Tamil Nadu Govt Replaces Rupee Symbol with Tamil Letter in Budget Logo, Triggers Controversy
Tamil Nadu govt replaces rupee symbol with Tamil letter in budget logo, sparking controversy and Centre's objection
Tamil Nadu Govt – Tamil Letter in Budget Logo – M K Stalin – Taxscan
Tamil Nadu Govt – Tamil Letter in Budget Logo – M K Stalin – Taxscan
The Tamil Nadu government has introduced a change in its 2025-26 budget logo, replacing the Indian rupee symbol (₹) with the Tamil letter 'ரூ' (Ru). This letter represents the word "Rupee" in Tamil. The move aims to promote the use of the Tamil language in official government symbols.
What is the Change?
The new budget logo now features 'ரூ' instead of ₹. The Tamil letter is the first part of the Tamil word "ரூபாய்" (Rubaai), which means rupee. The logo also carries the slogan "everything for all," reflecting the state’s focus on inclusivity and welfare programs.
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According to officials, the change was made to highlight Tamil culture and language in government-related documents. Tamil Nadu has always encouraged the use of Tamil in governance, education, and administration. The introduction of the Tamil letter aligns with this objective.
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Nirmala Sitharaman's Criticism
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), she questioned why the DMK government made this change when it did not oppose the adoption of ₹ in 2010, when it became India’s official currency symbol. She also pointed out that the ₹ symbol was designed by D. Udaya Kumar, a Tamilian, and removing it now disregards his contribution.
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Sitharaman explained that the Tamil word "Rupaai" (ரூபாய்) comes from the Sanskrit word "Rupya," meaning ‘silver coin’, and has been used for centuries in Tamil trade and literature. She also mentioned that several countries, including Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Indonesia, use "Rupee" or similar names for their currency.
She emphasized that the ₹ symbol is recognized worldwide and plays a key role in India’s global financial presence. She expressed concern that removing it from official state documents could send the wrong message and create unnecessary division.
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The change has sparked a larger discussion on the use of national and regional symbols, with different opinions on whether state governments should modify established national symbols.
What Does the Rupee Symbol’s Designer Say?
The Indian rupee symbol (₹) was designed by D. Udaya Kumar, a professor from Tamil Nadu. When asked about the controversy, he stated that governments have the right to decide on the symbols they use. He also clarified that his design was created to represent the rupee at a national level and that his father’s past political connections should not be linked to the issue.
For now, the budget logo with the Tamil 'ரூ' symbol remains unchanged, but the controversy around it is far from over.
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