<h1>Welfare funding prioritised: state budget boosts subsidies and direct assistance to support women's transport, cash grants, and education.</h1> The state budget for 2025-26 focuses on major welfare allocations: subsidy funding for the fare-free bus travel scheme for women, monthly cash assistance under the Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thittam with application opportunities for eligible but unenrolled women, and expansion of working women's hostels. It maintains state-funded education and student welfare programmes under Samagra Shiksha after the Centre withheld approved funds due to non-acceptance of the New Education Policy. Other key allocations include housing, rural road development, a new airport project, and urban water-management infrastructure.