The Tamil Nadu government has announced new rules to fix lease rent for properties belonging to religious institutions. The 'Fixation of Lease Rent to the Immovable Property of the Religious Institutions Rules, 2026' sets clear percentages based on property type. Commercial buildings will attract a lease rent of 0.60% of the market value of land and building. Commercial sites have a rate of 0.30%. Residential buildings and sites each get 0.05%. Agricultural lands and topes will have lease rent at 25% of the normal gross produce or its money value. For lands leased to below-poverty-line residents for housing, the rate is just 0.025%. Rent must be paid by the fifth day every month. A special Committee will decide the rent, considering nearby similar properties’ market rent. If market rent is unknown, the fixed rates will apply. The Committee will re-fix rents every three years. The government also removed an older rule from 1963 that dealt with rent for religious buildings. These changes are under Section 34-A of the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act, 1959. This move aims for clear and fair rent rules for religious institution properties.