

Tamil Nadu election results: will freebies derail the state's dream run?
Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.Chennai: For years, Tamil Nadu has punched beyond its weight. With just 4% of India’s land area and 6% of its population, the state’s contribution to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2024-25 was 9.4%.The state’s economy is growing much faster than India’s 6.5%. Even as foreign direct investment (FDI) into India has slowed, foreign investors continue to bet big on Tamil Nadu.
FDI into the state has seen a sharp increase of 54% in 2024-25.The state has managed to balance development and welfare. Its social sector spending has risen by 40% in the last five years. Its position has improved in key health and social parameters.
The state has one of the lowest levels of multidimensional poverty, and its per capita income at ₹3.62 lakh beats the national average ( ₹2.05 lakh) by a large margin. But will a surge in competitive populism derail this strong show?In 2024-25, Tamil Nadu posted a heady state GDP (GSDP) growth of 11.19%. This was largely driven by the manufacturing sector.
The state tops the country when it comes to the number of factories. It is also one of the biggest attractors of investments. Between 2021 and 2026, it has attracted investments worth ₹12.5 trillion.
Strong focus on manufacturing has had its benefits. The state has been able to accelerate its pace of growth. The average GSDP growth in the 2021-25 period was 8.63% as against 7.18% in the pre-covid period of 2014-19.
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