Chennai, Oct 2026 : The Tamil Nadu government has set a purchase limit of ₹26 lakh for official vehicles allotted to ministers and senior legislative functionaries, while other Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) will be eligible for vehicles costing up to ₹15 lakh.
The revised limits have been notified through a government gazette amending the travelling allowance rules applicable to members of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly. The amendments specify vehicle purchase ceilings, procurement procedures, ownership arrangements and conditions governing the return of vehicles when office-holders leave their positions.
The ₹26 lakh ceiling will apply to ministers, the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Leader of the Opposition and Government Chief Whip. All other MLAs will be entitled to vehicles within the ₹15 lakh limit.
The prescribed ceilings include the vehicle’s ex-showroom price, applicable taxes, registration charges and motor insurance premiums. These costs must be covered within the specified limit and cannot be treated as additional expenditure over and above the approved amount.
The revised rules also provide for a five per cent annual increase in the purchase ceilings, allowing the permissible expenditure to rise each year.
Under the new framework, vehicles allotted to ministers will be purchased by the Tamil Nadu government in its own name. Procurement for the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Leader of the Opposition, Government Chief Whip and other legislators will be undertaken through the Assembly Secretariat.
All vehicles purchased under the amended provisions must comply with Bharat Stage VI (BS-VI) emission standards. The notification further stipulates that purchases must be made through the Union government’s Government e-Marketplace (GeM) portal.
The rules also establish conditions for returning government vehicles. Ministers must surrender their allotted vehicles when they leave office, complete their tenure or cease to hold their positions for reasons such as disqualification. Similar provisions apply to the Speaker and other eligible office-holders.
For ordinary MLAs, recurring expenses related to vehicle maintenance, repairs, fuel and driving will have to be met from the vehicle allowance payable to them under the applicable rules.
The amendments distinguish between the government-funded purchase of official vehicles and the ongoing costs associated with their use. They also define the financial entitlements of different categories of legislators and clarify the administrative responsibilities for procurement.
The government order introducing the changes was issued by Public Department Secretary E. Sundaravalli. The revised framework links continued possession of official vehicles to the conditions attached to holding the relevant legislative office.
