DMK-AIADMK alternation
From 1989 to 2016 power alternated between the DMK under M. Karunanidhi and the AIADMK under J. Jayalalithaa. Both governments launched large welfare programmes, from free electricity for farmers to subsidised food and health insurance.
These decades also brought the 69 percent reservation law, the Cauvery water dispute, the 2004 tsunami, rapid growth of the IT and automobile industries, and the end of the Sri Lankan civil war in 2009.
249 events, 1989 to 2016; 12 marked as turning points.
1989
Separate 20% quota for Most Backward Classes
The DMK government split the 50% backward class quota into 30% for Backward Classes and 20% for Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities.
Equal property rights for women and 30% job quota
Tamil Nadu amended Hindu succession law to give daughters equal rights in family property and reserved 30% of government jobs for women.
Uthapuram caste violence and the 'untouchability wall'
After caste violence in Uthapuram near Madurai in 1989, caste Hindus built a wall separating the Dalit area of the village.
Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University founded
A separate university for veterinary and animal sciences, TANUVAS, was established at Madhavaram Milk Colony in Madras.
SPIC Science Foundation founds the school that became Chennai Mathematical Institute
The SPIC Science Foundation founded a School of Mathematics in Madras, which grew into the Chennai Mathematical Institute.
Moovalur Ramamirtham marriage assistance scheme
The DMK government started cash assistance for the marriage of daughters of poor families, named after reformer Moovalur Ramamirtham.
Karunanidhi announced an egg once every two weeks with the noon meal, the first step towards eggs on every school day by 2010.
Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve created
The Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park and a 10 km buffer zone along the Ramanathapuram and Thoothukudi coast were declared a biosphere reserve.
DMK returns to power, Karunanidhi Chief Minister again
After 13 years in opposition, the DMK won the January 1989 assembly election and M. Karunanidhi became Chief Minister for the third time.
AIADMK factions merge under Jayalalithaa
The two AIADMK factions merged and accepted J. Jayalalithaa as general secretary; she became the first woman Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly.
Clash in the Tamil Nadu Assembly on budget day
DMK and AIADMK members clashed in the Assembly as Karunanidhi rose to present the budget; Jayalalithaa left vowing to return only as Chief Minister.
S. Ramadoss founded the Pattali Makkal Katchi, a party rooted in the Vanniyar Sangam and the 1987 reservation agitation.
North Arcot district split into Vellore and Tiruvannamalai
North Arcot was divided into the Tiruvannamalai Sambuvarayar and North Arcot Ambedkar districts.
Congress-AIADMK alliance wins 38 of 39 Lok Sabha seats
Months after losing the state election, the reunited AIADMK and its ally the Congress won 38 of Tamil Nadu's 39 Lok Sabha seats.
1990
Separate 1 percent reservation for Scheduled Tribes
The Karunanidhi government split the combined SC/ST quota and gave Scheduled Tribes a separate 1 percent reservation.
Madras Motor Race Track opens at Irungattukottai
A permanent motor racing circuit was inaugurated at Irungattukottai near Madras, becoming the centre of Indian motorsport.
Indian Peace Keeping Force withdraws from Sri Lanka
In March 1990 the final contingents of the Indian Peace Keeping Force, deployed under the 1987 accord, departed from Sri Lanka.
MGR memorial on the Marina inaugurated
The memorial to M. G. Ramachandran on Marina Beach, begun in 1988, was inaugurated by his widow V. N. Janaki Ramachandran.
Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal constituted
On a Supreme Court direction, the Union government set up a tribunal to adjudicate the Kaveri water dispute between Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Puducherry.
EPRLF leader K. Pathmanabha killed in Madras
EPRLF leader K. Pathmanabha and others were shot dead by gunmen in a Kodambakkam flat in Madras, in killings attributed to the LTTE.
Manonmaniam Sundaranar University founded at Tirunelveli
A state university for the southern districts, named after the Tamil scholar Manonmaniam Sundaranar, was established at Tirunelveli.
Mukurthi National Park created to protect the Nilgiri tahr
The montane grasslands and sholas of Mukurthi in the Nilgiris, a wildlife sanctuary since 1982, were upgraded to a national park.
Free electricity for farmers announced
The DMK government announced free power for agricultural pump sets, extending a 1984 scheme for small and marginal farmers to all farmers.
1991
DMK government dismissed under Article 356
The Chandra Shekhar government dismissed the Karunanidhi ministry, citing law and order concerns linked to LTTE activity, and imposed President's rule.
Assassination of Rajiv Gandhi at Sriperumbudur
Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was killed by an LTTE suicide bomber at an election rally in Sriperumbudur.
Congress-AIADMK alliance sweeps all 39 Lok Sabha seats
In the election during which Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated at Sriperumbudur, the Congress-AIADMK alliance won all 39 Lok Sabha seats in Tamil Nadu.
Jayalalithaa becomes Chief Minister for the first time
The AIADMK-Congress alliance swept the June 1991 election and J. Jayalalithaa became Chief Minister, the youngest in the state's history at the time.
Cauvery tribunal issues interim award
The Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal directed Karnataka to release 205 TMC ft of water a year to Tamil Nadu.
Nagapattinam district carved out of Thanjavur
On 19 October 1991, Nagapattinam district was created by splitting the composite Thanjavur district in two.
Anti-Tamil violence in Karnataka over Cauvery award
Mobs attacked Tamils in Bangalore, Mysore and other parts of southern Karnataka after the Cauvery interim award was gazetted.
1992
Cradle Baby Scheme launched against female infanticide
The Jayalalithaa government introduced the Cradle Baby Scheme, allowing parents to leave unwanted infant girls with the state anonymously.
All-women police stations set up
The Jayalalithaa government opened police stations run entirely by women to handle complaints from women, starting in Chennai.
Chief Minister's Girl Child Protection Scheme
The state began depositing money in the names of girl children in poor families to counter gender discrimination and keep girls in school.
Mahamaham stampede at Kumbakonam
A stampede at the Mahamaham tank in Kumbakonam during the 12-yearly festival killed 48 pilgrims.
In Dharmapuri district, a raid on the tribal village of Vachathi by police, forest and revenue officials left villagers assaulted and women raped.
Roja released, A. R. Rahman's debut as composer
Mani Ratnam's Roja, the first film scored by A. R. Rahman, was released and its soundtrack transformed Indian film music.
1993
Al Ummah, a militant group founded in Coimbatore by Syed Ahmed Basha, was banned after the 1998 Coimbatore bombings.
Palar landmine blast by Veerappan's gang
A landmine attack by the sandalwood smuggler Veerappan near Palar killed 22 members of a police and forest team from Tamil Nadu.
Kalanithi Maran launched Sun TV, a Tamil general entertainment channel that grew into the Sun TV Network.
Jayalalithaa fasts on the Marina over Cauvery water
Seeking Cauvery water from Karnataka for the kuruvai crop, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa went on a fast of about 80 hours beside the MGR memorial.
Bombing of RSS office in Chennai
A bomb destroyed the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh office in Chetpet, Chennai, killing several people.
South Arcot divided into Cuddalore and Viluppuram districts
The South Arcot district was bifurcated, creating Viluppuram district on 30 September 1993.
1994
Vaiko founds the MDMK after split from DMK
Expelled from the DMK, Vaiko founded the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK).
Tiruchirappalli becomes a municipal corporation
Tiruchirappalli was made a municipal corporation by merging the Srirangam and Golden Rock municipalities.
Construction Workers Welfare Board established
Using its 1982 Manual Workers Act, Tamil Nadu created a construction workers' welfare board financed by a cess on building activity.
Koonthankulam declared a bird sanctuary
The village tank at Koonthankulam in Tirunelveli district, a major nesting site for waterbirds, was declared a bird sanctuary.
Salem becomes a municipal corporation
Salem municipality was declared the Salem City Municipal Corporation on 1 June 1994.
Tirunelveli becomes a municipal corporation
Merged with the municipalities of Palayamkottai and Melapalayam, Tirunelveli became a corporation.
69% reservation Act placed in the Ninth Schedule
Through the 76th Amendment, the Constitution's Ninth Schedule came to include Tamil Nadu's 1993 law that kept reservation at 69%.
Raj TV, a Tamil general entertainment channel based in Chennai, was launched, adding to the new private satellite channels in the state.
Cyclone crosses the coast near Madras
A cyclonic storm made landfall near Madras on 31 October 1994, causing about 115 million US dollars in damage and some 304 deaths.
1995
Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam founded
The Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam (TMMK) was formed as a mass organisation to defend the rights of Muslims in the state.
Eighth World Tamil Conference held in Thanjavur
The eighth World Tamil Conference was hosted in Thanjavur by the Tamil Nadu government.
Perambalur district carved out of Tiruchirappalli
The composite Tiruchirappalli district was split, forming Perambalur district on 1 January 1995.
Rajinikanth's Baashha released
Baashha, Suresh Krissna's gangster drama with Rajinikanth as an auto-rickshaw driver hiding his past, opened and became one of the actor's most famous films.
Mani Ratnam's Bombay released amid controversy
Bombay, Mani Ratnam's film about an inter-religious couple during the 1992-93 Bombay riots, drew controversy, and bombs were thrown at his Madras home.
About 600 policemen raided the Dalit village of Kodiyankulam in Thoothukudi district, destroying property amid caste clashes in southern Tamil Nadu.
Wedding of Jayalalithaa's foster son Sudhakaran
More than 150,000 people watched the extravagant Madras wedding of V. N. Sudhakaran, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa's foster son, an event later drawn into corruption cases.
Ford enters India with plant near Chennai
Ford re-entered India through a joint venture with Mahindra and set up its main car plant at Maraimalai Nagar near Chennai.
Chennai MRTS opens, India's first elevated railway
India's first elevated urban railway came into service when the opening section of Chennai's Mass Rapid Transit System, linking Beach and Chepauk, began running.
Madras hosts the 7th South Asian Games
The 7th South Asian Federation Games were held in Madras, with the rebuilt Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium as the main venue; India topped the medal table.
1996
Koyambedu wholesale market complex opens
On Chennai's western side, the Koyambedu Wholesale Market Complex, one of the largest perishable goods markets in Asia, was opened.
The Karunanidhi government introduced free bus travel for government school and college students and half fares for private institutions.
G. K. Moopanar forms Tamil Maanila Congress
Opposing the Congress's alliance with the AIADMK, G. K. Moopanar led a breakaway to form the Tamil Maanila Congress.
Rajinikanth backs the DMK-TMC alliance
Staying out of politics himself, Rajinikanth warned that 'even God cannot save' Tamil Nadu if Jayalalithaa's party won again, and endorsed the DMK-TMC alliance.
DMK-TMC alliance wins 1996 election
The DMK-TMC alliance won 221 of 234 assembly seats and all 39 Lok Sabha seats; M. Karunanidhi became Chief Minister for the fourth time.
Hyundai Motor India formed, plant at Irungattukottai
Hyundai established an Indian subsidiary and a car factory at Irungattukottai near Chennai, where the Santro, its first car, was launched in 1998.
Shankar's anti-corruption vigilante film Indian, starring Kamal Haasan, became the highest-grossing Tamil film on release and India's Oscar entry.
Theni district carved out of Madurai
A government order of 7 July 1996 split Madurai district to form Theni district.
Madras officially renamed Chennai
The Tamil Nadu government officially changed the capital's name from Madras to Chennai.
Jayalalithaa arrested in colour TV case
Former Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa was arrested and remanded in judicial custody in a corruption case over the purchase of colour televisions.
1997
Sivaji Ganesan receives the Dadasaheb Phalke Award
Sivaji Ganesan received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the top film honour in India.
A. P. J. Abdul Kalam awarded the Bharat Ratna
A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, the Rameswaram-born scientist who headed India's missile programme, received the Bharat Ratna.
Chengalpattu district split into Kanchipuram and Tiruvallur
The old Chingleput district was divided into Kanchipuram and Tiruvallur districts in 1997.
Mahalir Thittam extends women's self-help groups statewide
The state funded Mahalir Thittam to form women's self-help groups in all districts, after an IFAD-assisted pilot in Dharmapuri from 1989.
Tiruvarur district was formed out of Nagapattinam district, with Valangaiman taluk added from Thanjavur.
ATP tennis tournament moves to Chennai as the Gold Flake Open
India's only ATP Tour event moved from New Delhi to Chennai, where it was held every January until 2017 before shifting to Pune.
Namakkal district begins functioning
Split from Salem district in July 1996, Namakkal district began operating on its own from 1 January 1997.
Dalit panchayat president K. Murugesan and six other Dalit men were murdered at Melavalavu near Madurai by members of a dominant caste.
Jain Commission interim report on the Rajiv Gandhi assassination
Criticism of the DMK over the LTTE in the Jain Commission's interim report prompted Congress to demand the party's exit, bringing down the Gujral government.
First Samathuvapuram equality village inaugurated
The first Periyar Ninaivu Samathuvapuram, a housing colony where families of different castes live side by side, opened near Madurai.
Periyar University established at Salem
Periyar University, named after E. V. Ramasamy, was established at Salem on his birth anniversary.
Tamil Nadu Dr. Ambedkar Law University inaugurated
Chennai saw the inauguration of a state law university named for B. R. Ambedkar, created by a 1996 Act to place every law college under a single body.
The killing of a traffic constable in Coimbatore was followed by communal riots in which 18 Muslims and 2 Hindus were killed.
K. Krishnasamy founds Puthiya Tamilagam
Former MLA K. Krishnasamy founded Puthiya Tamilagam, a regional political party in Tamil Nadu.
1998
M. S. Subbulakshmi becomes the first musician awarded the Bharat Ratna
Madurai-born Carnatic singer M. S. Subbulakshmi was the first musician to be given the Bharat Ratna, the country's top civilian award.
Cauvery River Authority set up
The Union government set up the Cauvery River Authority, chaired by the Prime Minister with the chief ministers of the basin states, to implement the interim award.
C. Subramaniam awarded the Bharat Ratna
Former Union minister C. Subramaniam, a Congress leader from Tamil Nadu who ushered in the Green Revolution, was awarded the Bharat Ratna.
Rajinikanth's Muthu becomes a hit in Japan
Shown in Japan as 'Muthu: The Dancing Maharaja', the 1995 Tamil film earned more there than any other Indian film, holding that record for 24 years.
TADA court sentences 26 to death in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case
A designated TADA court at Poonamallee sentenced all 26 accused on trial to death for the conspiracy to assassinate Rajiv Gandhi.
AIADMK allies with the BJP; NDA wins 30 seats in Tamil Nadu
Breaking its long alliance with the Congress, the AIADMK joined the BJP-led front, which won 30 of Tamil Nadu's 39 Lok Sabha seats.
Twelve bombs exploded across Coimbatore, killing 58 people, ahead of a campaign meeting by BJP leader L. K. Advani.
1999
Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi contests elections for the first time
The Dalit Panthers movement led by Thol. Thirumavalavan, later the VCK, entered electoral politics for the first time in 1999.
Karaivetti declared a bird sanctuary
A freshwater lake in Ariyalur district that attracts thousands of migratory birds was declared a bird sanctuary by the Tamil Nadu government.
Pakistan win a close Test against India at Chepauk
Pakistan beat India by 12 runs at Chepauk in the first Test of their first tour of India in 12 years, despite Sachin Tendulkar's 136.
Ennore's new port, north of Chennai, gained major port status and was incorporated as Ennore Port Limited, the first major port in India run as a company.
AIADMK withdraws support, Vajpayee government falls
The AIADMK's withdrawal of support led to the Vajpayee government losing a confidence vote by a single vote.
Supreme Court verdict in Rajiv Gandhi assassination case
The Supreme Court upheld the convictions of seven accused in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case and acquitted the other 19 sentenced by a TADA court.
Manjolai labourers massacre on the Tamirabarani
Seventeen people, mostly Dalit tea estate workers, died in the Tamirabarani river at Tirunelveli while fleeing a police lathi-charge.
Jaya TV, a Tamil satellite channel founded by AIADMK leader J. Jayalalithaa, was launched in Chennai.
DMK allies with the BJP; NDA wins 26 seats in Tamil Nadu
With the AIADMK out of the NDA, the DMK allied with the BJP for the first time and the NDA won 26 of Tamil Nadu's 39 Lok Sabha seats.
First Uzhavar Sandhai farmers' market opens in Madurai
Madurai hosted the first market of the DMK government's Uzhavar Sandhai scheme, where farmers could sell their produce straight to buyers.
2000
Thiruvalluvar Statue unveiled at Kanyakumari
A 133-foot stone statue of the poet Thiruvalluvar was unveiled on a rock off Kanyakumari on the millennium day.
Pleasant Stay verdict and the Dharmapuri bus burning
Jayalalithaa was sentenced to a year's imprisonment in the Pleasant Stay hotel case; in the violence that followed, three agricultural students were burnt to death in a bus at Dharmapuri.
TIDEL Park inaugurated in Chennai
TIDEL Park, one of the largest IT parks in South Asia at the time, was inaugurated in Chennai by Prime Minister Vajpayee.
Veerappan kidnaps actor Rajkumar
Forest brigand Veerappan abducted Kannada film star Rajkumar from Gajanur in Erode district and held him for 108 days.
Jayalalithaa convicted in the TANSI land case
A trial court convicted Jayalalithaa and Sasikala over the purchase of state TANSI land by their firms in 1992, a verdict that barred her from the 2001 election.
Viswanathan Anand wins the FIDE World Chess Championship
Chennai's Viswanathan Anand defeated Alexei Shirov in Tehran to become FIDE World Chess Champion, the first Indian world chess champion.
2001
Free bicycles for higher secondary students
Free bicycles for higher secondary students were introduced by the Jayalalithaa government, and the scheme later reached every Class 11 student.
Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve established
A biosphere reserve was created at the southern tip of the Western Ghats, spanning Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari districts and southern Kerala.
Ariyalur district carved out of Perambalur
Carved from Perambalur district in 2001, Ariyalur district was formed again on 23 November 2007.
Tamil Virtual University established
To provide internet-based Tamil learning around the world, the Tamil Nadu government created the Tamil Virtual University, now the Tamil Virtual Academy.
Kodaikanal mercury thermometer factory shut
Protests forced the closure of Hindustan Unilever's mercury thermometer factory at Kodaikanal over contamination.
AIADMK alliance wins the 2001 Assembly election
The AIADMK-led alliance defeated the DMK government and J. Jayalalithaa was sworn in as Chief Minister for the second time.
Midnight arrest of M. Karunanidhi
Former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi was arrested at his Chennai home in the early hours in a case over the construction of city flyovers.
Chained to their beds, 28 inmates died when fire swept through a faith-based mental asylum at Erwadi.
Supreme Court unseats Jayalalithaa, O. Panneerselvam becomes Chief Minister
After the Supreme Court held Jayalalithaa's appointment invalid, O. Panneerselvam served as Chief Minister until she returned in March 2002.
2002
Tamil Nadu Open University established
Through the Tamil Nadu Open University Act, 2002, the state set up an open university in Chennai offering distance higher education.
Annadhanam free meal scheme in temples
Jayalalithaa launched free daily meals for devotees in 63 temples, funded by endowments from donors; it was later expanded to hundreds of temples.
Jayalalithaa returns as Chief Minister after Andipatti by-election
After her acquittal in the TANSI and Pleasant Stay cases, J. Jayalalithaa won the Andipatti by-election and was sworn in again as Chief Minister.
MDMK leader Vaiko was arrested under the Prevention of Terrorism Act for a speech supporting the LTTE and spent over a year and a half in jail.
A. P. J. Abdul Kalam becomes President of India
Rameswaram-born scientist A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, backed by both the BJP and the Congress, took office as the 11th President of India.
Tamil Nadu anti-conversion law
The AIADMK government introduced a law against forcible religious conversion, which was withdrawn after the 2004 Lok Sabha election and formally repealed in 2006.
Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus opens at Koyambedu
The Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus at Koyambedu was opened to the public, becoming the city's main hub for long-distance buses.
2003
Tamil Nadu bans the sale of lotteries
The Jayalalithaa government banned the sale of all lotteries in Tamil Nadu, including those run by agencies from other states.
Mass dismissal of striking government employees under TESMA
The state dismissed between about 170,000 and 200,000 striking government employees and teachers under its Essential Services Maintenance Act.
Rainwater harvesting made mandatory for all buildings
After severe drought, a 2003 ordinance required every building in Tamil Nadu to install rainwater harvesting structures by 31 August.
Jayalalithaa assets case transferred to Bangalore
On a DMK petition, the Supreme Court moved the disproportionate assets trial of J. Jayalalithaa from Chennai to a special court in Bangalore.
2004
New Veeranam water supply project completed
A project to pipe water from Veeranam Lake to Chennai, first conceived in 1967, was completed during a severe water shortage.
Krishnagiri district carved out of Dharmapuri
Krishnagiri became the 30th district of Tamil Nadu, taking in the industrial town of Hosur.
DMK-led alliance wins all 39 Lok Sabha seats
The DMK-led Democratic Progressive Alliance with the Congress and Left won every Lok Sabha seat in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry; the AIADMK-BJP alliance won none.
A fire at a school in Kumbakonam killed 94 children after a thatched roof caught fire, leading to new school safety rules.
Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court opens
A permanent bench of the Madras High Court began functioning in Madurai to serve the southern districts.
Madras Day, held each 22 August, was first celebrated in Chennai, recalling the 1639 acquisition of the land where the city developed.
Tamil declared a classical language
The Government of India declared Tamil the first classical language of India.
Veerappan killed in Operation Cocoon
The forest brigand Veerappan was killed by the Tamil Nadu Special Task Force near Dharmapuri, ending a decades-long manhunt.
Arrest of the Kanchi Shankaracharya
Jayendra Saraswathi of the Kanchi math was arrested in the Sankararaman murder case; he and the other accused were acquitted in 2013.
2004 Indian Ocean tsunami strikes the Tamil Nadu coast
The tsunami after the Sumatra earthquake killed about 8,000 people in Tamil Nadu, with Nagapattinam the worst-hit district.
2005
Kanchipuram silk registered as a geographical indication
Kanchipuram silk saris were one of the earliest Tamil Nadu products to gain registration as a geographical indication.
Narain Karthikeyan becomes India's first Formula One driver
Coimbatore-born Narain Karthikeyan made his Formula One debut with Jordan at the 2005 Australian Grand Prix.
Nilgiri Mountain Railway added to UNESCO World Heritage list
UNESCO added the Nilgiri Mountain Railway as an extension of the Mountain Railways of India World Heritage Site.
Sethusamudram Shipping Canal Project inaugurated
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh launched work on a shipping canal between India and Sri Lanka, a project later stalled by the Ram Setu dispute.
Actor Vijayakanth launched the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam at Madurai.
2005 Chennai floods and relief camp stampedes
Heavy north-east monsoon rain flooded Chennai, and two stampedes at relief distribution camps killed more than 50 people.
2006
The DMK government began distributing free colour television sets to families holding ration cards, a key 2006 election promise.
Anaithu Grama Anna Marumalarchi Thittam
A village development programme of the Karunanidhi government aimed to give every village panchayat basic infrastructure, including a library.
Professional course admissions law and end of entrance tests
With common entrance tests abolished, a 2006 law reorganised professional course admissions and brought reservation to private colleges.
Foxconn opens plant in Nokia SEZ at Sriperumbudur
Foxconn India opened a factory inside the Nokia Special Economic Zone at Sriperumbudur to supply Nokia, anchoring an electronics cluster near Chennai.
Supreme Court allows higher Mullaperiyar level; Kerala passes dam law
The Supreme Court allowed Tamil Nadu to raise the Mullaperiyar dam's level to 142 feet; Kerala responded with a law capping it at 136 feet.
Sharath Kamal wins India's first Commonwealth table tennis gold
Chennai's Achanta Sharath Kamal beat William Henzell in the men's singles final at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games.
DMK forms a minority government
M. Karunanidhi became Chief Minister for the fifth time, heading a DMK government that depended on outside support from the Congress.
Free land distribution for the landless poor
At Tiruvallur, Karunanidhi began handing out free land to landless poor families, delivering on a DMK election pledge.
Santhi Soundarajan stripped of her Asian Games silver
The Pudukkottai athlete won silver in the 800 m at the Doha Asian Games but lost the medal after a sex verification test.
2007
Separate reservation for Backward Class Muslims and Christians
Under a 2007 Act, Backward Class Muslims and Christians received their own portion of the backward class quota.
Welfare board and department for persons with disabilities
In 2007 Tamil Nadu enacted a Welfare Board for Disabled Persons Act, and in 2009 it formed a separate Department for the Welfare of the Differently Abled.
Ram Setu affidavit controversy
A government affidavit telling the Supreme Court there was no historical proof that Adam's Bridge was built by Rama intensified opposition to the Sethusamudram canal.
First Chennai Sangamam folk arts festival
Chennai Sangamam, an open-air festival of Tamil folk and traditional arts around Pongal, was held for the first time with state government backing.
Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal final award
The Cauvery tribunal issued its final award allocating river water among Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Puducherry.
BMW opens its car plant near Chennai
BMW Group Plant Chennai began operations, adding a luxury carmaker to the automobile cluster around the city.
Mudumalai declared a tiger reserve
Mudumalai National Park in the Nilgiris was declared a tiger reserve under Project Tiger, with a buffer zone of about 368 square km.
Pallikaranai marsh notified as a reserve forest
To stop the shrinking of Chennai's last large freshwater marsh, 317 hectares of Pallikaranai were declared a reserve forest.
Attack on the Dinakaran office in Madurai
After Dinakaran ran a survey on Karunanidhi's political heir, its Madurai office was firebombed and three people were killed.
Sripuram golden temple consecrated near Vellore
The gold-covered Sri Lakshmi Narayani temple at Sripuram near Vellore was consecrated on 24 August 2007.
India win the Hockey Asia Cup in Chennai
Chennai hosted the men's Hockey Asia Cup, and India beat South Korea 7-2 in the final to win the title.
Viswanathan Anand becomes undisputed world chess champion
Chennai-born grandmaster Viswanathan Anand won the World Chess Championship tournament in Mexico City without losing a game.
2008
108 free emergency ambulance service begins
The state health department launched the free 108 emergency ambulance service, run in partnership with GVK-EMRI.
Tamil New Year moved to the first day of Thai
A DMK government law moved Tamil New Year to the first day of the Tamil month of Thai; the change was revoked in 2011.
Hogenakkal Integrated Drinking Water Project
A Cauvery-based drinking water scheme for Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts was begun in 2008 amid objections from Karnataka and launched in 2013.
Transgender Welfare Board, first in India
Tamil Nadu set up India's first welfare board for transgender persons under the Social Welfare department.
Central Institute of Classical Tamil moves to Chennai
The Union government's Centre of Excellence for Classical Tamil moved from Mysore to Chennai and became the Central Institute of Classical Tamil.
Vellore becomes a municipal corporation
Vellore was upgraded from a municipality to a municipal corporation on 1 August 2008.
Rice at one rupee a kilogram in ration shops
The Karunanidhi government cut the price of rice in public distribution shops to one rupee a kilogram.
Kathipara cloverleaf grade separator opens
The Kathipara cloverleaf interchange near Guindy, one of the largest in South Asia at the time, was fully opened to traffic.
Tiruppur becomes a municipal corporation
The knitwear town of Tiruppur was upgraded to a municipal corporation on 26 October 2008.
Cyclone Nisha floods the Cauvery delta
Cyclonic Storm Nisha made landfall in Tamil Nadu, bringing record rain to Orathanadu and killing at least 189 people in the state.
2009
Internal reservation for Arunthathiyars
Tamil Nadu set aside 3 percent within the Scheduled Caste quota for the Arunthathiyar community.
Kalaignar health insurance scheme launched
The state launched the Kalaignar Kapitu Thittam to give economically disadvantaged families free treatment in hospitals.
The DMK won the Thirumangalam assembly by-election on a turnout of about 89 percent, amid allegations of cash being paid for votes.
Self-immolation of K. Muthukumar
Journalist K. Muthukumar set himself on fire in Chennai in protest against the killing of Tamil civilians in the Sri Lankan war.
Construction of the Chennai Metro begins
Work started on the first phase of the Chennai Metro, approved by the state government in November 2007, with an elevated viaduct at Koyambedu.
Police and lawyers clash in the Madras High Court
A police action against lawyers on the Madras High Court campus led to an inquiry by former Supreme Court judge B. N. Srikrishna.
Tiruppur district was carved out of Coimbatore and Erode districts as the 32nd district of Tamil Nadu.
A. R. Rahman wins two Academy Awards
Slumdog Millionaire earned composer A. R. Rahman Oscars for both Best Original Score and Best Original Song.
DMK-Congress alliance wins 27 of 39 Lok Sabha seats
Against expectations, the DMK, Congress and VCK won 27 of Tamil Nadu's 39 Lok Sabha seats, helping the UPA return to power.
End of the Sri Lankan civil war
The Sri Lankan army defeated the LTTE, ending a 26-year war that had deeply affected Tamil Nadu's politics.
2010
Samacheer Kalvi: uniform school education
Tamil Nadu introduced a common syllabus across state, matriculation and other school boards; the Supreme Court upheld it in 2011.
Kalaignar Veettu Vasathi Thittam to replace huts
The DMK government launched a scheme to convert thatched rural huts into permanent concrete houses over six years.
Fee support for first-generation graduates
The state announced a scholarship to pay tuition and other fees of first graduates in a family who join professional courses.
New Assembly-Secretariat complex inaugurated
A new legislature and secretariat building on Anna Salai was opened, but the next government moved back to Fort St. George and turned it into a hospital.
Chennai Super Kings win their first IPL title
Founded in 2008, the Chennai Super Kings defeated Mumbai Indians in the final to take their first Indian Premier League title.
World Classical Tamil Conference in Coimbatore
The state government hosted the World Classical Tamil Conference in Coimbatore to mark Tamil's classical status.
Anna Centenary Library opens in Kotturpuram
A large public library named after C. N. Annadurai opened in Chennai on his birth anniversary.
Millennium celebrations of the Thanjavur Big Temple
Thanjavur marked 1,000 years of the Brihadisvara Temple with cultural events, including a performance by 1,000 Bharatanatyam dancers.
2011
Free mixers, grinders, fans and livestock
The new AIADMK government began giving households free mixers, grinders and fans, and goats and cows to poor families.
India protests Sri Lankan Navy attacks on Tamil Nadu fishermen
India formally protested to Sri Lanka over alleged Sri Lankan Navy attacks on Indian fishermen in the Palk Strait.
Tholkappia Poonga eco-park opens on the Adyar estuary
A park restoring the ecology of the Adyar creek in Chennai opened and was named in honour of the Tamil grammarian Tholkappiar.
Former Telecom Minister A. Raja and later Kanimozhi were arrested in the 2G spectrum case; a special court acquitted all accused in 2017.
AIADMK returns to power in 2011
The AIADMK alliance won a large majority and J. Jayalalithaa became Chief Minister for the third time; the DMDK became the main opposition.
Free rice for ration card holders
In her first public event of the new term, Jayalalithaa launched free rice for eligible ration card holders under the universal PDS.
Marriage assistance with gold for the thirumangalyam
Jayalalithaa revised the marriage assistance schemes to add 4 grams of gold for the thirumangalyam and raised aid for graduates to Rs. 50,000.
Protests against the Kudankulam nuclear plant
Fishing villages around Idinthakarai led a sustained movement against the Kudankulam nuclear plant, which nonetheless began operating in 2013 and 2014.
Chief Minister's Uzhavar Pathukappu Thittam
A farmers' security scheme gave registered landless labourers, small farmers and tenants cash help for education, marriage, death and old age.
Police opened fire on Dalits protesting at Paramakudi on the Immanuel Sekaran memorial day, and the death toll rose to seven.
Free laptop scheme for students
Students at government and aided schools and colleges started receiving free laptops from the AIADMK government.
Cyclone Thane strikes Cuddalore and Puducherry
Thane, a very severe cyclonic storm, crossed the coast between Cuddalore and Puducherry, wrecking homes, crops and trees.
2012
Western Ghats inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site
The Western Ghats mountain range, which runs through western Tamil Nadu including the Nilgiris and Anamalai hills, became a World Heritage Site.
Chief Minister's Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme
Jayalalithaa launched a state health insurance scheme for 1.34 crore families, replacing the earlier Kalaignar insurance scheme.
Pension scheme for destitute transgender persons
Jayalalithaa announced a monthly pension of Rs. 1,000 for transgender persons above 40 living in poverty.
Sivakasi fireworks factory explosion
Forty people died and over 70 were hurt when an explosion hit the Om Sakthi fireworks factory near Sivakasi.
Mobs burned Dalit homes in three villages near Dharmapuri after an inter-caste marriage.
2013
Madurai malli recognised as a geographical indication
Madurai jasmine became the first flower from Tamil Nadu to be given geographical indication status.
Amma Unavagam subsidised canteens open
The Chennai Corporation opened low-cost canteens selling idli for one rupee, later expanded across the state.
Sathyamangalam declared a tiger reserve
The Government of India declared the Sathyamangalam wildlife sanctuary in Erode district the fourth tiger reserve in Tamil Nadu.
Student protests over Sri Lankan Tamils
Colleges were shut after students throughout Tamil Nadu protested over alleged war crimes against Sri Lankan Tamils.
At Marakkanam, PMK cadres heading to a Vanniyar youth festival clashed with Dalit villagers, setting off violence in the northern districts.
The state began selling one-litre bottles of drinking water for Rs. 10 at bus termini and on long-distance government buses.
Gangaikondan Spotted Deer Sanctuary notified
Tamil Nadu notified a sanctuary at Gangaikondan in Tirunelveli district dedicated to the protection of spotted deer.
Kudankulam reactor 1 connected to the grid
Following years of delay and protest, the first VVER-1000 reactor at Kudankulam was synchronised with the power grid.
Chennai hosts the Anand-Carlsen World Chess Championship
Playing in his home city, Viswanathan Anand put his world title on the line against Magnus Carlsen and lost it to the Norwegian.
India's Prime Minister skips CHOGM in Colombo after Tamil Nadu pressure
After a unanimous Tamil Nadu Assembly resolution, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh stayed away from the Commonwealth summit in Colombo.
2014
Supreme Court verdict on Mullaperiyar dam
The Supreme Court allowed Tamil Nadu to raise the Mullaperiyar reservoir level to 142 feet and struck down Kerala's law restricting it.
Tamil Nadu parties oppose Rajapaksa's invitation to Modi's swearing-in
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa's attendance at Narendra Modi's swearing-in drew opposition from parties across Tamil Nadu.
Jayalalithaa opened the first ten 'Amma' pharmacies to sell quality medicines at fair prices.
The Tamil Nadu Salt Corporation began selling low-priced iodised and fortified salt under the 'Amma' brand.
An eleven-storey apartment block under construction collapsed at Moulivakkam in Chennai, killing 61 people, mostly construction workers.
Dipika Pallikal and Joshna Chinappa win Commonwealth squash gold
The Chennai pair won the women's doubles at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, India's first Commonwealth medal in squash.
Chennai Outer Ring Road phase I opens
The first phase of the Chennai Outer Ring Road, built to divert traffic around the city, was opened to the public.
Jayalalithaa convicted in disproportionate assets case
A Bengaluru special court convicted Jayalalithaa, forcing her to resign; the Karnataka High Court acquitted her in 2015 and she returned as Chief Minister.
Nokia halts production at Sriperumbudur
Nokia suspended handset production at its Sriperumbudur factory near Chennai after Microsoft ended its manufacturing agreement.
2015
Jayalalithaa announced low-cost comprehensive health check-ups in government hospitals and twice-weekly tests at primary health centres.
Amma Cement sold at half the market price
The state began selling low-priced 'Amma' cement at Rs. 190 a bag through Civil Supplies Corporation godowns, starting in Tiruchi.
Green tribunal hears challenge to the Theni neutrino observatory
Acting on a petition against the environmental clearance for the India-based Neutrino Observatory in Theni district, the National Green Tribunal issued notices.
Jayalalithaa acquitted on appeal and returns as Chief Minister
Acquitted in the assets case by the Karnataka High Court, J. Jayalalithaa took the oath as Chief Minister for a fifth time.
Murder of Dalit engineering student Gokulraj
Dalit engineering student V. Gokulraj was abducted from a temple in Tiruchengode and murdered, in a case treated as an honour killing.
The first stretch of Chennai Metro, between Koyambedu and Alandur, opened to passengers.
Seshasamudram violence over a Dalit temple car procession
A dominant-caste mob attacked the Dalit colony of Seshasamudram and burned a temple car on the eve of its procession.
First Tamil Nadu Global Investors Meet
The state held its first Global Investors Meet at the Chennai Trade Centre, signing more than 100 investment MoUs.
Amma Baby Care Kit for newborns
Mothers delivering in government hospitals began receiving a free kit of 16 baby care items worth about Rs. 1,000.
Extremely heavy north-east monsoon rains flooded Chennai, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur and Cuddalore, killing hundreds of people.
Chennaiyin FC win the Indian Super League
Chennaiyin FC beat FC Goa 3-2 in the final in Goa to win the Indian Super League in only its second season.
2016
Tamil Nadu Premier League launched
A Twenty20 league with franchises based on districts was launched by the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association to showcase local players.
Free bus rides for senior citizens in Chennai
Senior citizens in Chennai were allowed ten free rides a month on ordinary city buses, using tokens issued by the transport corporation.
Udumalaipettai honour killing of Shankar
Dalit youth Shankar was hacked to death in a busy street in Udumalaipettai for marrying Kausalya, a woman from a dominant caste.
Crop loan waiver and 100 free units of household power
Back in power, Jayalalithaa cancelled the cooperative crop loans of 16.94 lakh farmers and made the first 100 units of household power free.
Winning a second term in a row, the AIADMK became the first party in power in Tamil Nadu to be returned to office since 1984.
Mariyappan Thangavelu wins Paralympic high jump gold
Mariyappan Thangavelu from Salem district won the T-42 high jump gold at the Rio Paralympics with a jump of 1.89 m.
Kamuthi solar power plant completed
A 648 MW solar power plant built by the Adani group at Kamuthi in Ramanathapuram district was completed.
Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa died at Apollo Hospital, Chennai, after a 75-day hospitalisation; O. Panneerselvam was sworn in the same night.
Cyclone Vardah made landfall near Chennai, uprooting thousands of trees and cutting power and communication across the city.
