{"id":"in-tamil-nadu","country":"in","kind":"state","name":{"en":"Tamil Nadu","local":"தமிழ்நாடு"},"languages":["ta","en"],"currency":"INR","symbol":"₹","fxPerUsd":94,"cities":{"T1":"Chennai","T2":"Coimbatore","T3":"Tiruvannamalai"},"basket":{"teaCup":15,"simpleMeal":90,"haircutMen":120,"milkLitre":44,"breadLoaf":45,"unskilledDayWage":650,"minWageMonthly":13972,"shopRentSqftMonth":{"T1":120,"T2":50,"T3":22},"electricityCommercialKwh":9.7,"lpgCommercialCylinder":2983,"petrolLitre":107.8},"tax":{"salesTax":"GST 5/18% (national)","smallBizThreshold":"₹40 lakh goods / ₹20 lakh services (national)","localLevies":"Professional tax paid half-yearly to the local body, up to ₹1,250 per half-year (₹2,500/yr); trade licence from corporation/municipality"},"licences":[{"name":"Shop & Establishment registration (TN Shops & Establishments Act 1947), online via Labour dept","fee":"Nominal (exact 2026 fee not retrieved; est. under ₹500 for micro shops)","authority":"Labour Welfare & Skill Development Dept","source":"Est.: fee not found; act and 24x7 order at https://www.scconline.com/blog/?p=397703"},{"name":"Trade licence (Greater Chennai Corporation / municipal bodies)","fee":"By trade and area (est. ₹500–5,000/yr for small shops)","authority":"Urban local body","source":"Est.: no 2026 GCC schedule retrieved"},{"name":"Permission to open all 365 days / 24x7","fee":"Free blanket notification (24 Aug 2026, 3 years) with conditions","authority":"Labour dept","source":"https://www.scconline.com/blog/?p=397703"}],"festivals":[{"name":"Deepavali","dates2026_27":"about 8 Nov 2026","effect":"Sweets, crackers (Sivakasi supply), textiles 2–3×; T. Nagar crowds; Deepavali day slow for services"},{"name":"Karthigai Deepam","dates2026_27":"late Nov / early Dec 2026","effect":"Tiruvannamalai draws lakhs of pilgrims; food stalls, lamps, flowers spike; traffic curbs"},{"name":"Christmas / New Year","dates2026_27":"25 Dec 2026 – 1 Jan 2027","effect":"Bakeries and cafés peak; Velankanni pilgrim towns busy"},{"name":"Pongal (Bhogi, Thai Pongal, Mattu Pongal, Kaanum Pongal)","dates2026_27":"14–17 Jan 2027","effect":"Rice, jaggery, sugarcane, new clothes up; many shops shut 1–2 days; Chennai empties as workers go home"},{"name":"Thaipoosam","dates2026_27":"23 Jan 2027","effect":"Murugan temple towns (Palani) pilgrim rush; vegetarian demand"},{"name":"Ramzan / Eid al-Fitr","dates2026_27":"Eid about 10 Mar 2027","effect":"Biryani and evening snacks surge in Muslim neighbourhoods"},{"name":"Tamil New Year (Puthandu)","dates2026_27":"14 Apr 2027","effect":"Gold, clothes and sweets; a state holiday"},{"name":"Vinayagar Chathurthi","dates2026_27":"about 4 Sep 2027","effect":"Idols, flowers, kozhukattai; immersion processions close roads"}],"seasons":[{"months":"Apr–Jun","what":"Hot summer; Agni Nakshatram (May) 40°C+ inland; juice, buttermilk, ice up; afternoons dead"},{"months":"Jun–Sep","what":"South-west monsoon largely bypasses TN; dry and hot except the west (Nilgiris, Coimbatore drizzle)"},{"months":"Oct–Dec","what":"North-east monsoon: Chennai and coastal districts get most of the year's rain; flooding and cyclones disrupt street vendors"},{"months":"Jan–Mar","what":"Mild, dry; wedding (Thai month) and festival season"}],"payments":{"digitalShare":"about 60–80% UPI by count in Chennai shops, 35–55% in small towns (Est.)","credit":"udhaar common in kirana and tea-shop monthly accounts"},"notes":"Tamil Nadu is India's most urbanised large state, with a dense web of mid-size manufacturing towns, so T2/T3 demand is stronger than in most states. The state supplies cheap staples (Aavin milk around ₹40–44/L, the cheapest co-op milk in India; free rice via PDS; Amma canteens), which caps what small eateries can charge. Liquor retail is a state monopoly (TASMAC), the north-east monsoon (Oct–Dec), not the south-west, is the disruptive rain season, and shops can now stay open all 365 days under a 24 Aug 2026 order. Minimum wages are moderate (₹13.8–14.0k for helpers) but revised twice yearly by VDA.","factors":[{"id":"P01","cat":"Wages","name":"Minimum wage, unskilled shops (helper/peon/sweeper), Zone A–D","value":"₹14,044 / 13,972 / 13,894 / 13,823 per month (basic + VDA ₹7,353), from 1 Apr 2026","role":"HV","source":"https://www.dcpsol.com/tamil-nadu-minimum-wages-april-2026","estimate":false},{"id":"P02","cat":"Wages","name":"Minimum wage, salesman/cashier/clerk","value":"₹14,182 (Zone A) – ₹13,972 (Zone D) per month","role":"HV","source":"https://www.dcpsol.com/tamil-nadu-minimum-wages-april-2026","estimate":false},{"id":"P03","cat":"Wages","name":"Minimum wage, manager","value":"₹14,743 (Zone A) – ₹14,567 (Zone D) per month","role":"HV","source":"https://www.dcpsol.com/tamil-nadu-minimum-wages-april-2026","estimate":false},{"id":"P04","cat":"Wages","name":"Zone used for T2 (Coimbatore)","value":"Zone B ₹13,972 assumed","role":"HV","source":"Est.: zone lists not retrieved; Chennai taken as Zone A, other corporations Zone B","estimate":true},{"id":"P05","cat":"Wages","name":"Typical informal helper pay","value":"Chennai ₹12k–16k; Coimbatore ₹10k–14k; towns ₹7k–11k","role":"HV","source":"Est.: national presets; TN floors moderate","estimate":true},{"id":"P06","cat":"Wages","name":"Casual unskilled day wage, T2","value":"₹650/day","role":"HV","source":"Est.: legal floor ₹540/day (Zone A) plus market premium in industrial Coimbatore","estimate":true},{"id":"P07","cat":"Wages","name":"VDA revision cadence","value":"Twice a year (Apr and Oct)","role":"HV","source":"https://www.keka.com/library/minimum-wages/tamilnadu","estimate":false},{"id":"P08","cat":"Rent","name":"Shop rent T1 Chennai (neighbourhood)","value":"₹120/sq ft/month (high streets ₹123–349 in 2025; Anna Nagar 2nd Ave +11% YoY Q2 2026)","role":"HV","source":"Est. from https://apparelresources.com/business-news/retail/apparel-drives-25-retail-leasing-top-7-cities/ and https://www.cushmanwakefield.com/en/india/news/2026/07/india-retail-sector-growth-in-q2-2026","estimate":true},{"id":"P09","cat":"Rent","name":"Shop rent T2 Coimbatore","value":"₹50/sq ft/month","role":"HV","source":"Est.: national T2 band ₹40–67","estimate":true},{"id":"P10","cat":"Rent","name":"Shop rent T3 Tiruvannamalai","value":"₹22/sq ft/month (higher near the temple)","role":"HV","source":"Est.: national T3 band ₹13–27","estimate":true},{"id":"P11","cat":"Energy","name":"Commercial electricity (LT Tariff V)","value":"≈₹9.7/kWh (FY26 ₹9.4 from 1 Jul 2025; FY27 inflation-linked hike assumed ~3%)","role":"HV","source":"Est. from https://mercomindia.com/tamil-nadu-hikes-fy-2026-electricity-tariffs-by-3-16 (FY26 ₹9.4; 2022-27 order allows up to 6% each 1 Jul)","estimate":true},{"id":"P12","cat":"Energy","name":"Commercial LPG 19 kg, Chennai","value":"₹2,983 (1 Oct 2026)","role":"HV","source":"https://www.goodreturns.in/news/lpg-gas-cylinder-prices-hiked-october-1-2026-19-kg-commercial-lpg-prices-up-rs-62-71-50-city-wise-1538497.html","estimate":false},{"id":"P13","cat":"Energy","name":"Petrol / diesel, Chennai","value":"Petrol ₹107.76, diesel ₹99.55 per litre (Oct 2026)","role":"HV","source":"https://www.thehansindia.com/business/petrol-and-diesel-prices-today-in-hyderabad-delhi-chennai-and-mumbai-on-18-october-2026-1133517","estimate":false},{"id":"P14","cat":"Licences","name":"365-day / 24x7 opening","value":"All shops may open every day for 3 years (notification 24 Aug 2026); rotating weekly off, displayed holiday roster, restrooms, lockers, ICC if women employed","role":"PD","source":"https://www.scconline.com/blog/?p=397703","estimate":false},{"id":"P15","cat":"Licences","name":"Earlier 24x7 order (10+ employees)","value":"GO 8 May 2025, effective 5 Jun 2025 for 3 years","role":"HV","source":"https://trilegal.com/knowledge-repository/trilegal-update-shops-and-establishments-in-tamil-nadu-permitted-to-operate-24x7-for-another-three-years/","estimate":false},{"id":"P16","cat":"Licences","name":"Shop & Establishment registration fee","value":"Nominal, online; est. under ₹500 for a micro shop","role":"PD","source":"Est.: official 2026 fee table not retrieved","estimate":true},{"id":"P17","cat":"Licences","name":"Trade licence (GCC / municipality)","value":"Est. ₹500–5,000/yr by trade and area; annual renewal","role":"PD","source":"Est.: no schedule retrieved","estimate":true},{"id":"P18","cat":"Tax","name":"Professional tax","value":"Half-yearly: nil to ₹21,000 half-year income; ₹135 for ₹21,001–30,000 ... ₹1,250 above ₹75,000 (₹2,500/yr max); paid to local body","role":"HV","source":"https://hrone.cloud/blog/professional-tax-slab-rates-2026-27/","estimate":false},{"id":"P19","cat":"Tax","name":"GST and FSSAI","value":"National rules unchanged","role":"HV","source":"https://www.fssai.gov.in/upload/advisories/2026/03/69c6a23234827order_27032026.pdf","estimate":false},{"id":"P20","cat":"Rules","name":"Liquor retail monopoly (TASMAC)","value":"Only state-run TASMAC shops sell liquor; no private wine shops; bars attached to TASMAC","role":"HV","source":"Est.: long-standing state policy (TASMAC since 2003)","estimate":true},{"id":"P21","cat":"Rules","name":"Plastic ban","value":"TN banned 14 single-use plastic items from 1 Jan 2019; 'Meendum Manjappai' cloth-bag push; shop fines","role":"RE","source":"Est.: TN GO 2018, effective 2019","estimate":true},{"id":"P22","cat":"Rules","name":"Tamil signage","value":"Shop names must show Tamil prominently (largest script); municipal drives with fines","role":"HV","source":"Est.: TN Shops Act rules and 2025 government directive","estimate":true},{"id":"P23","cat":"Festivals","name":"Pongal","value":"14–17 Jan 2027 (Thai Pongal 15 Jan); food and clothing up; shops shut 1–2 days; migrant-worker exodus from Chennai","role":"HV","source":"https://publicholidays.in/tamil-nadu/","estimate":false},{"id":"P24","cat":"Festivals","name":"Deepavali","value":"About 8 Nov 2026; sweets/textiles 2–3× for 2–3 weeks","role":"HV","source":"Est.: multiplier from national festival matrix","estimate":true},{"id":"P25","cat":"Festivals","name":"Karthigai Deepam, Tiruvannamalai","value":"Late Nov/early Dec; T3 town demand 3–5× for 2–3 days","role":"HV","source":"Est.: lakhs of pilgrims annually; multiplier reasoned","estimate":true},{"id":"P26","cat":"Festivals","name":"Tamil New Year and Thaipoosam","value":"14 Apr 2027 and 23 Jan 2027","role":"HV","source":"https://publicholidays.in/tamil-nadu/","estimate":false},{"id":"P27","cat":"Climate","name":"North-east monsoon floods / cyclones","value":"Oct–Dec; Chennai floods (2015, 2023 Michaung); 1–5 lost trading days per event","role":"RE","source":"Est.: precedent; probability ~1 significant event every 1–2 years for T1","estimate":true},{"id":"P28","cat":"Climate","name":"Summer heat (Agni Nakshatram)","value":"May; 40–43°C inland; afternoon hot-food demand −20–30%, cold drinks up","role":"HV","source":"Est.: national summer matrix","estimate":true},{"id":"P29","cat":"Climate","name":"Chennai water scarcity","value":"Failed NE monsoon → tanker water costs up (2019 Day-Zero precedent)","role":"RE","source":"Est.: 2019 precedent, ~1 in 5 years","estimate":true},{"id":"P30","cat":"Prices","name":"Packet milk (Aavin toned)","value":"≈₹40 (card) – ₹44 (retail) per litre; cheapest co-op milk in India","role":"HV","source":"Est.: ₹40 toned per Apr 2025 report; no 2026 Aavin hike found — https://www.magzter.com/hi/stories/newspaper/The-New-Indian-Express-Tiruchy/AAVIN-IS-THE-CHEAPEST-COOPERATIVE-MILK-BRAND-IN-COUNTRY-SAYS-RAJA-KANNAPPAN","estimate":true},{"id":"P31","cat":"Prices","name":"Tea in a tea kadai, T2","value":"₹15 (Chennai ₹15–20)","role":"HV","source":"Est.: no 2026 city survey found; aligned with Bengaluru ₹15–18","estimate":true},{"id":"P32","cat":"Prices","name":"Simple meal (meals/thali), T2","value":"₹90; Amma Unavagam sells idli ₹1 and meals ₹5 as a price anchor","role":"HV","source":"Est.: mess meals ₹80–120","estimate":true},{"id":"P33","cat":"Prices","name":"Men's haircut, T2","value":"₹120","role":"HV","source":"Est.: national salon pack","estimate":true},{"id":"P34","cat":"Market","name":"Per-capita income","value":"≈$5,329 (2025-26 nominal); ₹3,61,619 NSDP per capita FY25","role":"HV","source":"https://telanganatoday.com/telangana-enters-world-banks-upper-middle-income-category-ranks-third-in-per-capita-income","estimate":false},{"id":"P35","cat":"Market","name":"Urbanisation","value":"48.4% urban (Census 2011), likely >50% now — most urbanised large state","role":"HV","source":"Est.: Census 2011 (old) https://censusindia.gov.in/","estimate":true},{"id":"P36","cat":"Payments","name":"Digital share","value":"Chennai ~60–80% UPI by count; towns 35–55%","role":"HV","source":"Est.: national UPI share scaled by tier/ticket (shared constants)","estimate":true},{"id":"P37","cat":"Language","name":"Language of trade","value":"Tamil dominant; English in Chennai/Coimbatore; Hindi rarely used (migrant workers aside)","role":"HV","source":"Est.: language profile","estimate":true},{"id":"P38","cat":"Schemes","name":"Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thogai","value":"₹1,000/month to eligible women heads of family — supports local spending","role":"HV","source":"Est.: state scheme since Sep 2023","estimate":true},{"id":"P39","cat":"Schemes","name":"Free bus travel for women (Vidiyal Payanam)","value":"Raises footfall in town markets","role":"HV","source":"Est.: state scheme since 2021","estimate":true},{"id":"P40","cat":"Schemes","name":"TN MSME support (NEEDS / UYEGP)","value":"Capital subsidy 25% (NEEDS) for first-gen entrepreneurs; UYEGP for small units","role":"PD","source":"Est.: TN MSME dept schemes; 2026 rates not re-verified","estimate":true},{"id":"P41","cat":"Risk","name":"Statewide bandh / Cauvery agitation","value":"~1 per year closes shops 1 day","role":"RE","source":"Est.: precedent","estimate":true},{"id":"P42","cat":"Risk","name":"Festival-week labour shortage","value":"Pongal/Deepavali: migrant and local staff go home 3–7 days; capacity −30–50%","role":"RE","source":"Est.: reasoned from Pongal exodus pattern","estimate":true},{"id":"P43","cat":"Market","name":"FX used for USD conversion","value":"₹94 per USD (Est.)","role":"HV","source":"Est.: rupee fell ~5.4% Jan–Mar 2026 from about ₹90 (https://thewire.in/economy/in-wake-of-depreciating-rupee-foreign-remittances-to-kerala-remain-unaffected-despite-west-asia-crisis)","estimate":true}]}