Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa on Monday announced various steps to benefit IAS aspirants from the state, including increasing stipend offered at a government training institute here.

The chief minister announced increasing the monthly stipend from Rs 1200 to Rs 2000 for the trainees of the government-run institute, besides directing that it be revised by five per cent annually in the coming years.

She also announced Rs 3000 as incentive for 200 students for three months to encourage them to do well in their preparation for central services, exams for which are conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), an official release here said.

Besides, Rs 2000 would be given as travel allowance to those aspirants who had underwent training at the institute and cleared the exams to appear for the personal interview in New Delhi, the release added.