Editing Tamil Nadu (section)

== Education ==
{{Main|Education in Tamil Nadu}}

Tamil Nadu is one of the most literate states in India, with a literacy rate estimated to be 82.9% as per the 2017 National Statistical Commission survey, higher than the national average of 77.7%.<ref name="NSC"/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/Tamil-Nadu-Indias-most-literate-state-HRD-ministry/articleshow/46390844.cms|title=Tamil Nadu India's most literate state: HRD ministry|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|date=14 May 2003|access-date=1 September 2010|archive-date=15 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190215035621/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/Tamil-Nadu-Indias-most-literate-state-HRD-ministry/articleshow/46390844.cms|url-status=live}}</ref> The state had seen one of the highest literacy growth since the 1960s due to the [[Midday Meal Scheme|midday meal scheme]] introduced on a large scale by K. Kamaraj to increase school enrollment.<ref>{{cite report|year=2011|title=Literacy rates|url=https://rbidocs.rbi.org.in/rdocs/Publications/PDFs/6TABLE4134B659E3B243EE9CB292D36ABC281B.PDF|publisher=[[Reserve Bank of India]]|access-date=1 December 2023|archive-date=21 September 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230921224039/https://rbidocs.rbi.org.in/rdocs/Publications/PDFs/6TABLE4134B659E3B243EE9CB292D36ABC281B.PDF|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Muthiah|first=S.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tbR_LLkqdI8C&pg=PA354|title=Madras, Chennai: A 400-year Record of the First City of Modern India|date=2008|publisher=Palaniappa Brothers|isbn=978-8-183-79468-8|page=354}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Sinha|first=Dipa|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hyYFDAAAQBAJ&q=kamaraj+free+school+uniform&pg=PT119|title=Women, Health and Public Services in India: Why are states different?|date=20 April 2016|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-317-23525-5|access-date=14 November 2020|archive-date=1 July 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230701171453/https://books.google.com/books?id=hyYFDAAAQBAJ&q=kamaraj+free+school+uniform&pg=PT119|url-status=live}}</ref> The scheme was further upgraded in 1982 to "Nutritious noon-meal scheme" to combat [[Malnutrition in India|malnutrition]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Subramanian|first=K.|date=22 December 2022|title=When MGR proved Manmohan wrong on a visionary scheme|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/when-mgr-proved-manmohan-wrong-on-a-visionary-scheme/article66293772.ece|url-access=limited|access-date=2022-12-26|issn=0971-751X|archive-date=19 July 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230719225830/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/when-mgr-proved-manmohan-wrong-on-a-visionary-scheme/article66293772.ece|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/mgr-midday-nutritious-meal-scheme-a-shrewd-political-move/1/392281.html|title=Tamil Nadu: Midday Manna|work=[[India Today]]|date=15 November 1982|access-date=29 January 2016|archive-date=4 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160204211603/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/mgr-midday-nutritious-meal-scheme-a-shrewd-political-move/1/392281.html|url-status=live}}</ref> {{As of|2022}}, the state has one of the highest enrollment to secondary education at 95.6%, far above the national average of 79.6%.<ref>{{cite report|url=https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/PublicationsView.aspx?id=22071|title=Gross enrollment ratio|publisher=[[Reserve Bank of India]]|access-date=1 December 2023|archive-date=25 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231225051939/https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/PublicationsView.aspx?id=22071|url-status=live}}</ref>
An analysis of primary school education by [[Pratham]] showed a low drop-off rate but poor quality of education compared to certain other states.<ref>{{cite news|last=Bunting|first=Madeleine|url=https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/poverty-matters/2011/mar/15/education-goals-assessment-india-school|title=Quality of Primary Education in States|work=The Guardian|date=15 March 2011|access-date=20 May 2012|location=London|archive-date=8 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120208204151/http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/poverty-matters/2011/mar/15/education-goals-assessment-india-school|url-status=live}}</ref>

{{As of|2022}}, the state had over 37,211 government schools, 8,403 government-aided schools and 12,631 private schools which educate 5.47 million, 2.84 million, and 5.69 million students respectively.<ref>{{cite report|url=https://cms.tn.gov.in/sites/default/files/documents/sedu_e_pn_2023_24.pdf|title=School education department, policy 2023-24|publisher=[[Government of Tamil Nadu]]|access-date=1 December 2023|archive-date=3 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240103122900/https://cms.tn.gov.in/sites/default/files/documents/sedu_e_pn_2023_24.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/987-out-of-over-11000-private-schools-in-tamil-nadu-remain-shut-following-kallakurichi-violence/article65653894.ece|title=987 out of over 11000 private schools shut|date=18 July 2022|access-date=1 December 2023|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|archive-date=25 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231225051939/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/987-out-of-over-11000-private-schools-in-tamil-nadu-remain-shut-following-kallakurichi-violence/article65653894.ece|url-status=live}}</ref> There are 3,12,683 teachers with 80,217 teachers in government-aided schools with an average teacher-pupil ratio of 1:26.6.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.edexlive.com/news/2022/jun/01/is-tamil-nadu-government-sidelining-government-aided-schools-29135.html|title=Is Tamil Nadu government sidelining government aided schools|work=Edex|date=1 June 2022|access-date=1 December 2023|archive-date=25 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231225051939/https://www.edexlive.com/news/2022/jun/01/is-tamil-nadu-government-sidelining-government-aided-schools-29135.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Public schools are all affiliated with the [[Tamil Nadu Board of Secondary Education|Tamil Nadu State Board]], while private schools may be affiliated with either of Tamil Nadu Board of Secondary Education, [[Central Board of Secondary Education]] (CBSE), [[Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations]] (ICSE) or [[National Institute of Open Schooling]] (NIOS).<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.dtnext.in/tamilnadu/2023/05/23/tn-private-schools-told-to-teach-tamil-for-students-till-class-10|title=TN private schools told to teach Tamil for students till Class 10|date=23 May 2023|newspaper=DT Next|access-date=1 December 2023|archive-date=8 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231208160150/https://www.dtnext.in/tamilnadu/2023/05/23/tn-private-schools-told-to-teach-tamil-for-students-till-class-10|url-status=live}}</ref> School education starts with two years of kindergarten from age three onwards and then follows the Indian [[Education in India|10+2 plan]], ten years of school and two years of higher secondary education.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thecivilindia.com/pages/education/structure-of-education-india.html|title=Educational structure|publisher=Civil India|access-date=28 December 2022|archive-date=24 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230324160622/https://www.thecivilindia.com/pages/education/structure-of-education-india.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Senate House (University of Madras).jpg|thumb|[[University of Madras]] is one of the oldest universities in India]]

{{As of|2023}}, there are 56 universities in the state including 24 [[Public university|public universities]], four [[Private University|private universities]] and 28 [[Deemed university|deemed-to-be universities]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aubsp.com/universities-in-tamil-nadu/|title=Universities in Tamil Nadu|date=8 June 2023|access-date=1 December 2023|publisher=AUBSP|archive-date=25 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231225051939/https://www.aubsp.com/universities-in-tamil-nadu/|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[University of Madras]] was founded in 1857 and is one of India's first modern universities.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/features/a-brief-history-of-the-modern-indian-university|title=A brief history of the modern Indian university|date=24 November 2016|work=Times Higher Education|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727204708/https://www.timeshighereducation.com/features/a-brief-history-of-the-modern-indian-university|archive-date=27 July 2020}}</ref> There are 510 engineering colleges including 34 government colleges in the state.<ref name="Gov1"/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/services/education/tamil-nadu-over-200-engineering-colleges-fill-just-10-seats-37-get-zero-admission/articleshow/102983032.cms|title=Tamil Nadu: Over 200 engineering colleges fill just 10% seats; 37 get zero admission|date=23 August 2023|access-date=1 December 2023|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|archive-date=25 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231225051939/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/services/education/tamil-nadu-over-200-engineering-colleges-fill-just-10-seats-37-get-zero-admission/articleshow/102983032.cms|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Indian Institute of Technology Madras]] is a premier institute of engineering and [[College of Engineering, Guindy]], [[Anna University]] founded in 1794 is the oldest engineering college in India.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/ldquoSome-colleges-schools-in-Chennai-oldest-in-countryrdquo/article16520378.ece|title=Some colleges, schools in Chennai oldest in country|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=23 September 2009|access-date=31 May 2018|archive-date=23 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200323074238/https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/ldquoSome-colleges-schools-in-Chennai-oldest-in-countryrdquo/article16520378.ece|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Officers Training Academy]] of the [[Indian Army]] is headquartered at Chennai.<ref>{{cite news|title=Pranab Mukherjee to review passing-out parade at Chennai OTA|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/pranab-mukherjee-to-review-passingout-parade-at-chennai-ota/article9040488.ece|access-date=28 August 2016|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=27 August 2016|location=Chennai|language=en-IN|archive-date=27 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160827125317/http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/pranab-mukherjee-to-review-passingout-parade-at-chennai-ota/article9040488.ece|url-status=live}}</ref> There are also 496 [[Institute of technology|polytechnic]] institutions with 92 government colleges and 935 arts and science colleges in the state including 302 government run colleges.<ref name="Gov1">{{cite report|url=https://cms.tn.gov.in/sites/default/files/documents/hedu_e_pn_2023_24.pdf|title=Higher education policy report 2023-24|publisher=[[Government of Tamil Nadu]]|access-date=1 December 2023|archive-date=5 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240105040554/https://cms.tn.gov.in/sites/default/files/documents/hedu_e_pn_2023_24.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite report|url=https://static.tneaonline.org/docs/arts/college_list.pdf?t=1685000725270|title=Arts college list|publisher=[[Government of Tamil Nadu]]|access-date=1 December 2023|archive-date=19 April 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240419103006/https://static.tneaonline.org/docs/arts/college_list.pdf?t=1685000725270|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite report|url=https://www.aicte-india.org/downloads/approved_institut_websites/tn.pdf|title=AICTE Approved Institutions in Tamil Nadu|publisher=[[All India Council for Technical Education]]|access-date=1 December 2023|archive-date=25 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231225051939/https://www.aicte-india.org/downloads/approved_institut_websites/tn.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Madras Christian College]] (1837), [[Presidency College, Madras|Presidency College]] (1840) and [[Pachaiyappa's College]] (1842) are amongst the oldest arts and science colleges in the country.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/chennai-colleges-100-and-counting/article6273124.ece|title=Chennai colleges 100 and counting|date=2 August 2014|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=1 December 2023|archive-date=25 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231225051940/https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/chennai-colleges-100-and-counting/article6273124.ece|url-status=live}}</ref> 

[[File:Connemara_Public_Library,_Chennai-8.jpg|thumb|left|[[Connemara Public Library]] is one of the oldest and is amongst the four [[National Depository Centre]]s in India]]

There are over 870 medical, nursing and dental colleges in the state including 21 for traditional medicine and four for modern medicine.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tnmgrmu.ac.in/index.php/examination/2-uncategorised/2874-a.html|title=Affiliated colleges|publisher=Dr MGR university|access-date=1 December 2023}}</ref> The [[Madras Medical College]] was established in 1835 and is one of the oldest medical colleges in India.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mmc.ac.in/mmc/content_page.jsp?sq1=ih&sqf=415|title=Institution History|publisher=Madras Medical College|access-date=15 May 2018|archive-date=15 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180515184430/http://www.mmc.ac.in/mmc/content_page.jsp?sq1=ih&sqf=415|url-status=live }}</ref> As per the [[National Institutional Ranking Framework]] (NIRF) rankings in 2023, 26 universities, 15 engineering, 35 arts science, 8 management and 8 medical colleges from the state are ranked amongst the top 100 in the country.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thesouthfirst.com/sf-specials/nirf-rankings-2023-53-colleges-from-south-india-in-the-top-100/|title=NIRF Rankings 2023: 53 colleges from South India in the top 100|date=6 June 2023|access-date=1 December 2023|work=South First|archive-date=25 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231225051939/https://thesouthfirst.com/sf-specials/nirf-rankings-2023-53-colleges-from-south-india-in-the-top-100/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite report|url=https://www.nirfindia.org/nirfpdfcdn/2023/pdf/Report/IR2023_Report.pdf|title=NIRF rankings 2023|publisher=[[Government of India]]|access-date=1 December 2023|archive-date=22 September 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230922083956/https://www.nirfindia.org/nirfpdfcdn/2023/pdf/Report/IR2023_Report.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> {{As of|2023}}, the state has a 69% reservation in educational institutions for socially [[List of denotified communities of Tamil Nadu|backward sections]] of society, the highest among all Indian states.<ref>{{cite news|work=News minute|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/tamil-nadu/how-tamil-nadu-s-reservation-stands-69-despite-50-quota-cap-146116|title=How Tamil Nadu's reservation stands at 69% despite the 50% quota cap|date=29 March 2021|access-date=1 December 2023|archive-date=25 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231225051939/https://www.thenewsminute.com/tamil-nadu/how-tamil-nadu-s-reservation-stands-69-despite-50-quota-cap-146116|url-status=live}}</ref> There are ten [[Institutes of National Importance|institutes of national importance]] in the state.<ref>{{cite web|title=Institution of National Importance|url=https://www.education.gov.in/institutions-national-importance|access-date=12 August 2023|publisher=[[Government of India]]|archive-date=11 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230811141036/https://www.education.gov.in/institutions-national-importance|url-status=live}}</ref> Research institutes including [[Tamil Nadu Agricultural University]], [[Central Institute for Cotton Research]], [[Sugarcane Breeding Research Institute]], [[Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding (IFGTB)]] and [[Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education]] are involved in agricultural research.<ref>{{cite report|url=http://planningcommission.nic.in/aboutus/committee/wrkgrp/wg_agrsch.pdf|title=Working group committee on agriculture|publisher=Planning Commission of India|access-date=29 November 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130407092417/http://planningcommission.nic.in/aboutus/committee/wrkgrp/wg_agrsch.pdf|archive-date=7 April 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=About ICFRE|url=http://www.icfre.org/index.php?linkid=left8311&link=1|work=Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education|access-date=22 November 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203003624/http://www.icfre.org/index.php?linkid=left8311&link=1|archive-date=3 December 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=About Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education|url=http://ifgtb.icfre.gov.in/|work=Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education|access-date=22 November 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131030151240/http://ifgtb.icfre.gov.in/|archive-date=30 October 2013}}</ref>

{{As of|2023}}, the state has 4,622 public libraries.<ref>{{cite report|url=http://www.rrrlf.nic.in/Docs/pdf/PUBLIC_LIBRARY_DATA.pdf|title=Public library data|publisher=[[Government of India]]|access-date=1 December 2023|archive-date=14 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230814211226/http://rrrlf.nic.in/Docs/pdf/PUBLIC_LIBRARY_DATA.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> Established in 1896, [[Connemara Public Library]] is one of the oldest and is amongst the four [[National Depository Centre]]s in India that receive a copy of all newspapers and books published in the country. The [[Anna Centenary Library]] is the largest library in Asia.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/content/96894/chennai-now-boasts-south-asias.html|last=Venkatsh|first=M. R.|title=Chennai now boasts South Asia's largest library|newspaper=[[Deccan Herald]]|date=15 September 2010|access-date=28 December 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210227105421/https://www.deccanherald.com/content/96894/chennai-now-boasts-south-asias.html|archive-date=27 February 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/Connemara-librarys-online-catalogue-launched/article16372153.ece|title=Connemara library's online catalogue launched|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=28 December 2012|date=23 April 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210407185717/https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/Connemara-librarys-online-catalogue-launched/article16372153.ece|archive-date=7 April 2021}}</ref> There are many research institutions spread across the state.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.csir.res.in/csir-labs|title=CSIR labs|publisher=CSIR|access-date=1 December 2023|archive-date=8 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231208160153/https://www.csir.res.in/csir-labs|url-status=live}}</ref> Chennai book fair is an annual book fair organized by the Booksellers and Publishers Association of South India (BAPASI) and is typically held in December–January.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/edu-minister-says-2nd-intl-book-fair-in-jan-2024/articleshow/100835652.cms|title=Edu minister says 2nd int'l book fair in Jan 2024|newspaper=[[Times of India]]|date=8 June 2023|access-date=1 December 2023}}</ref>