Fort St. George to Modern Legislature - Administrative History of Tamil Nadu

Administrative discussions have emerged regarding the establishment of a new Chief Secretariat and Legislative Assembly complex with modern facilities for Tamil Nadu.

St. George Fort, built in 1639 during British rule, has been functioning as the administrative headquarters of the Madras Presidency and, after independence, as the Chief Secretariat.

📚 School Textbook Link: 11th Standard / 10th Standard · History / Social Science · 11th History: Unit 16 (Arrival of Europeans) / 10th Social: Unit 2 (State Government) · Formation of St. George Fort (1639), Madras Presidency & State Legislative Administration

🎯 TNPSC Exam Key Notes:

• St. George Fort was built by the British in Chennai in 1639-1640 (total area 107 acres).
• The first legislative assembly election of the Madras Presidency took place in 1920; in which the Justice Party (Justice Party) won and Subbarayalu Reddiar became the Chief Minister.
• On January 14, 1969, the Madras State was officially renamed 'Tamil Nadu' by Chief Minister Perarignar Anna.
• From November 1, 1986, during M.G.R.'s rule, the Tamil Nadu Legislative Council (Legislative Council) was abolished and became unicameral (Unicameral).
• The total number of members in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly is 235 (234 elected members + 1 nominated member).

📌 KEY FOR TNPSC:

• The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly is a unicameral legislature (Unicameral Legislature).
• The Tamil Nadu Chief Secretariat and the ASI (ASI) Museum operate within the St. George Fort complex.