Tamil Nadu pays couples in an inter-caste marriage up to ₹50,000 plus a gold coin under the Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy Ammaiyar Ninaivu Inter-Caste Marriage Assistance Scheme, which has run since 1968. There is no income limit, and you must apply within two years of the wedding, according to the Social Welfare department’s 2024-25 policy note.
Uptake has been rising: the Union social justice ministry counts 2,476 inter-caste marriage beneficiaries in Tamil Nadu in 2024-25. Here is who qualifies, what you get and how to apply from Chennai.
Who qualifies
The policy note sets two categories:
- Category I: one spouse from a Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe, the other from any other community.
- Category II: one spouse from a forward community, the other from a Backward Class or Most Backward Class.
The bride must be at least 18 on the wedding day. There is no upper age limit and no income ceiling. A state revenue official told South First in 2023 that income and government employment do not affect eligibility, after some couples wrongly assumed that a government job ruled them out.
What you get
The amount depends on education, as set out on the Chengalpattu district’s social welfare page:
| Scheme | Who | Cash | Gold |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scheme I | Couples without a degree or diploma | ₹25,000 (₹15,000 by ECS, ₹10,000 as National Savings Certificate) | 8 g, 22 carat coin |
| Scheme II | Degree or diploma holders | ₹50,000 (₹30,000 by ECS, ₹20,000 as National Savings Certificate) | 4 g, 22 carat coin |
The gold coin is meant for the thirumangalyam and has been given since 23 May 2016. Check the current scheme notification before relying on these amounts, since the state has announced a separate new marriage benefit this year (see below).
Documents you need
- caste certificates of both spouses;
- marriage registration certificate (or the wedding invitation, where accepted);
- age proof of the bride;
- Class 10 or 12 mark sheet for Scheme I, or the degree or diploma certificate for Scheme II;
- Aadhaar, bank account details and photographs.
Registering the marriage first makes everything easier. Unregistered temple weddings were one of the hurdles couples described to South First, along with OTPs going to parents’ phones and records held by families they could not safely contact.
How to apply in Chennai
- Go to an e-Sevai centre. The state IT department’s service list shows the inter-caste marriage assistance scheme (code SWN-205) with no department fee and a ₹100 service charge.
- Upload the documents and note the acknowledgement number.
- The application goes to the District Social Welfare Office, Chennai, for verification. Officials may call both spouses.
- If approved, the cash part is paid by ECS to the bank account and the rest comes as National Savings Certificates, along with the gold coin.
The numbers show steady demand. Social Welfare department data quoted by South First showed 12,846 couples applied between 2018 and 2023 and 10,349 received the money, with 2,873 applications in 2022-23 alone. Payment depends on funds being sanctioned, and some couples have waited a year or more. Keep copies of everything and follow up at the social welfare office with your acknowledgement number.
The central incentive and the new state scheme
Under the centrally sponsored scheme linked to the Protection of Civil Rights Act, the Centre and states share the cost of incentives for marriages where one spouse is from a Scheduled Caste. The ministry’s state-wise table shows Tamil Nadu’s numbers:
| Year | Persons given inter-caste marriage incentive, TN |
|---|---|
| 2020-21 | 1,637 |
| 2021-22 | 2,217 |
| 2022-23 | 1,282 |
| 2023-24 | 2,392 |
| 2024-25 | 2,476 |
Separately, the Dr. Ambedkar Foundation runs a ₹2.5 lakh national scheme for inter-caste couples where one spouse is a Dalit, ETV Bharat reported. A Factly summary of ministry data says applications must be made within one year of marriage and it must be the couple’s first marriage.
Couples who married in a temple or under personal law should register the marriage with the state too. Factly’s summary notes a Madras High Court ruling, from its Madurai Bench, that registration under the state law was enough for the incentive, after some applications were rejected for lacking Hindu Marriage Act registration.
In October 2026 the state approved Annan Seer, a new scheme giving brides an 8 g gold coin and a silk saree, with ₹812 crore set aside, DT Next reported. Detailed guidelines are still to come, and it is not yet clear how it will sit alongside the inter-caste scheme.
If your families object
Many couples apply at a time of tension with their families. You do not need a parent’s signature for the scheme, and officials are meant to check only what the rules require: caste, age, education and the marriage itself. If you face threats, call 112 or go to the nearest police station, and ask the social welfare office to treat your file with discretion. Free legal aid is available from the district legal services authority.
Quick answers
Is there an income limit for the inter-caste marriage scheme?
No. The policy note says there is no income limit.
What is the deadline to apply?
Within two years of the date of marriage.
How much do degree holders get?
₹50,000 plus a 4 g gold coin under Scheme II, per district scheme pages.
Information checked against official sources on 18 October 2026. Fees, dates and rules can change; confirm on the linked official pages before acting.
Sources
- Policy Note 2024-25, Social Welfare and Women Empowerment Department (Government of Tamil Nadu)
- Inter-caste marriage assistance scheme details (Chengalpattu District Administration)
- e-Sevai services and charges (Information Technology and Digital Services Department, Tamil Nadu)
- State-wise incentives for inter-caste marriages, 2020-21 to 2024-25 (Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment)
- Incentives for inter-caste marriages across India (ETV Bharat, January 2026)
- How Tamil Nadu’s inter-caste marriage scheme is keeping newlyweds away (South First, October 2023)
- 1.2 lakh beneficiaries receive incentives under inter-caste marriage scheme (Factly)
- TN govt allocates Rs 812 crore for Annan Seer scheme (DT Next, October 2026)
