Fact check: Data discrepancies in Tamil Nadu Governor's statement on Assembly walkout

Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi walked out of the Assembly without delivering his customary address on January 10, 2025. The Raj Bhavan (official residence of the Governor) issued a press release detailing the reasons for his action. However, a fact check of the claims in the press release reveals several inaccuracies and instances of data being taken out of context.

FDI Inflows

The press release claimed that four years ago Tamil Nadu was the fourth largest recipient of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) but “today is struggling to remain at the sixth”. According to the latest data from the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, for the first half of FY26 (April to September 2025), FDI equity inflow to Tamil Nadu stood at $3.5 billion, making it the third highest among States. In FY22, Tamil Nadu ranked fourth, and in FY21 it ranked sixth. The claim that the state has slipped to sixth place is not supported by the data.

MSMEs in the State

The press release stated that over 55 million Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) are registered in India, of which four million are in Tamil Nadu. However, data from the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises dashboard shows 75 million registered MSMEs in India, with six million in Tamil Nadu, which is the third highest among States. The figures provided in the press release appear to be lower than the official data.

Suicides

The press release claimed that Tamil Nadu recorded 20,000 suicides in one year and that “nowhere else in the country the situation is so alarming and Tamil Nadu is being referred to as the suicide capital of India”. According to the latest National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data for 2023, Maharashtra recorded more suicides than Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu has ranked second in the number of suicides every year between 2013 and 2023, a consistent trend that is concerning but does not match the description of being the “suicide capital”.

Narcotics Cases

The press release cited a rise in drug-related cases. Data shows that cases filed under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act in Tamil Nadu rose from about 13,450 (2018-2020) to 27,300 (2021-2023), an increase of about 100%. However, other states saw even sharper increases: Assam (260%), Telangana (220%), and Kerala, Karnataka, Bihar, and Andhra Pradesh (125% to 180%). The context of a national trend is important.

Rape Cases

A claim about the rise in POCSO Act rape cases was made without a clear time frame for comparison. The Supreme Court recently observed that the POCSO Act has sometimes been weaponised by families to punish young people, casting doubt on whether the numbers necessarily reflect an increase in actual crimes.

Crimes against Dalits

The press release also claimed that atrocities against Dalits are sharply increasing in Tamil Nadu. NCRB data for 2018-2023 shows that Tamil Nadu has consistently ranked between eighth and thirteenth in cases filed under the Prevention of Atrocities Act (for Scheduled Castes). The rise in reported incidents is similar to trends observed in several other states.

The Raj Bhavan press release contained several claims that are either factually incorrect or presented without the necessary context. While some issues highlighted, such as suicides and drug cases, are indeed serious concerns, the data does not support the characterisation of Tamil Nadu as being uniquely worse than other states in these areas.