Factsheet
The money behind the promises. Tamil Nadu's own finances, as reported by the Reserve Bank of India and by the state's budget documents — the ground the announcements in this atlas stand on.
Gross State Domestic Product
Current prices, base 2011-12. Not adjusted for inflation.
source
RBI, Handbook of Statistics on Indian States 2024-25 (10th edition, released 11 Dec 2025), Table 21: Gross State Domestic Product (Current Prices), base 2011-12. Underlying source: National Statistical Office, MoSPI. — Published by RBI in ₹ lakh; converted here to ₹ crore (÷100). NSO estimates, base year 2011-12. Latest years are NSO provisional/advance estimates and get revised. TN budget speeches quote slightly different GSDP for recent years (different vintage), which is why state-published %-of-GSDP ratios differ from the derived ones here. · table ↗
| Year | GSDP |
|---|---|
| 2011-12 | ₹7,51,486 cr |
| 2012-13 | ₹8,54,825 cr |
| 2013-14 | ₹9,68,530 cr |
| 2014-15 | ₹10,72,678 cr |
| 2015-16 | ₹11,76,500 cr |
| 2016-17 | ₹13,02,639 cr |
| 2017-18 | ₹14,65,051 cr |
| 2018-19 | ₹16,30,209 cr |
| 2019-20 | ₹17,43,144 cr |
| 2020-21 | ₹17,88,074 cr |
| 2021-22 | ₹20,72,496 cr |
| 2022-23 | ₹23,72,469 cr |
| 2023-24 | ₹26,88,963 cr |
| 2024-25 | ₹31,18,590 cr |
Revenue receipts against revenue expenditure
Revenue receiptsRevenue expenditure
The gap between the two lines is the revenue deficit — the state has run one every year in this window.
source
DERIVED from RBI, Handbook of Statistics on Indian States 2024-25 (10th edition, released 11 Dec 2025) Table 166 (Revenue Expenditure) minus Table 165 (Revenue Deficit). — DERIVED by identity: revenue receipts = revenue expenditure - revenue deficit. RBI does not publish a state-wise revenue receipts table in this Handbook, but the identity is exact. Validated on the two years where the estimate basis is comparable: 2023-24 gives 272,577 against the 272,576.80 crore revised estimate quoted in the 2024-25 budget speech, and 2024-25 gives 299,010 against the 299,009.98 crore budget estimate in the same speech. RBI marks: 2022-23=A, 2023-24=RE, 2024-25=BE (A=Accounts, RE=Revised Estimates, BE=Budget Estimates); all earlier years are Accounts. · table ↗
| Year | Revenue receipts | Revenue expenditure |
|---|---|---|
| 2004-05 | ₹28,452 cr | ₹29,155 cr |
| 2005-06 | ₹33,960 cr | ₹32,009 cr |
| 2006-07 | ₹40,913 cr | ₹38,265 cr |
| 2007-08 | ₹47,520 cr | ₹42,975 cr |
| 2008-09 | ₹55,042 cr | ₹53,590 cr |
| 2009-10 | ₹55,844 cr | ₹59,375 cr |
| 2010-11 | ₹70,187 cr | ₹72,916 cr |
| 2011-12 | ₹85,202 cr | ₹83,838 cr |
| 2012-13 | ₹98,827 cr | ₹97,067 cr |
| 2013-14 | ₹1,08,037 cr | ₹1,09,825 cr |
| 2014-15 | ₹1,22,420 cr | ₹1,28,828 cr |
| 2015-16 | ₹1,29,008 cr | ₹1,40,993 cr |
| 2016-17 | ₹1,40,231 cr | ₹1,53,195 cr |
| 2017-18 | ₹1,46,280 cr | ₹1,67,874 cr |
| 2018-19 | ₹1,73,742 cr | ₹1,97,201 cr |
| 2019-20 | ₹1,74,526 cr | ₹2,10,435 cr |
| 2020-21 | ₹1,74,076 cr | ₹2,36,402 cr |
| 2021-22 | ₹2,07,492 cr | ₹2,54,030 cr |
| 2022-23 | ₹2,43,749 cr | ₹2,79,964 cr |
| 2023-24 | ₹2,72,577 cr | ₹3,17,484 cr |
| 2024-25 | ₹2,99,010 cr | ₹3,48,289 cr |
Fiscal deficit as a share of GSDP
The Fifteenth Finance Commission's ceiling is 3% (plus a conditional 0.5% for power-sector reform).
source
DERIVED from RBI, Handbook of Statistics on Indian States 2024-25 (10th edition, released 11 Dec 2025) Table 164 and Table 21. — DERIVED: gross fiscal deficit / current-price GSDP. See gross_fiscal_deficit_pct_gsdp_state_stated for the figures TN itself published, which differ slightly. · table ↗
| Year | Fiscal deficit |
|---|---|
| 2011-12 | 2.3% |
| 2012-13 | 1.9% |
| 2013-14 | 2.1% |
| 2014-15 | 2.5% |
| 2015-16 | 2.8% |
| 2016-17 | 4.3% |
| 2017-18 | 2.7% |
| 2018-19 | 2.9% |
| 2019-20 | 3.5% |
| 2020-21 | 5.3% |
| 2021-22 | 4.0% |
| 2022-23 | 3.5% |
| 2023-24 | 3.5% |
| 2024-25 | 3.5% |
Outstanding debt as a share of GSDP
RBI (liabilities)State's own figure
Two definitions, both shown: RBI counts public-account liabilities the state's own figure excludes. Neither is wrong; they answer different questions.
source
DERIVED from RBI, Handbook of Statistics on Indian States 2024-25 (10th edition, released 11 Dec 2025) Table 176 and Table 21. — DERIVED. Runs higher than the debt-to-GSDP ratio TN publishes, because of the broader liability definition above. · table ↗
| Year | RBI (liabilities) | State's own figure |
|---|---|---|
| 2011-12 | 17.4% | — |
| 2012-13 | 17.9% | 19.6% |
| 2013-14 | 18.5% | 19.2% |
| 2014-15 | 17.3% | 18.9% |
| 2015-16 | 19.4% | 19.2% |
| 2016-17 | 21.8% | 18.4% |
| 2017-18 | 22.3% | 20.9% |
| 2018-19 | 24.6% | 22.3% |
| 2019-20 | 26.5% | 23.0% |
| 2020-21 | 31.8% | 21.8% |
| 2021-22 | 32.2% | — |
| 2022-23 | 32.0% | 26.3% |
| 2023-24 | 31.5% | 25.6% |
| 2024-25 | 30.6% | 26.4% |
| 2025-26 | — | 26.1% |
Outstanding debt
The stock of liabilities at the end of each March. It has roughly quintupled since 2011 in nominal terms — though so has the economy carrying it, which is why the share-of-GSDP chart above matters more than this one.
source
RBI, Handbook of Statistics on Indian States 2024-25 (10th edition, released 11 Dec 2025), Table 176: State-wise Composition of Outstanding Liabilities, "Outstanding Liabilities" total column, as at end-March of each year. — As at end-March; mapped here to the fiscal year ending on that date (end-March 2025 -> 2024-25). RBI total = internal debt + loans from Centre + provident fund + reserve funds + deposits and advances + contingency fund. This is BROADER than the "outstanding debt" TN quotes in its budget speeches (see outstanding_debt_state_stated): for 2024-25 RBI shows 955,691 crore vs the speech's 833,362 crore, the gap being mainly reserve funds and deposits/advances in the public account. · table ↗
| Year | Outstanding liabilities |
|---|---|
| 2004-05 | ₹55,968 cr |
| 2005-06 | ₹63,848 cr |
| 2006-07 | ₹68,561 cr |
| 2007-08 | ₹73,887 cr |
| 2008-09 | ₹86,154 cr |
| 2009-10 | ₹1,01,709 cr |
| 2010-11 | ₹1,14,468 cr |
| 2011-12 | ₹1,30,627 cr |
| 2012-13 | ₹1,52,805 cr |
| 2013-14 | ₹1,79,568 cr |
| 2014-15 | ₹1,85,611 cr |
| 2015-16 | ₹2,28,516 cr |
| 2016-17 | ₹2,83,620 cr |
| 2017-18 | ₹3,26,636 cr |
| 2018-19 | ₹4,01,504 cr |
| 2019-20 | ₹4,62,202 cr |
| 2020-21 | ₹5,68,893 cr |
| 2021-22 | ₹6,67,975 cr |
| 2022-23 | ₹7,58,932 cr |
| 2023-24 | ₹8,47,023 cr |
| 2024-25 | ₹9,55,691 cr |
Capital expenditure and capital outlay
Capital expenditureCapital outlay
Capital outlay is the part that builds assets — roads, buildings, irrigation. The gap between the two lines is loans and advances.
source
RBI, Handbook of Statistics on Indian States 2024-25 (10th edition, released 11 Dec 2025), Table 173: State-wise Capital Expenditure. — Capital expenditure on the RBI definition = capital outlay + loans and advances + repayment of debt; it is therefore LARGER than the "Capital Expenditure" headline in TN budget speeches, which corresponds to RBI capital outlay. Use capital_outlay for comparison with speech figures. RBI marks: 2022-23=A, 2023-24=RE, 2024-25=BE (A=Accounts, RE=Revised Estimates, BE=Budget Estimates); all earlier years are Accounts. · table ↗
| Year | Capital expenditure | Capital outlay |
|---|---|---|
| 2004-05 | ₹12,625 cr | ₹4,564 cr |
| 2005-06 | ₹6,736 cr | ₹4,055 cr |
| 2006-07 | ₹12,882 cr | ₹5,952 cr |
| 2007-08 | ₹12,773 cr | ₹7,462 cr |
| 2008-09 | ₹14,133 cr | ₹9,104 cr |
| 2009-10 | ₹13,355 cr | ₹8,573 cr |
| 2010-11 | ₹17,965 cr | ₹12,436 cr |
| 2011-12 | ₹25,627 cr | ₹16,336 cr |
| 2012-13 | ₹24,328 cr | ₹14,568 cr |
| 2013-14 | ₹24,368 cr | ₹17,173 cr |
| 2014-15 | ₹28,583 cr | ₹17,803 cr |
| 2015-16 | ₹27,902 cr | ₹18,995 cr |
| 2016-17 | ₹54,924 cr | ₹20,709 cr |
| 2017-18 | ₹35,677 cr | ₹20,203 cr |
| 2018-19 | ₹45,816 cr | ₹24,311 cr |
| 2019-20 | ₹47,506 cr | ₹25,632 cr |
| 2020-21 | ₹53,131 cr | ₹33,068 cr |
| 2021-22 | ₹60,389 cr | ₹37,011 cr |
| 2022-23 | ₹73,895 cr | ₹39,530 cr |
| 2023-24 | ₹95,493 cr | ₹42,532 cr |
| 2024-25 | ₹1,05,387 cr | ₹47,681 cr |
Own tax revenue against interest payments
Own tax revenueInterest payments
What the state raises itself, and what it owes on past borrowing.
source
RBI, Handbook of Statistics on Indian States 2024-25 (10th edition, released 11 Dec 2025), Table 168: State-wise Own Tax Revenue. — RBI marks: 2022-23=A, 2023-24=RE, 2024-25=BE (A=Accounts, RE=Revised Estimates, BE=Budget Estimates); all earlier years are Accounts. · table ↗
| Year | Own tax revenue | Interest payments |
|---|---|---|
| 2004-05 | ₹19,357 cr | ₹4,755 cr |
| 2005-06 | ₹23,326 cr | ₹4,559 cr |
| 2006-07 | ₹27,771 cr | ₹5,506 cr |
| 2007-08 | ₹29,619 cr | ₹6,086 cr |
| 2008-09 | ₹33,684 cr | ₹5,963 cr |
| 2009-10 | ₹36,547 cr | ₹6,667 cr |
| 2010-11 | ₹47,782 cr | ₹7,940 cr |
| 2011-12 | ₹59,517 cr | ₹8,871 cr |
| 2012-13 | ₹71,254 cr | ₹10,205 cr |
| 2013-14 | ₹73,718 cr | ₹12,405 cr |
| 2014-15 | ₹78,657 cr | ₹14,550 cr |
| 2015-16 | ₹80,476 cr | ₹17,391 cr |
| 2016-17 | ₹85,941 cr | ₹20,533 cr |
| 2017-18 | ₹96,472 cr | ₹26,012 cr |
| 2018-19 | ₹1,06,138 cr | ₹28,757 cr |
| 2019-20 | ₹1,07,462 cr | ₹31,980 cr |
| 2020-21 | ₹1,06,153 cr | ₹36,497 cr |
| 2021-22 | ₹1,22,866 cr | ₹41,564 cr |
| 2022-23 | ₹1,50,223 cr | ₹46,911 cr |
| 2023-24 | ₹1,70,147 cr | ₹54,669 cr |
| 2024-25 | ₹1,95,173 cr | ₹62,456 cr |
Interest and capital spending, per rupee received
Interest paymentsCapital expenditure
Both as a share of revenue receipts. Interest is the first claim on the state's income; capital spending is what is left over to build with.
source
Derived from RBI Handbook: interest payments and capital expenditure ÷ revenue receipts — Same accounts basis as the underlying series.
| Year | Interest payments | Capital expenditure |
|---|---|---|
| 2004-05 | 16.7% | 44.4% |
| 2005-06 | 13.4% | 19.8% |
| 2006-07 | 13.5% | 31.5% |
| 2007-08 | 12.8% | 26.9% |
| 2008-09 | 10.8% | 25.7% |
| 2009-10 | 11.9% | 23.9% |
| 2010-11 | 11.3% | 25.6% |
| 2011-12 | 10.4% | 30.1% |
| 2012-13 | 10.3% | 24.6% |
| 2013-14 | 11.5% | 22.6% |
| 2014-15 | 11.9% | 23.3% |
| 2015-16 | 13.5% | 21.6% |
| 2016-17 | 14.6% | 39.2% |
| 2017-18 | 17.8% | 24.4% |
| 2018-19 | 16.6% | 26.4% |
| 2019-20 | 18.3% | 27.2% |
| 2020-21 | 21.0% | 30.5% |
| 2021-22 | 20.0% | 29.1% |
| 2022-23 | 19.2% | 30.3% |
| 2023-24 | 20.1% | 35.0% |
| 2024-25 | 20.9% | 35.2% |
Social sector expenditure
Education, health, water, housing, welfare — the spending most budget announcements sit inside.
source
RBI, Handbook of Statistics on Indian States 2024-25 (10th edition, released 11 Dec 2025), Table 175: State-wise Social Sector Expenditure. · table ↗
| Year | Social sector |
|---|---|
| 2004-05 | ₹13,617 cr |
| 2005-06 | ₹14,297 cr |
| 2006-07 | ₹16,921 cr |
| 2007-08 | ₹19,994 cr |
| 2008-09 | ₹26,890 cr |
| 2009-10 | ₹29,345 cr |
| 2010-11 | ₹36,493 cr |
| 2011-12 | ₹41,897 cr |
| 2012-13 | ₹46,753 cr |
| 2013-14 | ₹55,118 cr |
| 2014-15 | ₹62,758 cr |
| 2015-16 | ₹70,058 cr |
| 2016-17 | ₹69,689 cr |
| 2017-18 | ₹71,793 cr |
| 2018-19 | ₹86,229 cr |
| 2019-20 | ₹86,392 cr |
| 2020-21 | ₹1,07,550 cr |
| 2021-22 | ₹1,14,968 cr |
| 2022-23 | ₹1,18,871 cr |
| 2023-24 | ₹1,37,648 cr |
| 2024-25 | ₹1,59,576 cr |
Announced in the speech, as a share of revenue expenditure
The atlas's own tally against the state's spending. Speeches announce a shrinking slice of the budget — the rest is salaries, pensions, interest and transfers that never get announced.
source
TN Budget Atlas allocations ÷ RBI revenue expenditure — Allocations only; project costs and investment targets excluded.
| Year | Announced share |
|---|---|
| 2011-12 | 108.6% |
| 2012-13 | 59.3% |
| 2013-14 | 68.5% |
| 2014-15 | 57.2% |
| 2015-16 | 63.7% |
| 2016-17 | 91.3% |
| 2017-18 | 38.7% |
| 2018-19 | 34.5% |
| 2019-20 | 45.6% |
| 2020-21 | 37.1% |
| 2021-22 | 83.1% |
| 2022-23 | 35.8% |
| 2023-24 | 22.1% |
| 2024-25 | 18.7% |
Shaded bands mark which government held office. All figures are nominal — rupees of their own year, not adjusted for inflation. Sources and the underlying files are on the data page.