Tamil Nadu Free Laptop Scheme: When Will Students Get Laptops? Check Price, Configuration

Updated: Wednesday, November 5, 2025, 11:13 [IST]

The Tamil Nadu government is moving ahead with its free laptop scheme for college students, with Acer, Dell and HP identified as the key original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to supply the devices. Around ten lakh laptops are expected to be distributed in the first phase.

When Will Tamil Nadu Students Get The Laptops?

While reports in The Hindu Business Line suggest distribution could begin later this month or in December, a DT Next report indicates the rollout may actually happen between February and March 2026, once all procurement and logistical processes are in place.

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Tamil Nadu plans to distribute approximately ten lakh laptops in the first phase of its free laptop scheme for college students, with Acer, Dell, and HP as key suppliers, potentially starting between February and March 2026. The new laptops will feature Intel Core i3 processors, 8 GB RAM, and 256 GB SSD storage, and the scheme, initiated in 2011, has already provided over 52 lakh laptops.

Tamil Nadu Free Laptops Scheme How Much Price Will Each System Cost amp amp What Is The Configuration

The State has lined up a plan to provide nearly 20 lakh laptops over the next two years, backed by an initial budget allocation of ₹2,000 crore. This round of laptop distribution will see a notable upgrade in specifications.

Laptop Configuration

Unlike the earlier batches that featured Core 2 Duo or entry-level Celeron-equivalent processors, the new devices will be equipped with Intel Core i3 processors, 8 GB RAM and 256 GB SSD storage for improved performance. In some cases, an AMD Ryzen 3 variant may also be provided, as per the reports.

According to officials, the approximate procurement cost per laptop is expected to be around ₹21,000, with the first ten lakh units likely to be completely distributed by March.

Tamil Nadu has been one of the earliest adopters of free laptop distribution for students. Since the scheme was first launched in 2011, the State has already supplied over 52 lakh laptops to students in government and aided institutions, at a cumulative cost of more than ₹7,000 crore.

Category	Details
Total Scheme Budget (Initial Phase)	₹ 2,000 crore
Total Laptops Planned (2 Years)	20 lakh units
First Phase Distribution	10 lakh laptops
Estimated Cost per Laptop	~₹ 21,000 per unit (procurement price)
Laptop Brands (OEMs Selected)	Acer, Dell, HP
Configuration (Finalised Specs)	Intel Core i3 / AMD Ryzen 3 Processor, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD, 15-inch display, pre-loaded education software
Distribution Window (As Per Latest Internal Plan)	February - March 2026 (after quality checks)
Possibility of Earlier Delivery to Storage / Colleges	First batches expected by December 2025 - January 2026 (as per internal procurement progress)
Who Will Receive the Laptops (Beneficiaries)	Government and Aided College Students (beneficiary lists to be confirmed by principals by August 2025)
Quality Testing Authority	Expert committee from Anna University, IIT, and National Informatics Centre (NIC)
Implementation & Tracking System	ELCOT-led ERP system to track vendor supply, logistics and student data

The Electronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu (ELCOT), which issued the tender in May, has now wrapped up technical evaluations and vendor finalisation. The laptops will come with a 15-inch display and pre-installed educational software. Each batch will undergo random quality checks by a committee comprising faculty members from Anna University, IIT, and officials from the National Informatics Centre.

To ensure seamless deployment, government college principals have been asked to identify eligible student beneficiaries and submit the required data by August 2025. The State is also developing a dedicated ERP-based tracking system to monitor supply, vendor performance and stock movement.

Once quality testing is completed, the government will announce the final distribution schedule