The Tamil Nadu government has dismissed viral social media claims suggesting that students taking the Class 10 exams are exempt from writing the Tamil language paper. Officials clarified that these reports are entirely untrue and cautioned against believing unverified information. Allegations circulating widely on platforms like WhatsApp and X implied that Tamil would not be compulsory in the SSLC exams and that students from linguistic minority backgrounds could opt for their mother tongues instead.
The misinformation led to confusion and concern among students, parents, and educators across the state. The issue also acquired a political undertone, with leaders like Naam Tamilar Katchi chief coordinator Seeman criticizing what they perceived as a weakening of Tamil’s importance in the school syllabus. Tamil Nadu Fact Check (TN Fact Check), the government’s official information verification body, intervened to debunk the viral claims.
TN Fact Check affirmed that no official decision had been made to exempt students from writing the Tamil paper for Class 10 exams. They explained that a temporary exemption was granted between 2020 and 2023 to students in recognized linguistic minority schools based on Madras High Court directives. This exemption was specific to schools that had formally requested relief and was extended only for the 2023–24 academic year.
Authorities emphasized that this exemption was temporary and not a permanent policy. It was explicitly stated that no exemption was provided in 2025, reinforcing that Tamil remains a mandatory subject as per existing regulations. The government cautioned against spreading false information that could cause unnecessary distress among students and advised parents and students to rely on official updates from the School Education Department for accurate details on the examinations.
