Tamil Nadu
29918
226008982
2008-07-16T12:37:44Z
Docku
7021792
[[WP:UNDO|Undid]] revision 225984215 by [[Special:Contributions/202.141.29.131|202.141.29.131]] ([[User talk:202.141.29.131|talk]])doesnt belong here
{{Infobox Indian Jurisdiction
|type = state
|state_name = Tamil Nadu
|native_name = Tamil Nadu
|base_map = Tamil_Nadu locator map.svg
|other_name = தமிழ்நாடு
|capital = [[Chennai]]
|latd =13.09
|longd =80.27
|largest_city = [[Chennai]]
|abbreviation = IN-TN
|official_languages = [[Tamil language|Tamil]]
|legislature_type = Unicameral
|legislature_strength = 235
|leader_title_1 = [[Governors of Tamil Nadu|Governor]]
|leader_name_1 = [[Surjit Singh Barnala]]
|leader_title_2 = [[Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu|Chief Minister]]
|leader_name_2 = [[M Karunanidhi]]
|established_date = [[1956-11-01]]<sup>†</sup>
|area_total = 130058
|area_rank = 11th
|area_magnitude = 11
|population_year = 2001
|population_total = 6,24,05,679
|population_rank = 6th
|population_density = 478
|districts = 30
|website = tn.gov.in
|seal = TN-GVT.JPG
|footnotes = <sup>†</sup> Established in 1773; Madras State was formed in 1956 and renamed as Tamil Nadu on [[January 14]] [[1969]] [http://www.assembly.tn.gov.in/history/history.htm]
|locator_position = left
}}
'''Tamil Nadu''' ([[Tamil language|Tamil]]: [[:ta:தமிழ்நாடு|தமிழ்நாடு]], {{audio|Tamil_Nadu.ogg|pronunciation}} {{lang-en|[[Motherland|Country]] of the [[Tamil people|Tamils]]}}, {{IPA2|t̪ɐmɨɻ n̪aːɽɯ}}) is one of the 28 [[States and territories of India|states]] of [[India]]. It lies on the eastern coast of the southern [[Indian Peninsula]] bordered by [[Puducherry]] (Pondicherry), [[Kerala]], [[Karnataka]] and [[Andhra Pradesh]]. Tamil Nadu is bound by the [[Eastern Ghats]] in the north, the [[Nilgiri]], the [[Anamalai Hills]], and [[Palakkad]] on the west, [[Bay of Bengal]] in the east, [[Gulf of Mannar]], [[Palk Strait]] in the south east and [[Indian Ocean]] in the south. It is the eleventh largest state in India by area (about the size of [[Greece]]) and the sixth most populous state.<ref name='unsys'>[http://www.unsystem.org/SCN/archives/india/ch16.htm United Nations, System of Organizations]</ref>
It is the fifth largest contributor to India's [[GDP]]<ref>http://mospi.nic.in/6_gsdp_cur_9394ser.htm</ref> and the most urbanised state in India.<ref>[http://www.hindu.com/2008/05/18/stories/2008051853960400.htm Tamil Nadu the most urbanised State: Minister]</ref> The state has the highest number (10.56%) of business enterprises in India,<ref>[http://mospi.nic.in/economic_census_prov_results_2005.pdf Enterprises in India]</ref> remarkable compared to the population share of about 6%. It is one of the foremost states in the country in terms of overall development.<ref>India Today, dated 24th September, 2007]</ref><ref>{{cite web
| url = http://in.rediff.com/money/2005/nov/12guest2.htm
| title = Tamil Nadu the best place to do the business
| date= November 12, 2005
| accessdate = 2007-10-18
}}</ref> It is home to many natural resources, rare flora and fauna, cool hill stations, grand Hindu temples of Dravidian architecture, beach resorts, multi-religious pilgrimage sites and three [[UNESCO World Heritage Site]]s.<ref>[http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=29977 Press Information Bureau]</ref><ref>[http://whc.unesco.org/en/list Unesco, World Heritage List]</ref>
While India ranked 128 in [[human development index]] calculated worldwide with 0.619, Tamil Nadu has performed well with an index of 0.736 in year 2006, inching closer to 0.800 which is considered high development.<ref>[http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/04/stories/2008070459040800.htm Glaring regional disparities in human development index]</ref><ref>[http://hdrstats.undp.org/countries/ Human Development Reports]</ref>
==History==
{{main | History of Tamil Nadu|Chera dynasty|Pallavas|Pandyan kingdom|Chola dynasty|Vijayanagara Empire|Nayaks of Madurai|Nayaks of Tanjore}}
[[Image:Brihadeeswara.jpg|thumb|150px|left|The [[Brihadeeswarar temple]] in [[Thanjavur]], built by Raja Raja Chola - a UNESCO World Heritage Site]]
Tamil Nadu's history dates back to [[pre-historic]] times and archaeological evidence points to this area being one of the longest continuous habitations in India. In [[Adichanallur]], 24 km from [[Tirunelveli]], archaeologists from the [[Archaeological Survey of India]] unearthed 169 clay urns containing human skulls, skeletons and bones, plus husks and grains of rice, charred rice and [[Neolithic]] [[Celt (tool)|celts]], giving evidence confirming them to be of the Neolithic period, 3800 years ago.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-1354201,prtpage-1.cms
|title=Skeletons dating back 3,800 years throw light on evolution|publisher=The Times of India|accessdate=2008-06-11}}</ref> The ASI archaeologists have proposed that the script is "very rudimentary" [[Tamil Brahmi]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/2005/02/17/stories/2005021704471300.htm
|title=The Hindu : National : 'Rudimentary Tamil-Brahmi script' unearthed at Adichanallur|publisher=The Hindu|accessdate=2008-06-11}}</ref> Adichanallur has been announced as an archaeological site for further excavation and studies.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.hindu.com/2004/05/26/stories/2004052602871200.htm|title=The Hindu : National : Skeletons, script found at ancient burial site in Tamil Nadu|publisher=The Hindu|accessdate=2008-06-11}}</ref>
From early pre-historic times, Tamil Nadu was the home of the four Tamil kingdoms of the [[Chera dynasty|Chera]], [[Chola dynasty|Chola]], [[Pandya kingdom|Pandya]] and [[Pallavas]]. The oldest extant [[Sangam Literature|literature]], dated between 300 BC and 600 BC mentions the exploits of the kings and the princes, and of the poets who extolled them. Cheras ruled from the capital of [[Coimbatore]] in the west and traded extensively with West Asian kingdoms.
An unknown dynasty called [[Kalabhras]] invaded and displaced the three [[Ancient Tamil country|Tamil]] kingdoms between the fourth and the [[7th century|seventh]] centuries CE. This is referred to as the Dark Age in [[Tamil people|Tamil]] history. They were eventually expelled by the [[Pallavas]] and the [[Pandyas]].
Around 580 CE, the Pallavas, great [[temple]] builders, emerged into prominence and dominated the south for another 150 years. They ruled a vast portion of Tamil Nadu with [[Kanchipuram]] as their capital. They subjugated the Cholas and reigned as far south as the Kaveri River. Among the greatest Pallava rulers were [[Mahendravarman I]] and his son [[Narasimhavarman I]]. [[Dravidian architecture]] reached its peak during the Pallava rule.
[[Image:Mamallapuram1a.jpg|thumb|200px|The [[Shore Temple]] in [[Mahabalipuram]] built by the Pallavas - a UNESCO World Hertiage Site]]
Pallavas were replaced by the Pandyas in the 8th century. Their capital Madurai was in the deep south away from the coast. However, they were overshadowed by the growing power of the Cholas. With the decline of the Cholas towards the end of the 11th century, the Pandyas rose to prominence once again, under [[Maravarman Sundara Pandya]].
By the 9th century, under [[Rajaraja Chola]] and his son [[Rajendra Chola]], the Cholas rose as a notable power in [[Asia]]. The Chola Empire stretched as far as [[Bengal]]. Rajaraja Chola conquered all of peninsular [[South India]] and parts of [[Sri Lanka]]. Rajendra Chola's navies went even further, occupying coastal Burma (now [[Myanmar]]), the [[Andaman and Nicobar Islands]], [[Lakshadweep]], [[Sumatra]], [[Java]], [[Malay Peninsula|Malaya]] in South East Asia and Pegu islands. He defeated [[Mahipala]], the king of the Bengal, and to commemorate his victory he built a new capital and named it [[Gangaikonda Cholapuram]].
The Cholas excelled in building magnificent temples. [[Brihadeeswarar Temple|Brihadeshwara Temple]] in [[Thanjavur]] is a classical example of the magnificent [[architecture]] of the Chola kingdom. Brihadshwara temple is an UNESCO Heritage Site under "Great Living Chola Temples."<ref>[http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/250 Great Living Chola Temples]</ref> Another example is the [[Chidambaram Temple]] in the heart of the temple town of [[Chidambaram]]. The power of the Cholas declined around the late 11th century.
This restoration was short-lived as the Pandya capital of [[Madurai]] itself was sacked by [[Alauddin Khilji]] troops from the north in 1316. The invasion led to the establishment of the [[Madurai Sultanate]].
These northern invasions triggered the establishment of [[Vijayanagara Empire]] in the Deccan. It eventually conquered the entire Tamil country (c. 1370 CE). This empire lasted almost three centuries.
[[Image:Fort Dansborg.JPG|thumb|right|200px|Fort Dansborg, built by the [[Danish overseas colonies|Danish]], in Tranquebar (now [[Tharangambadi]])]]
As the [[Vijayanagara Empire]] went into decline after mid-16th century, the [[Nayak]] governors, who were appointed by the Vijayanagar kingdom to administer various territories of the empire, declared their independence. The [[Nayaks of Madurai]] and [[Nayaks of Thanjavur]] were most prominent of them all in the 17th century. They reconstructed some of the oldest temples in the country.
Around 1609, the [[Dutch people|Dutch]] established a settlement in [[Pulicat]]. In 1639, the British, under the British East India Company, established a settlement further south, in present day Chennai. The British used petty quarrels among the provincial rulers (divide and rule) to expand their sphere of influence throughout the Nizam's dominions. The British fought and reduced the [[French India|French dominions in India]] to [[Pondicherry]]. Nizams bestowed tax revenue collection rights on the East India Company by the end of 18th century. Some notable chieftains or [[Poligar]]s who fought the British East India Company as it was expanding were [[Veerapandya Kattabomman]], [[Pulithevan]] and [[Dheeran Chinnamalai]]. In early 19th century, East India Company consolidated most of southern India into the Madras Presidency coterminous with the dominions of [[Nizam of Hyderabad]]. [[Pudukkottai]] remained as a [[princely state]] under British suzerainty.
When India became independent in 1947, [[Madras]] Presidency became Madras State, comprised of present day Tamil Nadu, coastal Andhra Pradesh up to Ganjam district in Orissa, northern Karnataka, and parts of Kerala. The state was subsequently split up along linguistic lines. In 1968, Madras State was renamed Tamil Nadu, meaning Land of Tamil.
==Geography and climate==
[[Image:Agasthiyamalai range and Tirunelveli rainshadow.jpg|thumb|200px|right|A semi-arid wasteland near [[Tirunelveli]]. Monsoon clouds dump torrents of rain on lush forests that are only a few kilometers away in [[windward and leeward|windward]]-facing [[Kerala]], but are [[rain shadow|prevented]] from reaching Tirunelveli by the [[Agastya Malai|Agasthyamalai Range]] of the Western Ghats (background).]]
[[Image:Tamil Nadu topo deutsch mit Gebirgen.png|thumb|200px|right|Topographic map of Tamil Nadu]]
Tamil Nadu covers an area of {{convert|130058|km2|sqmi|lk=on}},and is the eleventh largest state in India. West and North of the state has lofty hills while the East and South are coastal plains. The bordering states are [[Kerala]] to the west, [[Karnataka]] to the northwest and [[Andhra Pradesh]] to the north. To the east is the [[Bay of Bengal]]. The southernmost tip of the Indian Peninsula is located in Tamil Nadu. At this point is the town of [[Kanyakumari (town)|Kanyakumari]] which is the meeting point of the [[Arabian Sea]], the Bay of Bengal, and the [[Indian Ocean]].
Tamil Nadu has a coastline of about {{convert|1000|km|mi|-2}} which forms about 18% of the country’s coastline (third longest).<ref name='unsys' /> Tamil Nadu's coastline bore the brunt of the 2004 [[Indian Ocean Tsunami]] when it hit India, which left behind 7,793 dead in the state.<ref>[http://library.thinkquest.org/04oct/01724/effects_india.html Damages to countries - India]</ref> Tamil Nadu falls mostly in a region of low seismic hazard with the exception of western border areas that lie in a low to moderate hazard zone. As per the 2002 Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) map, Tamil Nadu falls in Zones II & III. Historically, parts of this region have experienced seismic activity in the M5.0 range.<ref>[http://asc-india.org/maps/hazard/haz-tamil-nadu.htm Amateur Seismic Centre, Pune]</ref>
Tamil Nadu is dependent heavily on monsoon rains, and thereby is prone to droughts when the monsoons fail. The climate of the state ranges from dry sub-humid to semi-arid. The state has three distinct periods of rainfall: (1) Advancing monsoon period, [[Monsoon|South West monsoon]] (from June to September), with strong southwest winds; (2) North East [[monsoon]] (from October to December), with dominant northeast winds; and (3) Dry season (from January to May). The normal annual rainfall of the state is about {{convert|945|mm|in|abbr=on|lk=on}}<ref>[http://drought.unl.edu/pubs/dnn/arch9.pdf Assessment Report from the National Drought Mitigation Center, Univ. of Nebraska-Lincoln]</ref> of which 48% is through the North East monsoon, and 32% through the South West monsoon. Since the state is entirely dependent on rains for recharging its water resources, monsoon failures lead to acute water scarcity and severe drought.<ref name='unsys' /> Tamil Nadu is classified into seven agro-climatic zones: north-east, north-west, west, southern, high rainfall, high altitude hilly, and [[Cauvery river|Cauvery]] Delta (the most fertile agricultural zone). The table below shows the maximum and minimum temperatures that the state experiences in the plains and hills.<ref>[http://www.indiaandindians.com/tamilnadu/tamil_nadu.php IndiaAndIndians.com]</ref>
{| class="wikitable" |
|-
! || '''Plains''' || '''Hills'''
|-
| Max. || {{convert|43.0|°C|F}} || {{convert|32.3|°C|F}}
|-
| Min. || {{convert|13.1|°C|F}} || {{convert|3.0|°C|F}}
|}
Tamil Nadu has a wide variety of minerals with the most reserves in India [[lignite]] (almost 90% of India's reserves), [[magnesite]] (45%) and [[garnet]] (over 40%) among others.<ref>[http://www.tnmine.tn.nic.in/TN-Mining.htm#Reserves Department of Geology and Mining, Government of Tamil Nadu]</ref> Tamil Nadu contributes 15% of the total [[Salt]] production in the country. Forests cover over 17% of the state's geographical area with several [[Protected areas of Tamil Nadu]] including wild life and bird sanctuaries.<ref>[http://www.forests.tn.nic.in/ Tamil Nadu [[Forest]] Department]</ref>
==Governance and administration==
{{main|Government of Tamil Nadu}}
{{main|Tamil Nadu Police}}
[[Image:TN-GVT.JPG|thumb|150px|left|[[Emblem]] of Government of Tamil Nadu, showing the Temple tower of [[Srivilliputhur]] and [[Lion Capital of Asoka]].]]
Tamil Nadu had a [[Bicameralism|bicameral legislature]] until 1986, when it was replaced with a [[Unicameralism|unicameral legislature]], like most other states in India. The '[[Governor]]' is the Constitutional head of the state while the '[[Chief minister]]' is the head of the government and the head of the council of ministers. The Chief Justice of the [[Madras High Court]] is the head of the judiciary. The present Governor, Chief minister and the [[Chief Justice]] are S. S. Barnala, M. Karunanidhi and A. P. Shah respectively.The major administrative units of the state constitutes 39 [[Lok Sabha]] constituencies, 234 Assembly constituencies, 31 districts, 8 municipal corporations, 152 municipalities, 561 town panchayats and 12,618 village panchayats. [[Chennai]] (formerly known as Madras) is the state capital. It is the fourth largest city in India and is also one of the five A1 Metropolitan cities of India.
Tamil Nadu has been a pioneering state in [[E-Governance]] initiatives in India. A large part of the government records like land ownership records are already digitised and all major offices of the state government like [[Urban Local Bodies]] — all the [[Corporation]]s and [[Municipal]] Office activities — revenue collection, land registration offices, and transport offices have been computerised, thereby improving the quality of service and transparency in operations.
The 31 districts of Tamil Nadu are listed below, with the numbers corresponding to those in the image at the right. [[Ariyalur district]], which was created in 2001 from the [[Perambalur district]], was restored as the 31st district of Tamil Nadu on the 23rd November, 2007.
[[Image:TN Districts Numbered.png|thumb|200px|Districts of Tamil Nadu]]
{|
|-style="height:300px" valign="top"
|
# [[Chennai District]]
# [[Coimbatore district|Coimbatore District]]
# [[Cuddalore District]]
# [[Dharmapuri District]]
# [[Dindigul district|Dindigul District]]
# [[Erode District]]
# [[Kanchipuram District]]
# [[Kanyakumari District]]
# [[Karur District]]
# [[Krishnagiri District]]
# [[Madurai District]]
# [[Nagapattinam District]]
# [[Namakkal District]]
# [[Perambalur District]]
# [[Pudukkottai District]]
|
<ol start="16">
<li> [[Ramanathapuram District]]
<li> [[Salem District]]
<li> [[Sivagangai District]]
<li> [[Thanjavur District]]
<li> [[The Nilgiris District]]
<li> [[Theni District]]
<li> [[Thoothukudi District]]
<li> [[Tiruchirapalli District]]
<li> [[Tirunelveli District]]
<li> [[Tiruvallur District]]
<li> [[Tiruvannamalai District]]
<li> [[Tiruvarur District]]
<li> [[Vellore District]]
<li> [[Viluppuram District]]
<li> [[Virudhunagar District]]
<li> [[Ariyalur district]]
</ol>
|
|}
TN government has also announced that Tirupur will be the new headquarters of the Tirupur district which will be formed by splitting the Coimbatore and Erode district. <ref name="TirupurDistrict">[http://www.hindu.com/2007/12/30/stories/2007123058250100.htm]New Tirupur District</ref>
[[Image:Tamil Nadu crimes.jpg|thumb|200px|Decrease in crimes registered in Tamil Nadu<ref name='crimetrends'>[http://www.tn.gov.in/police/cprof.htm Tamil Nadu crime trends]</ref>]]
The [[Tamil Nadu Police]] Force is over 140 years old. It is the fifth largest state police force in India.<ref name='tnpabout'>[http://www.tn.gov.in/police/aboutus.htm TN Police]</ref> The administrative control of Tamil Nadu Police vests with the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu who holds the portfolio of Home Minister. The supervision and coordination of Police is done by the Home Department, Govt. of Tamil Nadu. The Force is headed by the [[Director General of Police]]. The State is divided into 4 police zones - North, Central, West and South. Each zone is headed by one [[Inspector General of Police]]. In each of the six metropolitan cities of Tamil Nadu, the City Police force is headed by a [[Commissioner of Police]]. These cities are Greater Chennai, Madurai, Coimbatore, Tiruchirapalli, Salem and Tirunelveli. There are thirty police districts in Tamil Nadu, each headed by a [[Superintendent of Police]]. In each City and District, the Commissioner of Police / Superintendent of Police has, besides the civil police force, an armed reserve of police personnel. One Deputy Inspector General of police supervises the work of 2–3 districts, which constitute a Police Range. There are eleven ranges in Tamil Nadu. The special units of Tamil Nadu Police perform specific functions related to security, intelligence, criminal investigations and support services.<ref name='tnpabout' /> Tamil Nadu has a police population ratio of 1 : 632.<ref name='tnpstats'>[http://www.tn.gov.in/police/statistics.htm Tamil Nadu Police - Profile]</ref> The Tamil Nadu Police force is regarded as one amongst the best in the country.<ref name='tnpstats' /> Tamil Nadu is one of the states where law and order has been maintained largely successfully. Over the years, there has been a gradual decrease in the number of crimes registered.<ref name='crimetrends' />
==Politics==
{{main|Politics of Tamil Nadu}}
[[Image:Periyar1973.jpg|thumb|200px|left|Periyar, Leader of the Dravidian Movement]]
=== Pre Independence ===
Prior to Indian independence Tamil Nadu was under British colonial rule as part of the [[Madras Presidency| Madras Presidency]]. The main party in Tamil Nadu at that time was the Congress Party. [[List of political parties in India|Regional parties]] have dominated state politics since 1916. One of the earliest regional parties was the [[South Indian Welfare Association]], which was a forerunner to [[Dravidian]] parties in Tamil Nadu, was started in 1916. The party was called after its English organ, [[Justice Party]], by it opponents and later the same was adopted as its official name. The reason for victory of the Justice Party in elections was the non-participation of the Congress Party, demanding complete independence of India.
E.V.Ramaswami Naicker popularly known as ''[[EVR]]'' and also as ''[[Periyar]]'', believed in agitational politics and he took the Justice Party away from its original path. The Justice Party which had a moribund existence under E.V.Ramaswami Naicker, died at last in 1944 which he renamed the party [[Dravidar Kazhagam]] (DK for short) in 1944. DK was a non-political party which demanded the establishment of an independent state called [[Dravida Nadu]]. However, due to the differences between its two leaders Periyar and [[Annadurai|C.N. Annadurai]], the party was split. Annadurai left the party to form the [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]]. The DMK decided to enter politics in 1956.
=== Dravidian Politics ===
[[Image:AnnaMKMGR.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Present chief minister [[M Karunanidhi|M.Karunanidhi]] (centre) with ex-chief ministers [[Annadurai|C. N. Annadurai]] (left) and [[MG Ramachandran|M. G. Ramachandran]] (right)]]
In the 19th century, western scholars proposed that [[Dravidian languages]] that dominates the south of India formed a different linguistic group to that of [[Indo-Aryan languages]] that are predominant in the north of the country. They also classified Indians into distinct Aryan and Dravidian races. It was proposed that the generally darker-skinned Dravidians constituted a distinct [[Race (classification of human beings)|race]]. This concept has affected thinking in India about racial and regional differences and had an impact on aspects of [[Tamil nationalism]], which has appropriated the claim that Dravidians are the earliest inhabitants of India, and the Aryan population were oppressive interlopers from whom Dravidians should liberate themselves.{{Fact|date=November 2007}}
Re-organisation of Indian states according to linguistic and ethnic basis has moderated Tamil nationalism, especially the demand for separation from the Indian Union. The [[Anti-Hindi agitations]] in mid-1960s made the DMK more popular and a more powerful political force in the state. The DMK routed the [[Congress Party]] in the 1967 elections and took control of the state government, ending Congress' stronghold in Tamil Nadu. C.N. Annadurai became the DMK's first [[Chief Minister]].
[[M Karunanidhi|Muthuvel Karunanidhi]] took over as Chief Minister and party leader after Annadurai's death in 1969. Karunanidhi's leadership was soon challenged by [[MG Ramachandran|M.G. Ramachandran]], popularly known as MGR. In 1972, he split from DMK and formed the Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (ADMK) and later renamed the party as All India Anna Dravid Munnetra Kazhagam. He was the Chief Minister of the state from 1977 until his death in 1987. After the death of MGR and the defeat of AIADMK in the 1989 assembly polls, [[J. Jayalalithaa]] took control of the party. She was elected as the General Secretary of the unified AIADMK. There have been several splits in both the DMK and the AIADMK, but since 1967 one of those two parties has held power in the state.
==Demographics and human rights==
Tamil Nadu is the sixth most populous state in [[India]] with a population of 62,405,679 as of midnight on [[March 1]] [[2001]] (approximately 6.05% of India's population). It is the eleventh most densely populated state in India. In 2001, its population density was 478 persons per square kilometre<ref name="Census India 2001">[http://www.censusindia.gov.in/Census_Data_2001/Census_data_finder/C_Series/Population_density.htm Indian States population density]</ref>, having increased from 429 in 1991, significantly higher than the Indian average of 324 persons per square kilometre.<ref name="Frontline">[http://www.frontlineonnet.com/fl1809/18090930.htm The Tamil Nadu picture] on Frontline Magazine</ref> Approximately 47% of Tamil Nadu's population live in [[urban area]]s, one of the highest percentages in India.<ref name="world-bank">[http://timesfoundation.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1162466.cms World Bank Supports India's Urban Development]</ref>
Tamil Nadu's population grew by 11.19% between 1991 and 2001, the second lowest rate for that period (after [[Kerala]]) amongst populous states (states whose population exceeded 20 million in 2001). Its decadal rate of population growth has declined in every decade since 1971, one of only three populous states (along with Kerala and [[Orissa]]) to show this trend. According to National Family Health Survey-3 (NFHS-3), Tamil Nadu registered a fertility rate of 1.8, the lowest in India in year 2005-2006 [http://www.nfhsindia.org/].
{{bar box
| title=Tamil Nadu religiosity
| titlebar=#ddd
| left1=Religion
| right1=Percent
| float=right
| bars=
{{bar percent|Hinduism|orange|88.11}}
{{bar percent|Christianity|blue|6.06}}
{{bar percent|Islam|green|5.56}}
{{bar percent|Others|yellow|0.27}}
}}
As recorded in the 2001 All India census<ref name="Scheduled Languages by India/State/Union Territory"> [http://www.censusindia.gov.in/Census_Data_2001/Census_Data_Online/Language/Statement3.htm]</ref>, 89.43% of the population speak [[Tamil language|Tamil]] as their mother tongue. Other languages spoken in the state are [[Telugu language|Telugu]] (5.65 %), [[Kannada]] (1.68 %), [[Urdu]] (1.51 %) and [[Malayalam]] (0.89 %). A significant population can speak more than one language, usually English. Also the vast majority of the people follow the Hindu religion. The distribution of population based on religion is described in the table.<ref>[http://www.census.tn.nic.in/religion.aspx Directorate of Census Operations - Tamil Nadu]</ref>
Seventy-six Scheduled Castes[http://bruno.penandscale.com/2006/06/list-of-adi-dravidar-castes-in-tamil.html] have been notified in Tamil Nadu by the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Order (Amendment) Act of 1976.[http://www.censusindia.gov.in/Tables_Published/SCST/dh_sc_tamilnadu.pdf (pdf)]
Tamil Nadu is a socially [[progressive]] state in India as exemplified by creating a welfare board for [[transgender]]s and also issuing an order for creating a third gender category for admission in government colleges.<ref>[http://www.hindu.com/2008/05/05/stories/2008050560090700.htm The Hindu, 5 May 2008]</ref><ref>[http://infochangeindia.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=7036&Itemid=54 Transgender welfare board]</ref>
Tamil Nadu has had a good human rights record when it comes to religious freedom. There have been some notable exceptions. With respect to caste discrimination, Tamil Nadu's record is fairly poor. The state, during the peak of the dravidian movement, experienced strong anti-[[Brahmin]] sentiments. There are allegations that [[Dalit]]s are discriminated even today in the southern districts and in other rural areas by the [[OBC]] population there.{{Fact|date=November 2007}} The government's 69% reservation policy in educational institutions for OBCs and MBCs is, in general, resented by many forward castes for being a policy of reverse discrimination.<ref>[http://www.gnxp.com/MT2/archives/000760.html "The Resilient Brahmin"]</ref><ref>[http://satyameva-jayate.org/2005/10/08/revising-the-aryan-invasion-of-india-theory/ Revising the “Aryan Invasion of India” Theory] - Satyameva Jayate</ref> Tamil Nadu's record of tolerance towards linguistic minorities has been exemplary, despite provocative incidents occurring in other states and despite the state having been the epicenter of anti-Hindi agitations.
{{Infobox largest cities
<!--- Table title --->
| title = Largest agglomerations of Tamil Nadu
<!--- List header --->
| city_type = City
| subdivision_type = District
<!--- Central images --->
| image1 = DSC00390.JPG
| image2 = Main thoroughfare Coimbatore.jpg
<!--- List --->
| city1 = Chennai
| city1_div = Chennai
| city1_pop = 6,560,242
| city2 = Coimbatore
| city2_div = Coimbatore
| city2_pop = 1,461,139
| city3 = Madurai
| city3_div = Madurai
| city3_pop = 1,203,095
| city4 = Tiruchirapalli
| city4_div = Tiruchirapalli
| city4_pop = 866,354
| city5 = Salem
| city5_div = Salem
| city5_pop = 751,438
| city6 = Tiruppur
| city6_div = Coimbatore
| city6_pop = 550,826
| city7 = Tirunelveli
| city7_div = Tirunelveli
| city7_pop = 433,352
| city8 = Erode
| city8_div = Erode
| city8_pop = 389,906
| city9 = Vellore
| city9_div = Vellore
| city9_pop = 386,746
| city10 = Thoothukudi
| city10_div = Thoothukudi
| city10_pop = 243,415
| city11 = Thanjavur
| city11_div = Thanjavur
| city11_pop = 215,314
| city12 = Nagercoil
| city12_div = Kanyakumari|Kanyakumari district
| city12_pop = 208,179
<!--- Footnotes --->
| source = Census 2001<ref>http://www.citypopulation.de/India-TamilNadu.html]</ref>
}}
==Education and social development==
[[Image:Iitm.maingate.logo.jpg|thumb|200px|The main entrance of [[IIT Madras]], showing its logo and its motto.]]
Tamil Nadu has performed reasonably well in terms of [[Literacy in India|literacy growth]] during the decade 1991-2001. The state's literacy rate increased from 62.66% in 1991 to 73.47% in 2001.<ref name="Frontline"/> which is well above the national average. In a survey conducted by Industry body Assochaam, Tamil Nadu tops among Indian states with about 100% Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) to primary and upper primary education.<ref name='8steps'>[http://indiaedunews.net/Tamil_Nadu/Tamil_Nadu_boosts_of_best_school_enrolment_figures_3890/ Tamil Nadu boosts of best school enrolment figures]</ref>
Tamil Nadu has 19 Universities,<ref>[http://www.tnuniv.ac.in/Universities.htm Universities in Tamil Nadu],</ref> 250 engineering colleges<ref>[http://collinfo.annauniv.edu:6060/annauniv/collegeall/collcat.asp?collcat=all Engineering colleges in Tamil Nadu]</ref> and 1150 arts college, 2550 schools and 5000 hospitals.{{Fact|date=June 2008}} Some of the reputed institutes include [[University of Madras]], [[IIT Madras]], [[NIT Tiruchi]], [[Anna University]], [[Madras Medical College]], [[Stanley Medical College]], [[Tamil Nadu Agricultural University]] and Tamilnadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (TANUVAS).
Also Tamil Nadu produces the highest number of engineering graduates in India (around 30,000) every year which attracts many software companies to set up their shop in south India.
While India ranked 128 in human development index calculated worldwide with 0.619, Tamil Nadu has performed well with an index of 0.736 in year 2006, only 0.041 less than 81 ranked China.<ref>[http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/04/stories/2008070459040800.htm Glaring regional disparities in human development index]</ref><ref>[http://hdrstats.undp.org/countries/ Human Development Reports]</ref> HDI is calculated using measures including population, sex ratio, density of population, per capita income, people below poverty Line, infant mortality rate, literacy rate and women's empowerment. The [[life expectancy]] at birth for males is 65.2 years and for females it is 67.6 years.<ref>[http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2004/10/20/stories/2004102000101100.htm " Top three States — a socio-economic comparison"] - BusinessLine</ref> However, it has a number of challenges, significantly, the poverty is high, especially in the rural areas. As of 2004-2005, the poverty line was set at Rs. 351.86 / month for rural areas and Rs. 547.42 / month for urban areas.<ref name='TNPoverty'>[http://www.tn.gov.in/dear/tab06/a127.pdf "Number and Percentage of Population Below Poverty Line By States- 2004-05"]</ref> Poverty in the state had dropped from 51.7% in 1983 to 21.1% in 2001<ref>[http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2004/04/09/stories/2004040900050800.htm Tamil Nadu Poverty]</ref> For the period 2004-2005, the Trend in Incidence of Poverty in the state was 22.5% as against the national figure of 27.5%.<ref>[http://www.tn.gov.in/dear/tab06/a124.pdf Poverty Profile]</ref> The World Bank is currently assisting the state in reducing poverty<ref>[http://lnweb18.worldbank.org/ESSD/sdvext.nsf/PrintFriendly/E2C2CDC083D20D7785256D500006B34F?Opendocument World Bank Poverty Reduction Project]</ref> High drop-out and low completion of secondary schools continue to hinder the quality of training in the population. Other problems include class, gender, inter-district and urban-rural disparities.
The Dravidian movement, which championed the causes of educating the people and eradicating superstitions, began in Tamil Nadu. In addition, it aimes to uplift the socially repressed Dravidian people and drew considerable support from the middle classes for their efforts in this matter. The movement was committed to social justice which led to the expansion of [[Reservation in India|reservations]] for the deprived communities. Tamil Nadu now has a 69% reservation in educational institutions, the highest among all Indian states.<ref>[http://www.rediff.com/news/2006/may/30spec.htm "Education is the means of social mobility"] - Rediff India Abroad</ref>
The [[Mid-day Meal Scheme]] program in Tamil Nadu, initiated by [[K. Kamaraj|Kamaraj]], was expanded considerably during the rule of the AIADMK in 1983. It feeds over a fifth of the state's population.{{Fact|date=November 2007}}
==Culture==
{{Main|Tamil people|Temples of Tamilnadu}}
Tamil Nadu has a long tradition of venerable culture. Tamil Nadu is known for its rich tradition of [[literature]], [[music]] and [[dance]] which continue to flourish today. Unique cultural features like Bharatanatyam (dance), [[Tanjore painting]], and Tamil architecture were developed and continue to be practised in Tamil Nadu.
=== Language and Literature ===
{{main |Tamil literature}}
[[Image:Tiruvalluvar Statue Kanyakumari.jpg|thumb|left|150px|The {{convert|133|ft|m|0|abbr=on}} high [[Thiruvalluvar Statue]], off the coast of [[Kanyakumari (town)|Kanyakumari]]]]
[[Tamil language|Tamil]] is the official language of Tamil Nadu and is one of the two classical languages of India, the other being [[Sanskrit]]. Tamil is also one of the [[official language of India]]. <ref>[http://india.gov.in/knowindia/india_at_a_glance.php India at a Glance] - National Portal of India</ref> It is a vibrant language with a long and rich literary tradition. Most of the older works are in verse form, and prose gained popularity later. All through history, Tamil literature has sought to inform and inspire, educate and entertain. Tamil poetry has universal appeal as evinced by many examples.
{| border=1 align=right cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=350 style="margin: 0 0 1em 1em; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 90%;"
|எப்பொருள் யார்யார்வாய்க் கேட்பினும் அப்பொருள்<br />
மெய்ப்பொருள் காண்ப தறிவு
|-
|'The mark of wisdom is to discern the truth<br />
From whatever source it is heard.' <br />
- ''([[Tirukkural]] - 423)''
|}
[[Tirukkural]] which was written nearly two millennia ago portrays a universal outlook. This is evident as the author, Thiruvalluvar, does not mention his religion, land, or the audience for his work. He is portrayed as a holy saint of Tamil Nadu today. There is an evidential history that the kings of olden days rolled out Tamil [[Sangam]] (Tamil organisation) to develop literature works in Tamil.{{Fact|date=November 2007}} The Sangam headquartered in Madurai generated a large amount of notable literary works. The first Tamil printing press was established at Tarangambadi by the Danish missionaries.
During the [[Indian independence movement|Indian freedom struggle]], many Tamil poets and writers provoked national spirit, social equity and secularist thoughts among the common man, notably [[Subramanya Bharathy]]. Even today, Tamil Nadu is home to creative writers like [[Jayakanthan]], [[Jayamohan]], [[Sujatha]], [[Indira Parthasarathy]].
===Religions===
[[Image:Maduraitemple.jpg|thumb|200px|With Hindus forming over 88% of the population, Hindu temples are ubiquitous in Tamil Nadu earning it the sobriquet 'The Land of Temples'. Shown here is the [[Meenakshi Amman Temple]] complex in Madurai, which is one of the grandest temples in the country]]
Tamil Nadu was the home of several Hindu movements not in the usual mainstream. These include [[Shankara]]'s [[Advaita]], [[Ramanuja]]'s [[Vishistadvaita]], Alwar [[Vaishnavism]], [[Nayanar]] [[Shaivism]], Several important Hindu Tamil figures became important figures for [[Hinduism]] as a whole (e.g., [[Shankara]] and [[Ramanuja]].) In modern times, worldwide important figures for Hinduism were [[Ramana Maharishi]] and [[Sri Sri Ravi Shankar]]. Other saints known more locally to Hindus within India are [[Raghavendra Swami]] the [[Dvaita]] Vaishnava, [[Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda]] or the Nithyananda Foundation, [[Sivananda]] the expert of [[yoga]] and [[Vedanta]].
Popular forms of God include [[Vishnu]], [[Shiva]] and [[Murugan]] (son of Shiva), although many other forms are also worshiped These other forms of God include, [[Rama]], [[Krishna]], [[Ganesh]], [[Paravati]], [[Surya]], and others. There is even a temple dedicated to the form of [[Hanuman]] and Ganesh in one form - Adianta Prabhu[http://www.madhyakailas.org/index.asp]. The government emblem of Tamil Nadu contained the popular Hindu temple of Thiruvilliputhur.
[[Christians]] and [[Muslims]] form roughly over 11% of the population. Christians are mainly concentrated in the southern districts of Kanyakumari, Thoothukudi and Tirunelveli. [[St. Thomas Mount]] in Chennai, the place where [[St. Thomas]], one of the disciples of [[Jesus Christ]], was believed to have been martyred<ref>[http://www.indianchristianity.org/thomas.html St. Thomas in India]</ref>, is an important pilgrimage site for Indian Christians. The [[Santhome Basilica]], supposedly built atop the tomb of St. Thomas, and the [[Vailankanni]] [[Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health]] — revered churches by the Catholics in India — are good examples of majestic church architectures in Tamil Nadu. The [[Church of South India]] is headquartered in Chennai.
Muslims are mainly concentrated in areas like Ambur, Vaniyambadi, Nagore, Melapalayam and Keelakarai, with the state capital Chennai also home to a good number of Muslims. Among Muslims 97.5% are Sunni (Most of the [[Tamil Muslim]]s, adhere to either [[Hanafi]] or [[Shafi]] schools of thought) and 1.5% Shia. Nagore, in Nagapattinam district, is an important pilgrimage site for Muslims, while the Thousand Lights Mosque in Chennai is one of the largest mosques in the country.
Tamil Nadu has also historically been home to Jains.
=== Music ===
{{See also | Ancient Tamil music}}
The Kings of the olden days created sangams for Iyal Isai Nadagam (Literature, Music and Drama). Music plays a major role in sangams. Music in Tamil Nadu had different forms. In villages where farming was the primary work, the ladies who work in the fields used to sing kulavai songs. Odhuvars, Sthanikars or Kattalaiyars offer short musical programmes in the temples by singing the devotional Thevaram songs. In sharp contrast with the restrained and intellectual nature of carnatic music, Tamil folk music tends to be much more exuberant. Popular forms of Tamil folk music include the Villuppāṭṭu, a form of music performed with a bow, and the [[Naattupurapaattu|Nāṭṭuppur̲appāṭṭu]], [[ballads]] that convey folklore and folk history. Some of the leading Tamil folk artists in the early 21st century are Pushpuvanam Kuppuswamy, Dr Navaneethakrishnan, Chinnaponnu, Paravai muniammal etc.
Carnatic music is the classical music of Southern India. The basic form is a monophonic song with improvised variations. There are 72 basic scales on the octave, and a rich variety of melodic motion. Both melodic and rhythmic structures are varied and compelling. This is one of the world's oldest & richest musical traditions.{{Fact|date=November 2007}} Carnatic music abounds in structured compositions in the different ragas. These are songs composed by great artists and handed down through generations of disciples. Three saint composers of the nineteenth century, [[Tyagaraja]], [[Muthuswami Dikshitar]] and [[Shyama Shastri]], have composed thousands of songs that remain favourites among musicians and audiences. The composers belonging to the [[Tamil Trinity]] of [[Muthu Thandavar]] (?1560 - ?1640 CE), [[Arunachala Kavi]] (1712-1779) and [[Marimutthu Pillai]] (1717-1787) composed hundreds of devotional songs in Tamil and helped in the evolution of Carnatic music. Today, Tamil Nadu has hundreds of notable carnatic singers who spread this music all over the world. [[M. S. Subbulakshmi]], a renowned carnatic singer, had the honour of singing a song in the [[UN Security Council]].
In terms of modern music (light, film, pop, etc.), the music of Tamil Nadu is praised very highly. [[Ilaiyaraaja]] was the most prominent composer of film music in Tamil cinema during the late 1970s and 1980s. His work highlighted Tamil folk lyricism and introduced broader Western musical sensibilities to the South Indian musical mainstream. Tamil Nadu is also the home of [[A.R. Rahman]] who is recognised worldwide and has composed film music in both [[Tamil films|Tamil]] and [[Bollywood|Hindi films]].
=== Arts and dance ===
[[Image:Serfoji amarasimha Tanjore.jpg|left|thumb|250px|<small>[[Tanjore]] became a major cultural centre during the 18th & 19th centuries, under [[Maratha]] rule. Figure depicts a [[Tanjore painting]] from this era.<br/>''From the collection of the V&A Museum.''</small>]]
[[Tamil people|Tamils]] have a large number of folk dances. These are performed for every possible occasion, to celebrate the arrival of seasons, birth of a child, weddings and festivals. Tamil dance is closely intertwined with the Tamil theatrical tradition. The most celebrated of these is [[karakattam]]. In its religious form, the dance is performed in front of an image of the goddess [[Mariamman]]. The dancer bears on his or her head a brass pot filled with uncooked rice, decorated with flowers and surrounded by a bamboo frame, and tumbles and leaps to the rhythm of a song without spilling a grain. Karakattam is usually performed to a special type of song known as [[temmanguppāṭṭu]] or [[thevar pāṭṭu]], a [[folk song]] in the mode of a lover speaking to his beloved, to the accompaniment of a [[nadaswaram]] and [[melam]]. Other Tamil folk dances include [[mayilāṭṭam]], where the dancers tie a string of peacock feathers around their waist; [[ōyilāttam]], danced in a circle while waving small pieces of cloth of various colours; [[poykkāl kuthiraiyaaṭṭam]], where the dancers use dummy horses; [[mān̲āṭṭam]], where the dancers imitate the graceful leaping of deer; [[par̲aiyāṭṭam]], a dance to the sound of rhythmical drumbeats, and [[thīppandāṭṭam]], a dance involving playing with burning wooden torches.
[[Image:Bharatanatyam 111.jpg|thumb|right|200px|[[Bharatanatyam]] dancer at Sri Devi Nrithyalaya Bharatanatyam Centre in Chennai]]
[[Bharatanatyam]] is a classical dance form originating from Tamil Nadu. Bharatanatyam is thought to have been created by [[Bharata Muni]], a Hindu sage, who wrote the [[Natya Shastra]], the most important ancient treatise on classical Indian dance. In ancient times it was performed as [[dasiattam]] by Hindu temple [[Devadasis]]. In this form, it as also been called ''sadir'' or ''chinna melam''. Many of the ancient [[sculpture]]s in Hindu temples are based on Bharata Natyam dance postures. Bharatanatyam is a traditional dance-form known for its grace, purity, tenderness, and sculpturesque poses. It continues to be a popular and widely performed dance style at present times and is practised by male and female dancers all over India.
[[Therukoothhu]] (street dance) is a folk tradition of dance-drama.
=== Film industry ===
{{main|Kollywood}}
Tamil Nadu is also home to the [[Kollywood|Tamil film industry]], the second largest film industry in India after [[Bollywood]] (Hindi films). It is based in [[Chennai]] and is a conflation of [[Hollywood]] and [[Kodambakkam]], the section of Chennai that houses cinema-related facilities.
=== Cuisine ===
{{main|Tamil cuisine}}
Tamil cuisine has one of the oldest culinary heritages in the world. Traditionally, food is served on banana leaf. [[Rice]] is the staple food of Tamils. Traditional Tamil cuisine includes [[Dosai]], [[Idly]], [[Vadai]], [[Pongal]] and [[Uthappam]]. These dishes are served along with [[Sambar (dish)|Sambar]], [[Rasam]], [[Kootu]], [[Aviyal]], [[Chatni]] and Poriyal. Traditionally prepared Filter Coffee is quite famous, which is unique in taste. The [[Chettinad]] region is famous for its spicy non-vegetarian cuisine. The [[Tirunelveli]] region is also famous for its unique wheat halwa. The [[fast food]] culture is witnessing a steady growth in Tamil Nadu in recent years.
==Festivals==
[[Image:DSC01858.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Bullock cart race]]
[[Pongal]], also called as ''Tamizhar Thirunaal'' (festival of Tamils), a four-day harvest festival is the most celebrated festival of Tamil Nadu. The Tamil language saying ''Thai Pirandhal Vazhi Pirakkum'' — literally meaning, the birth of the month of Thai will pave way for new opportunities — is often quoted with reference to this festival. The first day, '''Bhogi Pongal''', is celebrated by throwing away and destroying old clothes and materials by setting them on fire to mark the end of the old and emergence of the new. The second day,''' Surya Pongal''', is the main day which falls on the first day of the Tamil month Thai ([[January 14]] or [[January 15]] in western calendar). The third day, '''Maattu Pongal''', is meant to offer thanks to the cattle, as they provide milk and are used to plough the lands. [[Jallikattu]], a violent taming the wild bull contest, marks the main event of this day. During this final day, '''Kaanum Pongal''' — the word "kanum", means 'to view' in Tamil — youths used to gather at river banks to view and select their future life partners, but that practice has declined.
The first month in the Tamil calendar is ''Chittirai'' and the first day of this month is celebrated as ''Tamil New Year'', which generally falls on [[April 13]] or 14th of the [[Gregorian calendar]]. ''Aadi Perukku'' is celebrated on the 18th day of the Tamil month ''Aadi'', which celebrates the rising of the water level in the [[Cauvery river|river Cauvery]]. Apart from these major festivals, in every village and town of Tamil Nadu, the inhabitants celebrate festivals for the local gods once a year and the time varies from place to place. Most of these festivals are related to the goddess [[Maariyamman]], the mother goddess of rain.
Additional major Hindu festivals including '''Deepavali''' ( Death of Narakasura, Saraswathi Poojai ([[Dasara]]) and [[Vinayaka Chathurthi]] are celebrated widely. The [[Ayyavazhi]] Festival [[Ayya Vaikunda Avataram]] is celebrated by the Ayyavazhi followers throughout the state,<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.hindu.com/2007/03/02/stories/2007030218740300.htm|title= The Hindu|accessdate=2007-02-07 |format= 'Engagements'|work= Ayya Vaikunda Dharmapathi}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2007030419620300.htm&date=2007/03/04/&prd=th&|title= The Hindu|accessdate=2007-02-07 |format= 'In Coimbatore today'|work= Ayya Vaikunta Sivapathi}} </ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://satrumun.blogspot.com/2007/03/175.html|title= satrumun|accessdate=2007-03-07 |format= 'தமிழ்நாடு'|work= ஐயா வைகுண்டசாமியின் 175-வது அவதார திருநாள்}}</ref> grandly in the southern districts. <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dinamalar.com/2006mar03/general_tn3.asp Report on declaration of the holiday|title=[[Dina Malar]]|accessdate=2007-02-03 |format=}}</ref><ref> '''Daily Thanthi''', ''Daily(Tamil)''', Nagercoil Edition, 5/3/2006.'' </ref><ref> '''Thamizh Murasu''',''Evening Daily (Tamil)''', Nagercoil Edition, 4/3/2006.'' </ref><ref> [http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2006030305790400.htm&date=2006/03/03/&prd=th& Information on declaration of holiday on the event of birth anniversary of Vaikundar in ''The Hindu'']</ref> In addition [[Christmas]], [[Eid ul-Fitr]], [[Easter]] and [[Bakrid]] are celebrated by [[Christians]] and [[Muslims]] in the state.
==Economy==
{{main|Economy of Tamil Nadu}}
===Macro-economic trend===
Tamil Nadu's gross state domestic product for 2007 is estimated at 275,000 crores (70 billion USD) in current prices<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tn.gov.in/budget/budsp07_08_4.htm#Overall%20Financial%20Position|title= Official site |publisher=Government of Tamil nadu|accessdate=2007-03-23 }}</ref>. <ref name='TNGDP'>[http://www.tn.gov.in/dear/tab06/a16.pdf GDP from TN Govt. site]</ref> The state experienced a GDP growth rate of 12.1% for this period.<ref name='8steps' /> Possessing the fifth largest economy (2005-2006) among states in India<ref>[http://mospi.nic.in/6_gsdp_cur_9394ser.htm 5th largest in GDP]</ref>, Tamil Nadu is also the most industrialised state in India.<ref>[http://mospi.nic.in/economic_census_prov_results_2005.pdf Most Enterprises in India]</ref> The per capita income for the period 2007 - 2008 for the state was Rs.43,000 ranking second among the South Indian states.<ref>[http://www.tn.gov.in/dear/tab06/a20.pdf Per capita income from TN Govt. site]</ref> It ranks third in foreign direct investment approvals (cumulative 1991-2002) of Rs.225,826 million ($5,000 million), next only to Maharashtra (Rs.366,024 million ($8,100 million)) and Delhi (Rs.303,038 million ($6,700 million)and the State's FDI investment constitutes 9.12% of the total FDI in the country.<ref name="3rd">[http://www.hindu.com/2005/04/22/stories/2005042211030100.htm Tamil Nadu ranks third in FDI, favoured destination]</ref> Tamil Nadu was the winner of fDimagazine's Asian Region of the Future award 2005/06 in terms of FDIs, surpassing Australia's [[New South Wales]].<ref>[http://www.fdimagazine.com/news/fullstory.php/aid/1489/ASIAN_CITIES___REGIONS_OF_THE_FUTURE_2005_06.html FDI Magazine]</ref> Unlike many other states, the economic resources are quite spread out, rather than concentrated in a small industrialised area. The overall unemployment is relatively low with 2.8% rural and 4.8% urban from CSI.<ref>[http://nrcw.nic.in/statistics%20tables/unemployment-rate.html "Tamil Nadu Unemployment Rate"]</ref>
[[Image:PercapitaIncomeTNIndia1 copy.jpg|thumb|265px|Per capita income of Tamil Nadu has grown steadily keeping above the national average.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.cmdachennai.org/pdfs/SMP/C_Chapt%20%20III_%20Economy.pdf
| title = Economy
| pages = p. III-4
| publisher = Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority
| work = Second Master Plan - II
| accessdate = 2007-10-05}}</ref>]]
'''Gross State Domestic Product - in Rs. Crores and Current Prices'''<ref>http://www.tn.gov.in/dear/tab06/a16.pdf</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year || Gross State Domestic Product
|-
| 1980 || 8,081
|-
| 1985 || 15,648
|-
| 1990 || 31,339
|-
| 1995 || 78,205
|-
| 2000 || 141,100
|-
| 2004 || 188,921
|-
| 2005 || 211,074
|}
According to the 2001 Census, Tamil Nadu has the highest level of urbanisation (43.86%) in India, accounting for 6% of India’s total population and 9.6% of the urban population.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tamil_Nadu&action=edit§ion=1|title=e-CENSUSIndia|publisher=CensusIndia.net|accessdate=2006-08-16 }}</ref> and is the most [[urbanized]] state in India.<ref>[http://www.hindu.com/2008/05/18/stories/2008051853960400.htm Tamil Nadu the most urbanised State: Minister]</ref> Services contributes to 45% of the economic activity in the state, followed by manufacturing at 34% and agriculture at 21%. Government is the major investor in the state with 51% of total investments, followed by private Indian investors at 29.9% and foreign private investors at 14.9%. Tamil Nadu has a network of about 110 industrial parks and estates offering developed plots with supporting infrastructure.<ref name="IT park"> Example include [http://www.tidelpark.com/ Tidelpark] and [http://www.itpchennai.com/ ITP Chennai]</ref> Also, the state government is promoting other industrial parks like Rubber Park, Apparel Parks, Floriculture Park, TICEL Park for Biotechnology,<ref name="ticel"> [http://www.ticelbiopark.com/ TICEL Park for Biotechnology]</ref> Siruseri IT Park, and Agro Export Zones among others.
Annual Plan outlays have increased by a record 75% from Rs.52,000 million ($1,100 million) in 2001-2 to Rs.91,000 million ($2,000 million) in 2005-6. Based on URP - Consumption for the period 2004 - 2005, percentage of the state's population [[Below Poverty Line]] was 27.5%.<ref name='TNPoverty' />
=== Agriculture ===
[[Image:Tamil Nadu countryside.jpg|thumb|left|Paddy fields in Theni District across the backdrop of the Western Ghats]]
Tamil Nadu has historically been an agricultural state; its advances in other fields launched the state into competition with other states. Even so, Tamil Nadu is a leading producer of agricultural products in India. At present, Tamil Nadu is India's second biggest producer of [[Rice]], next to [[Punjab, India|Punjab]] where there is perennial source of irrigation.<ref name="policynotes">[http://www.tn.gov.in/policynotes/agriculture.htm TN Government Policy Notes]</ref> The Cauvery delta region of the composite [[Thanjavur district]] is known as the Rice Bowl of South India. Tamil Nadu accounts for nearly 6% of the area under [[fruits]] and 4% of the area under [[vegetables]] in the country. In terms of production, the State’s share is nearly 10% in fruits and 6% in vegetables.<ref>http://nhm.nic.in/ActionPlan/ActionPlan_TamilNadu.pdf</ref> Tamil Nadu is also a leading state in the production of [[flowers]]. The total production of [[Horticulture|horticultural crops]] is 99.47 Lakhs during 2003-04. The main flowers grown in Tamil Nadu are Jasmine, Mullai, Chrysanthemum, Marigold and Rose. Mango and Banana are the leading fruit crops in Tamil Nadu accounting for over 84% of the area under fruit and over 87% of the total fruit production. Off-season production of mango and round-the-year production of [[grapes]] is unique to Tamil Nadu. The main vegetables grown are tapioca, tomato, onion, brinjal and drumstick.
[[Image:N.H. 47 - Near Chunkankadai, Kanyakumari District.JPG|thumb|Paddy fields along the [[Nagercoil]]-[[Thiruvananthapuram]] Highway, near Nagercoil, in [[Kanyakumari District]].]]
The state is the largest producer of [[banana]]s,<ref>[http://www.aipub.org/statistics.htm Banana Production Statistics]</ref>, flowers,<ref name='hortact'>[http://nhm.nic.in/ActionPlan/ActionPlan_TamilNadu.pdf National Horticulture Mission Action Plan for Tamil Nadu]</ref> tapioca,<ref name='hortact' /> the second largest producer of [[mango]],<ref name='hortact' /> [[coffee]],<ref>[http://indiacoffee.org/coffeeinindia/default.htm Coffee Data] - IndiaCoffee.org</ref> [[Rubber|natural rubber]],<ref>[http://www.rubberboard.org.in/RSN/RSNEWSOCT06.pdf "Rubber Statistical News"] - Rubber Board</ref> [[coconut]],<ref>[http://www.indiancommodity.com/statistic/coconut.htm]Coconut info from IndiaCommodity.com</ref> [[groundnut]] and the third largest producer of [[sapota]],<ref name='hortact' /> [[Tea]]<ref>[http://www.teauction.com/statistics/indprodstate.asp "Production Of Tea In India During And Upto August, 2002] - TeaAuction.com</ref> and [[Sugarcane]].<ref name='sugar'>[http://www.indiancommodity.com/statistic/sugarstat.htm]Sugar info from IndiaCommodity.com</ref> Tamil Nadu is also a leading producer of [[spices]], kambu, corn, rye and oil seeds.<ref>[http://nhb.gov.in/Horticulture%20Crops%5CMango%5CMango1.htm] Mango information from National Horticulture Board</ref><ref>[http://www.indianspices.com/pdf/state_prd.pdf Spices in India]</ref> The main spices grown are chillies, coriander, tamarind, turmeric and curry leaves. Tamil Nadu's sugarcane yield per hectare is the highest in India.<ref name='sugar' /> A host of sugar companies have their operations here including EID Parry I Ltd., Thiru Arooran Sugars Ltd., Sakthi Sugars Ltd., Bannari Amman Sugars Ltd. and Rajshree sugars Ltd. The state has 17,000 hectares of land under oil palm cultivation, the second highest in India.<ref>[http://assets.wwfindia.org/downloads/palm_oil_study_in_india___a_report.pdf Oil Palm Sector in India] - World Wildlife Fund - India</ref> Currently, Tamil Nadu is the only state to have a formal bio-diesel policy using [[Jatropha incentives in India|jatropha plant]] crops and to distribute wasteland to the poor farmers for planting.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.indutourismnews.com/
|title=Clean Green Energy from Tamil Nadu, India
|publisher=
|accessdate=2006-11-15
}}</ref>
[[Image:Farmers harvesting paddy.jpg|thumb|left|Farmers harvesting in a field near [[Vellore]]]]
Tamil Nadu is the home to [[M. S. Swaminathan|Dr M.S. Swaminathan]], known as the "father of the [[Green Revolution]]" in India.<ref name="MSS">[http://www.mssrf.org/index.htm M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation]</ref> [http://www.tnau.ac.in/ Tamil Nadu Agricultural University] with its seven colleges and thirty two research stations spread over the entire state contributes to evolving new crop varieties and technologies and disseminating through various extension agencies. The net sown area is 36% of the total geographic area (National average of 46%). The gross cropped area is 53,200 km² with a cropping intensity of 119. Irrigation covers 46% of the cropped area and the remaining 54% is rain-fed. Tamil Nadu's agriculture is heavily dependent on river water and monsoon rains.
===Water Resources===
{{main|List of rivers in Tamil Nadu}}
The perennial rivers are Palar, [[Cheyyar River]], Ponnaiyar, [[Kaveri River|Kaveri]], Meyar, [[Bhavani]], Amaravati, Vaigai, [[Chittar River]] & [[Tamaraparani]]. Non-perennial rivers include the Vellar, Noyal, Suruli, Gundar, Vaipar, Valparai and Varshali.
Canals, tanks and wells form the sources of Irrigation for farmers in the state. As of 2005-2006, the state had 2395 canals with a length of 9,747 km, 40,319 tanks, 670 ordinary government wells, 1,620,705 ordinary private wells and 290,611 tube wells.<ref>[http://www.tn.gov.in/dear/tab06/a40.pdf Irrigation in Tamil Nadu]</ref>
=== Livestock, poultry and fisheries ===
Among states in India, Tamil Nadu is one of the leaders in [[livestock]], [[poultry]] and [[fisheries]] production. The table below gives the data on the total number of livestock and poultry in 2003 (All figures in thousands).<ref>[http://dahd.nic.in/relcensus.htm] Livesotck & Poultry Statistics from Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Animal Husbandry Dairying & Fisheries, Government of India</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Cattle || Buffalos || Sheep || Goats || Pigs || Horses & ponies || Donkeys || Total livestock || Total poultry
|-
| 9141 || 1658 || 5593 || 8177 || 321 || 25 || 26 || 15800 || 86591
|}
As per this data, Tamil Nadu had the second largest number of poultry amongst all the states and accounted for 17.7% of the total poultry population in India. The town of [[Namakkal]] is also known as the poultry hub. In 2003-2004, Tamil Nadu had produced 4,752,000 tonnes of [[milk]], out of which 3,323,000 tonnes was cow milk and 1,429,000 tonnes was buffalo milk.<ref>[http://dahd.nic.in/stat_files/table_2.htm "Estimates of Milk Production"]</ref><ref>[http://dahd.nic.in/stat_files/table_3.htm "Share Of Milk Production By Cows, Buffaloes & Goats"]</ref>
The state was the ninth largest producer of milk and contributed to 5.39% of the total milk production in the country for that period. The per capita availability of milk for that period was 198 grams/day, which was lesser than the all-India figure of 231 grams/day.<ref>[http://dahd.nic.in/stat_files/table_4.htm "Per Capita Availability Of Milk]</ref> In 2003 - 2004, Tamil Nadu had produced 37,836
lakhs of [[Egg (food)|eggs]], which was the second highest figure among all the states in India, and represented 9.37% of the total egg production in the country.<ref>[http://dahd.nic.in/stat_files/table_6.htm "Estimates Of Egg Production"]</ref> During 2002-2003, the state had produced 609000 kg of wool.<ref>[http://dahd.nic.in/stat_files/table__10.htm "Estimates Of Wool Production"]</ref> The total [[fodder]] produced in the state for 2002-2003 was 31,929,000 tonnes, out of which 21,429,000 tonnes was dry fodder and 10,500,000 tonnes was green fodder.<ref>[http://dahd.nic.in/stat_files/table_20.htm "Dry & Green Fodder Production"]</ref> The total number of vertinary institutions in the state in 2006 was 1854.<ref>[http://dahd.nic.in/stat_files/NoOfIns&InfraData2006.pdf "Number of Veterinary Institutions
and Infrastructure Data of Animal Husbandry (Year-2006)"]</ref>
<!-- If you know how to fix the prev ref, please do so -->
With the third longest coastline in India, Tamil Nadu is also among the leaders in fisheries and in the production and exports of related products. For the year 2005-2006, total inland fish catchment was 155,944 tonnes and marine fish catchment stood at 389,714 tonnes.<ref>[http://www.tn.gov.in/dear/tab06/a51.pdf "Milk, Egg Production and Fish Catchment: By Districts"]</ref> For the same period, the total fish and fishery products exported by the state was 72,418 tonnes which was valued at Rs. 19.96 billion. This figure represented 27.54% of the total value of fish and fishery products exported by India for that period.<ref>[http://www.tn.gov.in/dear/tab06/a56.pdf "Inland Fish Production"]</ref>
=== Industry ===
[[Image:HyundaiChennai.JPG|thumb|right|200px|Hyundai's manufacturing plant near Chennai]]
Tamil Nadu is a highly industrialised state. Many heavy engineering and manufacturing-based companies are centred in and around the suburbs of Chennai (nicknamed, "The Detroit of Asia"). Chennai boasts the presence of global vehicle manufacturing giants like [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]], [[Renault]]-[[Nissan]], [[Caterpillar Inc.|Caterpillar]], [[Hyundai]], [[Komatsu Limited|Komatsu]], [[BMW]], and [[Mitsubishi]] as well as domestic heavyweights like [[Madras Rubber Factory|MRF]], [[TI Cycles]], [[Ashok Leyland]], [[Royal Enfield]], [[Mahindra & Mahindra]](JV with Renault-Nissan to produce Logan brand of cars), [[TAFE Tractors]], and [[TVS]].It also has a railway coach factory,ICF([[Integral Coach Factory]]).Recently in an equal joint venture agreement, Renault and Nissan have decided to invest Rs. 4,500 crore ($1,140 million) to set up an integrated greenfield automotive facility at Oragadam near Chennai. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) in this regard was signed with the Government of Tamil Nadu in February 2008. The project will come up on 678 acres and will provide vehicle production platforms for the two car-makers. It will also have powertrain facility. The plant will have an installed capacity of four lakh vehicles annually. The facility is expected to go on stream in 2010.Recently an MoU has been signed between [[Daimler]]-[[Hero Motors]] for establishing a truck manufacturing plant in Oragadam.This project would give a fillip to the manufacturing sector in Tamil Nadu, especially in the area of automobiles and auto components and help consolidate Chennai's position as the leading location for automobile production and related industries in India. Everything from automobiles, railway coaches, battle-tanks, tractors, motorcycles and heavy vehicles are manufactured in the state. Sterlite Industries have their copper smelter (in [[Tuticorin]]) and aluminium (in [[Mettur]]) factories here. A large number of textile mills and engineering industries are present around the city of [[Coimbatore]].[[Coimbatore]] is also headquarters for [[Pricol]], [[LMW]],[[ELGI]], Suguna and Bromark PioneerPoultry. [[Karur]] is known for its bus body building industries where most of the buses used in south India are manufactured, and truck bodies are built in [[Namakkal]]. Over 11.2% of the ''S&P CNX 500'' conglomerates have corporate offices in Tamil Nadu.{{Fact|date=December 2007}}
The [[Kalpakkam]] Nuclear Power Plant, Ennore Thermal Plant, [[Neyveli]] Lignite Power Plant, many hydroelectric plants including Mettur and the [[Narimanam]] Natural Gas Plants are major sources of Tamil Nadu's electricity. It is presently adding the [[Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant]] to its energy grid. Tamil Nadu sources a significant proportion of its power needs from renewable sources with wind power contributing over 2000 MW or over 20% of the needs.{{Fact|date=December 2007}} As of 2005, Tamil Nadu is one of the few Indian states with surplus power electricity, enabling the electrical authority to sell it to neighbouring states of Andra Pradesh & Karnataka. Tamil Nadu ranks [[States of India by installed power capacity|first nationwide]] in diesel-based thermal electricity generation with national market share of over 34%.{{Fact|date=December 2007}}
The textile industry plays a significant role in the Indian economy by providing direct employment to an estimated 35 million people, and thereby contributing 4% of GDP and 35% of Gross Export Earnings. The textile sector contributes to 14% of the manufacturing sector. There are a lot of Textile mills located in [[Coimbatore]]. The city of [[Tirupur]] (Coimbatore District), in Tamil Nadu is the country's largest exporter of cotton knitwear<ref>{{PDFlink|[http://www.cid.harvard.edu/archive/india/pdfs/challenge_textile_lib_tewari0101.pdf The Challenge of Reform: How Tamil Nadu’s Textile and Apparel Industry is Facing the Pressures of Liberalization]|471 [[Kibibyte|KiB]]<!-- application/pdf, 483257 bytes -->}} by Meenu Tewari for ''the Government of Tamil Nadu, India and the Center for International Development, Harvard University, Cambridge MA</ref> and sometimes referred to as [[Textile valley of India]].<ref>[http://ia.rediff.com/cms/print.jsp?docpath=//money/2005/feb/15bspec.htm Tirupur: India's Textile Valley!] by George Iype for rediff.com</ref> In 2004, the export turnover from the town was more than Rs. 50,000 million ($1,000 million). Some 7,000 garment units in the town provides employment opportunity to 7,50,000 people. 56% of India's total knitwear exports come from Tirupur. The Export Import Policy of 2002-2007 acknowledges Tirupur for its contribution to the export efforts. Next to Tirupur, the city of [[Karur]] generates around (3,500 million) $750 million a year in foreign exchange and give the opportunity to 3,00,000 peoples for work. The Karur exports of Home-Textile products such as bed linens, kitchen linens, toilet linens, table linens and wall hangings. [[Madurai]] and [[Kanchipuram]] are famous for their handloom and silk saris.
[[Image:Aralvaimozhy station.jpg|thumb|left|550px|[[Wind turbine]]s at [[Muppandal]] in [[Kanyakumari District]]. In the background are hills of the [[Western Ghats]].]]
Electronics manufacturing is a growing industry in Tamil Nadu. Companies like [[Nokia]], Flextronics, [[Motorola]], [[Sony-Ericsson]], [[Foxconn]], [[Samsung]], [[Cisco]], and [[Dell]] have chosen Chennai as their South Asian manufacturing hub. Products manufactured include circuit boards and cellular phone handsets.<ref name="Flextronics">[http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/10/07/stories/2005100702790400.htm Flextronics signs pact for Chennai facility]</ref> [[Ericsson]] also has a Research and Development facility in Chennai.<ref name="Ericsson India Private Ltd.">[http://www.ericsson.com/in/ericsson/corporate_information/ericsson_india.shtml Ericsson India Private Ltd]</ref> Big EPC companies have set up their Engineering centres which include Saipem I Project Services ltd, Technip, Foster Wheeler, Mott Mecdonald, Petrofac and Technimont. The [[Austria]]n company Austrian Energy and Environment also have a design office here besides local giant ECC {Larsen & Toubro}. [[Sanmina-SCI]] is the latest company to invest in Tamil Nadu to create a state of the art manufacturing facility<ref>[http://www.siliconindia.com/shownews/36208 Sanmina sets up manufacturing plant in Tamil Nadu]</ref> [[Nokia Siemens Networks]] has decided to build a manufacturing plant for wireless network equipment in Tamil Nadu<ref>[http://www.nokiasiemensnetworks.com/global/Press/Press+releases/news-archive/Nokia_Siemens_Networks_to_invest_USD_100_million_to_strengthen.htm Nokia Siemens to invest in Tamil Nadu]</ref>
[[Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited]], a global electrical equipment manufacturing public sector company, has manufacturing plants at [[Tiruchirapalli]] and [[Ranipet]]. The construction industry also saw new entrants like BGR Energy systems ltd, Consolidated construction consortium. The state government owns the [[Tamil Nadu Newsprint and Papers]] (TNPL),<ref name="tnpl">[http://www.tnpl.co.in/ TNPL]</ref> the world's biggest [[bagasse]] based Paper mills in Karur as well as the world's sixth largest manufacturer of watches together with [[TATA]], under the brand name of "Titan".<ref name="titan">[http://www.tata.com/titan/ Titan Website]</ref> 55% of all wind-generated electricity in India is created by windmills in Tamil Nadu. Renowned Danish wind power company [[NEG Micon]] has established its manufacturing unit in Chennai.<ref name="vestas">[http://www.vestas.com/dk/Home/index.asp Vestas Web page]</ref>
Tamil Nadu is a leading producer of Cement in India. It is the home of leading cement brands in the country such as Chettinad Cements (in [[Karur]]), Dalmia Cements (in [[Ariyalur]]), Ramco cements (Madras Cement Ltd), India cements (in Sankari, Ariyalur), Grasim etc. Big companies like MICO and Cognizant solutions have set up their design offices here. L&T is setting up big manufacturing units with an investment of 500 crores.{{Fact|date=December 2007}} Even temple city Madurai has attracted [[Honeywell]] to set up their centre here.
The town of [[Sivakasi]] is a leader in the areas of printing, fireworks, and safety matches.<ref name='Sivakasi'>[http://sivakasionline.com/]SivakasiOnline.com</ref> It was fondly called as ''Kutty Japan'' or "little [[Japan]]" by [[Jawaharlal Nehru]]. It contributes to 80% of India's production of safety matches as well as 90% of India's total fireworks production. Sivakasi provides over 60% of India's total offset printing solutions and ranks as one of the highest taxpaying towns in India. Sivakasi also is a 100% employed town, putting it in the company of very few towns in India.{{Fact|date=December 2007}}
Tamil Nadu has a significant amount of mineral reserves such as [[lignite]] (87%), [[vermiculite]] (66%), [[garnet]] (42%), [[zircon]] (38%), [[graphite]] (33%), [[ilmenite]] (28%), [[rutile]] (27%), [[monazite]] (25%), and [[magnesite]] (17%). The numbers in the brackets indicate the percentage contribution to the national share. India's leading steel producer, [[Steel Authority of India Limited|SAIL]] has a steel plant in [[Salem, Tamil Nadu|Salem]].<ref name="SAIL">[http://www.sail.co.in/plant_special_salem.asp SAIL Plant]</ref>
[[Image:Tidel Park.jpg|thumb|right|200px|The [[Tidel Park]] in Chennai is one of the largest software parks in India]]
Tamil Nadu is a leading contributor in the IT and BPO sectors. Tamil Nadu is the third largest software exporter by value in India, second only to Karnataka and Maharashtra. India's largest IT park is in Chennai. Software exports from Tamil Nadu more than doubled from Rs. 76 billion ($1.6 billion) in 2003-04 to Rs. 141.15 billion {$3.53 billion} in 2005-06 and zoomed to Rs. 207 billion {$5 billion} by 2006-07 according to NASSCOM. <ref name="Software">[http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/05/07/stories/2006050702500300.htm The Hindu Business Line : TN software exports clock 32 pc growth<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Chennai is a hub for e-publishing with 47 e-publishing units registered with the [[STPI]] in Chennai. Companies such as [[eBay]],[[Computer Sciences Corporation]], [[Virtusa]], [[HCL]], [[Wipro]], [[TCS]], [[Satyam]], [[Infosys]], [[Polaris Software Lab]], [[Cognizant Technology Solutions]], [[Acme Technology Pvt Ltd]], [[Covansys]], [[Capgemini]], [[Ford Information Technology]], [[Xansa]],[[Changepond]], [[Verizon]], [[iSoft]],[[insoft]], [[iNautix]], [[MphasiS]]([[Electronic Data Systems]]), [[Bally]] and many others have offices in Chennai. Infosys Technologies has set up India's largest software development centre to house 25,000 software professionals at an estimated investment of Rs. 12,500 million ($270 million) in Chennai. Chennai is also the preferred destination for companies outsourcing their high-end knowledge intensive operations. Testimony to this is the presence of major market research companies such as Frost & Sullivan and equity research companies such as Irevna in Chennai. This is the next high growth area that Chennai is witnessing.
== Transportation ==
{{Main|List of State Highways in Tamil Nadu}}
[[Image:NMR up train at Kateri Road 05-02-28 04.jpeg|thumb|left|200px|[[Nilgiri Mountain Railway]], a [[UNESCO World Heritage Site]]<ref>[http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/135 NMR added as a World Heritage Site]</ref>]]
Tamil Nadu has a well established transportation system that connects all parts of the state. This is partly responsible for the investment growth in the state. Tamil Nadu is served by an extensive road network, providing links between urban centers, agricultural market-places and rural areas. There are 24 national highways in the state, covering a total distance of 2,002 km.<ref name="ibeftn">{{PDFlink|[http://www.india-now.net/download/TamilNadu_may06.pdf Economy and Business in Tamil Nadu]|1.21 [[Mebibyte|MiB]]<!-- application/pdf, 1273699 bytes -->}}</ref> The state is also a terminus for the [[Golden Quadrilateral]] project that is scheduled to be completed in 2008. The state has a total road length of 167,000 km, of which 60,628 km are maintained by Highways Department. This is nearly 2.5 times higher than the density of all-India road network.<ref name="tnroads">[http://www.tnhighways.org Official site for Tamil Nadu Highways]</ref> It is currently working on upgrading its road network, though the pace of work is considered slow.<ref name="tnupgrade"> [http://www.blonnet.com/2006/08/11/stories/2006081103171900.htm Highways, roads to be upgraded in Tamil Nadu]</ref>
Tamil Nadu has a well developed rail network as part of [[Southern Railway (India)|Southern Railway]]. Headquartered at [[Chennai]], the Southern Railway network extends over a large area of India's Southern Peninsula, covering the states of Tamil Nadu, [[Kerala]], [[Pondicherry]], a major portion of [[Karnataka]] and a small portion of [[Andhra Pradesh]]. Tamil Nadu has a total railway track length of 5,952 km and there are 532 railway stations in the state.<ref name="tnrail"> [http://www.tn.gov.in/misc/tnataglance.htm#ROAD%20AND%20TRANSPORT Tamil Nadu Railway Statistics]</ref> The system connects it with most major cities in [[India]]. Main rail junctions in the state include Chennai, [[Erode]], Coimbatore, Madurai,Tiruchirapalli([[Trichy]])and [[Salem]] . Chennai has a well-established [[Transport in Chennai|Suburban Railway]] network and is in the process of developing a metro.
[[Image:Valparai GhatRoad.JPG|thumb|right|200px|Ghat roads en route [[Valparai]] in Coimbatore district]]
Tamil Nadu has a major international airport, [[Chennai International Airport]], that is connected with 19 countries with more than 169 direct flights every week. This is currently the third largest airport in India after [[Mumbai]] and [[Delhi]] and has a passenger growth of 18%. It also has domestic airports at [[Coimbatore]], [[Trichy]], [[Tuticorin]] and [[Madurai]] make several parts of the state easily accessible. Increased industrial activity has given rise to an increase in passenger traffic as well as freight movement which has been growing at over 18 per cent per year.<ref name="tntransport"> [http://www.indiainbusiness.nic.in/indian-states/tamilnadu/EconoInfra.htm Transportation in Tamil Nadu]</ref>
Tamil Nadu has three major ports at [[Chennai Port|Chennai]], [[Ennore Port|Ennore]] and [[Tuticorin]], as well as one intermediate port, [[Nagapattinam]], and seven minor ports, [[Rameswaram]], [[Kanyakumari (town)|Kanyakumari]], [[Cuddalore]], [[Colachel]], [[Karaikal]], [[Pamban]] and [[Valinokkan]] which are currently capable of handling over 73 million metric tonnes of cargo annually (24 per cent share of India). All the minor ports are managed by the Tamil Nadu Maritime Board.<ref name="tnmariboard">[http://www.tn.gov.in/per-budget-1999-2001/hrw-pb-e-3.htm Creation of the Tamil Nadu Maritime Board]</ref> Chennai Port is an artificial harbour situated on the Coromandel Coast in South-East India and it is the second principal port in the country for handling containers. Ennore Port was recently converted from an intermediate port to a major port and handles all the coal and ore traffic in Tamil Nadu. The volume of cargo in the ports grew by 13 per cent during 2005.<ref name="ennoreport"> [http://www.ennoreport.gov.in/ Official website for Ennore Port]</ref><ref name="tutiport">[http://www.tuticorinport.gov.in/ Official website for Tuticorin Port]</ref> The [[Sethusamudram Shipping Canal Project]] will transform the Tuticorin port into a [[transshipment]] hub similar to those in [[Singapore]] and [[Colombo]]. The ports are in need of improvement and some of them have container terminals privatised.
== Fauna and Flora ==
[[Image:Lion-tailed Macaque.jpg|thumb|right|150px|[[Lion-tailed macaque]], an endangered species]]
The state has a wide range of flora and fauna. There is a wide diversity of wildlife. There are many [[Protected areas of Tamil Nadu]], including 2 [[Protected_areas_of_Tamil_Nadu#Biosphere_Reserves:|Biosphere Reserves]], 5 [[Protected_areas_of_Tamil_Nadu#National_Parks:|National Parks]] and several [[Protected_areas_of_Tamil_Nadu#Wildlife_Sanctuaries:|Wildlife Sanctuaries]], where many unique species and their habitats are protected<ref>Tamil Nadu Forest Department, retrieved 7/29/2007[http://www.forests.tn.nic.in/WLTourism.htm Tamil Nadu Wildlife Tourism]</ref> Tamil Nadu includes a wide range of [[Biomes]], extending east from the [[South Western Ghats montane rain forests]] in the [[Western Ghats]] through the [[South Deccan Plateau dry deciduous forests]] and [[Deccan thorn scrub forests]] to [[tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests|tropical dry broadleaf forests]] and then to the [[beach]]es, [[estuaries]], [[salt marsh]]es, [[mangrove]]s, and [[coral reef]]s of the [[Bay of Bengal]].
=== Fauna ===
{{main | Wildlife of Tamil Nadu}}
There are about 2000 species of wildlife that are native to Tamil Nadu. Protected areas provide safe habitat for large mammals including [[Indian elephant|Elephant]]s, [[Bengal tiger|Tiger]]s, [[Indian leopard|Leopard]], [[Wild dog]],[[Sloth bear]]s, [[Gaur]]s, [[Lion-tailed macaque]]s, [[Nilgiri Langur]]s, [[Nilgiri Tahr]]s, [[Grizzled Giant Squirrel]]s and [[Sambar deer]], resident and migratory birds such as [[Cormorant]]s, [[Darter]]s, [[Heron]]s, [[Egret]]s, [[Asian Openbill Stork|Open-billed Stork]]s, [[Spoonbill]]s and [[White Ibis]]es, [[Little Grebe]]s, [[Common_Moorhen#Eurasian_Common_Moorhen|Indian Moorhen]], [[Black-winged Stilt]]s, a few migratory [[Duck]]s and occasionally [[Pelecanus philippensis|Grey Pelican]]s, marine species such as the [[Dugong]]s, [[Turtle]]s, [[Dolphin]]s and [[Balanoglossus]] and a wide variety of fish and insects.
===Flora===
Tamil Nadu is the home for 3000 plant species including [[Eucalyptus]], [[Palmyra]], [[Rubber]], [[Cinchona]], Clumping Bamboos ([[Bambusa|Bambusa Arundinacea]]), [[Tectona grandis|Common teak]], [[Anogeissus latifolia]], [[Terminalia tomentosa|Indian Laurel]] , [[Grewia]], and blooming trees like [[Indian labumusum]], [[Aredesia]], and [[Solanancea]]. Rare and unique plantlife includes [http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?311513 Combretum ovalifolium], [[Ebony]] (Dispyros nilagrica), [[Habebarai reriflora]] (Orchid), [[Alsophila]], [[Impatiens|Impatiens elegans]], [[Ranunculus|Ranunculus reniformis]], and [[Royal fern]]. Tamil Nadu ranks first in Angiosperm diversity amongst all the states in the country with 5640 species (32%) of the total 17,672 species, which includes 230 red-listed species and 1559 species of medicinal plants<ref>Tamil Nadu Dept. of Forests, Retrieved 9/9/2007[http://www.forests.tn.nic.in/WildBiodiversity/wildbiodiversity_home.html Biodiversity]</ref>
==Tourism==
[[Image:Courtallam.jpg|thumb|200px|left|Courtallam waterfalls in [[Tirunelveli district]]]]
Tamil Nadu's tourism industry is the second largest in India, with an annual growth rate of 16%.<ref>[http://www.nfis.com.au/india/pdfs/1_why_focus_southern_india.pdf 8 Steps to India<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Tourism in Tamil Nadu is promoted by Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation (TTDC), a Government of Tamil Nadu undertaking. TTDC was incorporated in July, 1971, with the objective of promoting tourism in Tamil Nadu by providing infrastructure facilities in transport and accommodation. To fulfil this objective, TTDC has expanded its activities into 3 main operations, namely, hotels, transport and fairs. At present, TTDC operates 54 hotels, 11 boat houses, 3 restaurants, 3 snack bars, 4 telescope houses, 2 landscaping & gardening and 1 tourist service center. TTDC offers wide range of package tours and operates a fleet of 22 coaches.<ref>[http://www.ttdconline.com/about_ttdc.htm TTDC]</ref> The tagline adopted for promoting tourism in Tamil Nadu is '''Enchanting Tamil Nadu'''. In 2004, Tamil Nadu had earned Rs. 20 million ($457,000) from tourism.<ref>[http://www.my-tamil.com/n/a/arc1-2005.shtml My-Tamil.com: Tamilnadu News Archive February 2005<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Approximately 1,219,000 foreign and 29,305,000 domestic tourists visited the state in 2005.<ref>http://www.tn.gov.in/dear/tab06/a123.pdf</ref>
Tamil Nadu is a land of varied beauty. It boasts some of the grandest [[Hindu]] temples of Dravidian architecture in the World. The temples are of a distinct style which are famous for their towering [[Gopurams]]. The [[Brihadishwara Temple]] in [[Thanjavur]], built by the [[Cholas]], and the [[Shore Temple]], along with the collection of other monuments in [[Mahabalipuram]] have been declared as [[UNESCO World Heritage Sites]].<ref>[http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/250 Great Living Chola Temples - UNESCO World Heritage Centre<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/249 Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram]</ref> The Rajagopuram of Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple in [[Srirangam]] — the largest functioning Hindu temple in the world — is the tallest temple gopuram in the world<ref>[http://www.srirangam.org Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple website]</ref>
Madurai is home to one of the grandest Hindu temples in the World — [[Meenakshi Amman Temple|Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple]]. [[Rameshwaram]], Kanchipuram and [[Palani]] are important pilgrimage sites for Hindus. Other popular temples in Tamil Nadu include those in [[Gangaikonda Cholapuram]], [[Chidambaram]], [[Thiruvannaamalai]], [[Aragalur]], Tiruttani, [[Swamithoppe]], [[Tiruchendur]] and [[Tiruvallur]].
[[Image:Vivekananda Rock & Valluvar Statue at Sunrise.JPG|thumb|left|200px|[[Kanyakumari (town)|Kanyakumari]], the Southernmost tip of Mainland India, at sunrise]]
Tamil Nadu is also home to many beautiful hill stations. Popular among them are [[Udhagamandalam]] (Ooty), [[Kodaikanal]], [[Yercaud]], [[Coonoor]], Top Slip and Yelagiri. The Nilgiri hills, Palani hills, Shevaroy hills and Cardamom hills are all abodes of thick forests and wildlife. [[Mukurthi National Park]] & [[Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve]] are the two tiger reserves in the state. Tamil Nadu has many National Parks, Biosphere Reserves, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Elephant and Bird Sanctuaries, Reserved Forests, Zoos and Crocodile farms. Prominent among them are [[Mudumalai National Park]], [[Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve|The Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve]], [[Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary]], Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary and [[Arignar Anna Zoological Park]]. The [[mangrove]] forests in [[Pichavaram]] are also eco-tourism spots of importance.
[[Kanyakumari (town)|Kanyakumari]], the southern most tip of peninsular India, is famous for its distinct and beautiful sunrise, [[Vivekananda Rock Memorial]] and [[Thiruvalluvar]]'s statue built off the coastline. [[Marina Beach]] in Chennai is one of the longest beaches in the world.<ref>[http://www.tamilnow.com/tourism/chennai/marina-beach.html Marina Beach, Chennai - One of the Longest Beaches in the World<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> The stretch of beaches from Chennai to Mahabalipuram are home to many resorts, theme parks and eateries. The Waterfalls in the state include [[Courtallam]], [[Hogenakal]], Papanasam and Manimuthar. The Chettinad region of the state is renowned for its Palatial houses and cuisine. In recent years, Tamil Nadu is also witnessing a growth in [[Medical tourism]], as are many other states in India.
==See also==
{{portalpar|Tamil Nadu}}
*[[Tamil people]]
*[[Tamil language]]
*[[Dravidian people]]
*[[South India]]
*[[Indian states rankings]]
*[[Indian states ranking by fertility rate]]
== References ==
<div style="height: 220px; overflow: auto; padding: 3px; border:1px solid #AAAAAA; reflist4" >
{{reflist|2}}
</div>
== External links ==
* [http://www.tn.gov.in/ Tamil Nadu Government Website]
* {{dmoz|Regional/Asia/India/Tamil_Nadu/}}
* [http://www.samukam.com Samukam.com - The Tamil Social Network]
{{Tamil Nadu}}
{{States and territories of India}}
<!--Categories-->
[[Category:Tamil Nadu| ]]
[[Category:States and territories of India]]
{{Link FA|de}}
{{Link FA|ta}}
<!--Interwiki-->
[[ar:تاميل نادو]]
[[bn:তামিল নাড়ু]]
[[br:Tamil Nadu]]
[[bg:Тамил Наду]]
[[ca:Tamil Nadu]]
[[cs:Tamilnádu]]
[[cy:Tamil Nadu]]
[[da:Tamil Nadu]]
[[de:Tamil Nadu]]
[[dv:ޓެމިލް ނާޑޫ]]
[[et:Tamil Nadu]]
[[es:Tamil Nadu]]
[[eo:Tamilnado]]
[[fr:Tamil Nadu]]
[[gu:તમિલનાડૂ]]
[[ko:타밀나두 주]]
[[hi:तमिल नाडु]]
[[hr:Tamil Nadu]]
[[bpy:তামিল নাড়ু]]
[[id:Tamil Nadu]]
[[it:Tamil Nadu]]
[[he:טאמיל נאדו]]
[[kn:ತಮಿಳುನಾಡು]]
[[ka:ტამილნადუ]]
[[ks:तमिलनाडु]]
[[lt:Tamilnadas]]
[[hu:Tamilnádu]]
[[ml:തമിഴ്നാട്]]
[[mr:तामीळनाडू]]
[[ms:Tamil Nadu]]
[[nl:Tamil Nadu]]
[[ja:タミル・ナードゥ州]]
[[no:Tamil Nadu]]
[[nn:Tamil Nadu]]
[[pl:Tamil Nadu]]
[[pt:Tamil Nadu]]
[[ro:Tamil Nadu]]
[[qu:Tamil Nadu]]
[[ru:Тамилнад]]
[[sa:तमिलनाडु]]
[[simple:Tamil Nadu]]
[[sr:Тамил Наду]]
[[sh:Tamil Nadu]]
[[fi:Tamil Nadu]]
[[sv:Tamil Nadu]]
[[ta:தமிழ்நாடு]]
[[te:తమిళనాడు]]
[[th:รัฐทมิฬนาฑู]]
[[vi:Tamil Nadu]]
[[tg:Тамӣлноду]]
[[tr:Tamil Nadu]]
[[zh:泰米尔纳德邦]]