Puducherry Approves Rs 3,000 Pongal Grant for Ration Card Holders Ahead of 2026 Polls

• Puducherry Lieutenant Governor approved a Rs 3,000 Pongal cash grant for all ration card holders.
• The move is seen as a politically significant welfare measure ahead of the April–May 2026 Legislative Assembly elections.
• The announcement follows a similar initiative in neighboring Tamil Nadu, where CM M K Stalin launched a Rs 3,000 Pongal cash gift.
• Tamil Nadu's scheme includes cash, raw rice, sugar, sugarcane, dhoti, and saree for 2.22 crore rice category ration cardholders.
• Tamil Nadu has earmarked Rs 6,936 crore for the cash component and Rs 248.66 crore for gift items.

Why It Matters: Puducherry approves a Rs 3,000 Pongal grant for ration card holders, mirroring Tamil Nadu's welfare scheme.