Naan Mudhalvan Scheme Renamed to Thiran Tamil Nadu (TN Skill) in 2026

Tamil Nadu's well-known skill development programme, Naan Mudhalvan, has officially been renamed as Thiran Tamil Nadu (also referred to as TN Skill) by the new state government. State Minister R. Nirmal Kumar announced the change, saying the old name "Naan Mudhalvan" (meaning "I am the Chief Minister") was misleading people into thinking it was linked to a political family preparing a future leader, rather than being a skill training scheme. The portal naanmudhalvan.tn.gov.in continues to be operational for students to log in and access their courses.

Originally launched by former Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on 1st March 2022, the scheme was built to train over 10 lakh students annually across Tamil Nadu in industry-relevant skills. Under the new name, Thiran Tamil Nadu, all existing programmes, courses, and benefits continue without major changes. The move has drawn strong criticism from the opposition DMK, with Stalin saying the rename will not erase the achievements of the scheme or the memories of its thousands of beneficiaries.

Thiran Tamil Nadu (TN Skill) - Formerly Naan Mudhalvan Scheme

Minister R. Nirmal Kumar, who represents the Thiruparankundram constituency in Madurai and serves in the ministry of Chief Minister Vijay (TVK government), defended the renaming at a joint press conference in June 2026. He said the original name was causing confusion among the public, who mistakenly believed it was a political branding campaign rather than a genuine skill development programme. He clarified that the scheme's core objectives remain the same and that students currently enrolled have nothing to worry about.

DMK president M.K. Stalin, whose government originally launched the scheme, strongly objected to the decision. He posted on social media: "You may change the name of the Naan Mudhalvan social media pages. You may delete the posts published there. But you cannot erase the achievements of the scheme that helped thousands of young people realise their dreams." The opposition also flagged reports that the new government removed Naan Mudhalvan-related content from its official social media pages, calling it politically motivated.

Scheme Highlights

What is Thiran Tamil Nadu (Naan Mudhalvan)?

Thiran Tamil Nadu, formerly Naan Mudhalvan, is a skill development scheme run by the Tamil Nadu government through the Tamil Nadu Skill Development Corporation (TNSDC). It offers free, employment-linked training to students in Engineering, Arts and Science, Polytechnic, and ITI colleges, as well as school students from Class 9 to Class 12. The scheme bridges the gap between classroom learning and what industries actually require from fresh graduates.

The portal at naanmudhalvan.tn.gov.in lists over 2,000 institutes and more than 300 career pathways. Students can also find information on 150+ scholarships for higher education in India. The scheme also runs a separate vertical for competitive exam aspirants, including UPSC civil services coaching with monthly scholarships for selected candidates.

2026 Updates - New Industry Partners and Revised Guidelines

For the academic year 2026-27, the Tamil Nadu government has issued fresh guidelines for industry partners under the scheme. The state is actively appointing new training partners across Engineering, Arts and Science, and Polytechnic colleges to bring in more relevant and job-ready courses. As per the new norms, all industry partners must have tie-ups with at least ten companies and submit placement data to prove their effectiveness.

All skill courses will remain embedded in university curricula as mandatory credit programmes held during regular college hours. Each course runs for 45 to 60 hours per semester. For the 2026-27 year, the government plans to introduce over 60 courses for engineering students, 38 courses for Arts and Science colleges, and 43 training programmes for polytechnic students. Industry partners are also required to run faculty development programmes and provide industry-recognised certifications to students who complete the training.

Who Can Apply for TN Skill (Thiran Tamil Nadu)?

Students from Tamil Nadu who are currently enrolled in government or private schools, or pursuing undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in colleges affiliated with Tamil Nadu universities, are eligible for this scheme. The age group covered is 18 to 35 years for skill training, although some specific verticals have different age criteria.

• School students (Class 9-12): Can access career guidance, scholarship information, and soft skills courses through the Naan Mudhalvan Schools portal.
• College students (Engineering, Arts, Science, Polytechnic, ITI, Medical, Pharmacy): Can take up mandatory credit-based skill courses offered by TNSDC's industry partners, covering technical skills, digital tools, and communication.
• UPSC aspirants: Can apply for the competitive exams vertical, which gives a monthly scholarship of ₹7,500 for 10 months to 1,000 shortlisted candidates each year, along with full-time residential coaching access.

naanmudhalvan.tn.gov.in Login Process

Students who already have an account on the Naan Mudhalvan portal can continue to log in using their existing credentials. The portal remains active under the same web address. Here is how to log in:

STEP 1 - Visit the official website at https://www.naanmudhalvan.tn.gov.in/ from your browser on phone or computer.

STEP 2 - On the homepage, find the login section. Enter your registered username and password in the boxes provided.

STEP 3 - Click the "Login" button to access your dashboard, where you can check your enrolled courses, certificates, and available skill programmes.

What Information is Available on the Portal?

The naanmudhalvan.tn.gov.in portal gives students access to a wide range of resources that go beyond just skill training. Students can explore career paths, check scholarship options, and find college and course details all in one place. The main sections available on the portal include:

• Courses: Browse industry-relevant skill programmes available at your college or online, covering areas like coding, robotics, digital marketing, and soft skills.
• Colleges and Career Pathways: Explore more than 2,000 institutes and 300+ career options to plan your academic and professional future.
• Entrance Exams and Scholarships: Get current information on entrance tests for colleges across India and 150+ scholarship opportunities for higher education.
• Mentor Registration: Teachers and professionals can register as mentors for students through the link at https://www.naanmudhalvan.tn.gov.in/mentors/

Objective of the Scheme

The original aim of the Naan Mudhalvan scheme, now continued under the Thiran Tamil Nadu name, was to make students job-ready by combining formal education with practical skill training. The scheme focuses on bridging the gap between what colleges teach and what employers actually need. It covers soft skills like communication and personality development, as well as technical skills in coding, robotics, data analytics, AI, and other new-age areas.

Students also get academic counselling and career guidance from professionals and mentors. The scheme aims to make Tamil Nadu a skill capital by training 10 lakh students every year and improving placement rates across the state's higher education institutions.

FAQ's

Here are answers to some common questions about the Naan Mudhalvan scheme and its rename to Thiran Tamil Nadu:

Why was Naan Mudhalvan renamed to Thiran Tamil Nadu?

The new state government under CM Vijay (TVK) renamed it saying the original name was misleading people into thinking it was a political campaign tied to a ruling family heir, rather than a skill development scheme. Minister R. Nirmal Kumar said the new name removes that confusion.

Will existing students be affected by the name change?

No. The scheme continues with all its existing programmes, courses, benefits, and the same portal at naanmudhalvan.tn.gov.in. Students currently enrolled do not need to re-register or make any changes.

Is the scheme free for students?

Yes. All courses under this scheme are fully free. The Tamil Nadu government funds the programme through TNSDC and pays the industry partners directly. Students do not pay anything to enrol or complete the courses.

What scholarship does the UPSC coaching vertical offer?

Under the competitive exams vertical, 1,000 selected candidates receive ₹7,500 per month for 10 months during UPSC preliminary preparation. Those who clear the preliminary exam get ₹25,000 for Mains preparation, and those who clear Mains get ₹50,000 for interview preparation. Residential coaching is also available at centres in Chennai, Coimbatore, and Madurai.

What is the official website for this scheme?

The official website is naanmudhalvan.tn.gov.in. The portal is still active under the same URL even after the scheme's rename to Thiran Tamil Nadu.

Who runs the scheme now?

The scheme is now managed by the new TVK government led by Chief Minister Vijay, through the Tamil Nadu Skill Development Corporation (TNSDC) and the Department of Special Programme Implementation. It was originally launched by the DMK government under CM M.K. Stalin in 2022.