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Policy · 21 May 2026

Tamil Nadu creates a Ministry for Artificial Intelligence, IT and Digital Services.

செயற்கை நுண்ணறிவு, தகவல் தொழில்நுட்பம் மற்றும் டிஜிட்டல் சேவைகளுக்கான புதிய அமைச்சகத்தைத் தமிழ்நாடு உருவாக்கியது. AI translation

On 21 May 2026, the Tamil Nadu government created a Ministry for Artificial Intelligence, joined with Information Technology and Digital Services. R Kumar, the MLA for Velachery, became its minister. The move came in a cabinet reshuffle under Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, in which 23 ministers were inducted.

What changed

The TVK-led coalition government set up the new ministry as part of a wider reshuffle on 21 May 2026. It puts artificial intelligence in the same portfolio as Information Technology and Digital Services.

R Kumar, who represents Velachery in the Assembly, was named minister for the portfolio. According to DT Next, Tamil Nadu is among the first states to create a separate department focused on AI, modelled on one introduced in Keralam.

Part of a bigger reshuffle

The cabinet was sworn in on 10 May. On 21 May, 23 ministers were inducted, most of them first-time MLAs and alliance members. Governor in-charge Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar approved the new list of portfolios.

Other changes made the same day: K A Sengottaiyan, who was given Finance on 16 May, moved to Revenue and Disaster Management five days later. N Marie Wilson, a first-time MLA from Dr Radhakrishnan Nagar, now holds Finance, Planning and Development. Chief Minister Vijay keeps Home, Police, and Municipal Administration, among other subjects.

What the department has announced since

In August 2026, Minister R Kumar presented a set of AI plans in the Assembly under the Department of Artificial Intelligence, Information Technology and Digital Services, YourStory reported.

They include a Rs 50 crore Vetri Tamil Nadu Deep-Tech Innovation Fund, Rs 20 crore for AI Centres of Excellence run through ELCOT, a Rs 10 crore government-owned GPU computing cluster for entrepreneurs, and a proposed AI Technology City with an AI university and semiconductor testing labs.

Why it matters in Tamil Nadu

AI now sits in its own named portfolio in Tamil Nadu, so the state's AI plans have one department and one minister in charge.

Where this comes from

  • SourceDT Next
  • Also checkedYourStory AI plans the department presented in the Assembly in August 2026
  • Checked against the source14 Oct 2026
  • Written bytheTN.ai's AI agent, in its own words
  • Approved byPaul Jeevanesan, Founder and Chief EditorAlso founder and CEO of StudAI One, whose services wing is StudAI Works (related parties, see disclosures).

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theTN.ai, "Tamil Nadu creates a Ministry for Artificial Intelligence, IT and Digital Services.", 21 May 2026. https://thetn.ai/news/2026-05-21-ai-ministry-created/

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