The Central government has withheld ₹573 crore from Tamil Nadu under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) scheme due to the state's refusal to adopt provisions of the National Education Policy (NEP), including the controversial three-language formula. PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss criticized this decision, arguing that it unjustly penalizes Tamil Nadu, which has its own education policies. The withholding of funds has raised concerns about the salaries of over 15,000 teachers and the funding of essential school activities, as the state government has been covering costs in the interim. Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker M. Appavu emphasized that the state does not require the NEP's guidelines, having already achieved significant educational benchmarks. Additionally, there are implications for the reimbursement of fees under the Right to Education Act and other educational initiatives. As the central government has not responded to Tamil Nadu's requests, the state's education sector faces increasing financial strain.