Tamil Nadu Announces Assured Pension Scheme Ahead of Polls

Ahead of Assembly elections, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin announced the Tamil Nadu Assured Pension Scheme (TAPS), guaranteeing a pension equal to 50% of the last-drawn salary for state government employees and teachers. Under the scheme, employees will contribute 10% of basic pay, while the state bears the rest. Pensioners will receive biannual DA hikes, family pension benefits and gratuity, leading unions to withdraw a proposed indefinite strike.