Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has declared Tamil Nadu as the foremost beneficiary of the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, emphasizing the state’s significant gains in key sectors like electronics and automobiles.

Speaking at an event organized by the Chennai Citizens’ Forum on Saturday evening, Sitharaman highlighted Tamil Nadu’s pivotal role in driving India’s manufacturing growth under the central government’s flagship initiative.

“Tamil Nadu has emerged as the largest recipient under the PLI scheme for electronics, electronic parts, and automobiles,” Sitharaman said, addressing an audience at M O P Vaishnav College. She noted that out of 27 companies approved nationwide under the PLI scheme for electronics, seven are based in Tamil Nadu, accounting for 25% of the total beneficiaries.

The minister also pointed out the state’s dominance in the automobile sector, with 46 out of 82 approved applications—over half—originating from Tamil Nadu, making it the second-largest recipient in this category.

Sitharaman dismissed allegations of neglect by the state government, asserting that Tamil Nadu has seen substantial central support over the past decade. She cited investments like the Rs 1,100 crore allocation for an electronic parts manufacturing cluster near Chennai, alongside Gujarat, and Rs 7,453 crore for offshore wind energy projects.

“The narrative that the Centre gives little to Tamil Nadu is flawed. The state is a hub of innovation and industrial progress,” she said, also mentioning the planned Green Hydrogen Hub Port in Tuticorin.

The minister’s remarks underscore Tamil Nadu’s growing prominence in India’s economic landscape, bolstered by infrastructure advancements, including 1,303 km of new railway lines.