian Police Service (IPS) in 2023, an achievement symbolic of what becomes possible when financial constraints are removed and confidence is restored.The next step was to expand this inclusiveness beyond the civil services track. In the 2024–2025 budget, the govt introduced a residential coaching programme for the staff selection commission, the railway, and the banking examinations. The scheme covers six months of full-time residential training, including coaching, accommodation, food, and learning resources at facilities in Chennai, Coimbatore, and Madurai.Of 510 students trained in the first year, 80 were placed in nationalised banks, SSC and Railway services. The second batch was rolled out in Oct with upgraded infrastructure and increased intake, showing how this initiative opens doors to quality training for rural and semi-urban youth.K Bhuvaneshwari, from a remote village in Dharmapuri district, is one of those who benefited from the programme. Growing up in a family dependent on agriculture, she could not afford private coaching or relocate to a metro city. Bhuvaneshwari joined the govt’s residential coaching programme for banking services. After six months of structured coaching, free accommodation, and academic mentorship, she became an agriculture field officer at Punjab National Bank in 2024.Utmost transparency has been achieved in this scheme using technology. The selection is merit-based, stipends are transferred directly to beneficiaries, and outcomes are audited periodically.By institutionalising support via NMCE, the state is reviving a tradition of public service that is inclusive and merit-based. A clear signal is sent that the pursuit of excellence and the pursuit of equality are not contradictory but complementary.(The writer is deputy chief minister of Tamil Nadu)