Tamil Nadu caps minister car purchases at ₹26 lakh, MLAs at ₹15 lakh

The Tamil Nadu government has announced new guidelines restricting vehicle purchases for members of the state legislative assembly, establishing a tiered system based on official positions. Ministers and other key assembly functionaries have been permitted to purchase vehicles up to ₹26 lakh, while regular members of the legislative assembly face a ceiling of ₹15 lakh.

The move represents an effort by the state administration to impose fiscal discipline on public expenditure related to official vehicle allocations. The new purchase ceilings apply to vehicles acquired for official use by assembly members across different ranks and responsibilities.

The decision establishes clear financial parameters for vehicle procurement, aimed at standardizing expenses across the legislative body. Officials said the guidelines would ensure prudent use of public funds while maintaining appropriate transportation standards for government functionaries based on their roles and responsibilities.

The implementation of these caps follows broader discussions in Indian states regarding cost control measures for government operations. The Tamil Nadu government's directive represents a structured approach to regulating discretionary spending on official vehicles, a significant component of administrative expenditure.