Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin announced the Tamil Nadu Assured Pension Scheme (TAPS) for government employees, fulfilling a long-standing demand. The scheme guarantees a pension equivalent to 50% of an employee's last drawn basic pay, with benefits comparable to the Old Pension Scheme. Employees will contribute 10% of their basic pay, while the state government will cover the remaining costs, estimated at Rs 13,000 crore initially and Rs 11,000 crore annually. The announcement aims to provide financial security and comes ahead of the 2026 assembly polls.