SS CLASSES

ANDHRA
PRADESH
CURRENT AFFAIRS
2023 - 2024

ROUND UP
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 BASICS OF ANDHRA PRADESH
Capital • Hyderabad (Present capital).
• Amarawati (After 2024).
• Hyderabad (Common capital with Telangana till 2024).

Important Cities • Visakhapatnam, Tirupati, Secunderabad, Vijayawada.

Date of Formation • October 1, 1953 (Carved out of Madras State).

• June 2, 2014 (Reorganized – excluded Telangana).

Language • Telugu, Urdu

Known as • Egg bowl of Asia

• Kohinoor of India
• State with second longest coastline.

Regions • Coastal Andhra

• Rayalseema

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Boundaries with states • Odisha, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Chattisgarh,
• Puducherry (Yanam)
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Physical Characteristics • Coastal Plains.
• Eastern Ghats.
• Deccan Plateau.
• Forests can be divided into four major biotic provinces:
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• Deccan Plateau- 53%, Central Plateau- 35%, Eastern

• Highlands- 11%, East Coastal Plains- 1%
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Natural Vegetation • Tropical Dry forest

• Tropical shrub land.
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Minerals • Limestone, Oil and Natural Gas reserves, Maganese, Iron

ore,
• Asbestos, Ball clay, Gold, Diamonds, Graphite, Silica,
Dolomite, Quartz etc.
• Most deposit and production of Mica in India found here.
• It has about one third of India’s limestone reserves.

Rivers • Krishna (flowing from Mahabaleshwar in Maharashtra to

• Andhra Pradesh).
• Godavari (flowing from Brahmagiri Mountain in
Maharashtra
• to Antardevi into the Bay of Bengal).

Important Ports • Visakhapatnam, Kakinada and Machlipatnam.

Valleys • Araku Valley (Visakhapatnam)

• Horsley Hills (Chittoor districts)
• Papi Hills (East Godavari)
Regional Festivals • Ugadi, Rama Navami, Maha Sivaratri, Triputi Brahmosavam.

Art forms • Muggulu floor painting.

• Tirupati painitng.
• Textile Art : Kalamkari.

Dance forms • Kuchipudi, Butta Bommalu, Veeranatyam, Lambadi,

Harikatha, Dhimsa and Tappeta Gullu.

Biosphere Reserve • Seshachalam Biosphere Reserve.

The hill ranges spread in parts of Chittoor and Kadapa districts of

Andhra Pradesh have been designated as Seshachalam Biosphere

Reserve in Andhra Pradesh on 20th September 2010. The decision
is

based on the proposal submitted by the Government of

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Andhra Pradesh. This biosphere reserve will cover an

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area of 4755.997 Km2.

Industry • Sugar, Textiles, IT, Pearl jewellery, Silver filigree and

• Tobacco research and Farming.
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• Visakhapatnam – a major industrial center.

• Kakinada – multiple fertilizer refineries (produces large
• scale of natural gas from the offshore of KG basin).
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• Vijayawada is famous for processing of agricultural

products
• and automobile body building.
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Agriculture • Rice, Maize, Millets, Sugar Cane, Cotton, Chili, Pepper, Nuts,
• Oil Seeds, Pulse, Nuts.
• State has some of the richest livestock resources in the
• Country.
• Rice is the major food crop.
• Major Shrimp producing state.

Wildlife and Bird • Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger reserve (India’s largest

Sanctuaries Tiger
• Reserve).
• Pulicat Lake Bird Sanctuary (India’s second-largest lagoon;
• Largest is Chilka).
• Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary
• Rollapadu Bird Sanctuary.
• Kondakarla Bird Sanctuary
• Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary (Mangrove forests)
• Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary.
• Atapaka Bird Sanctuary – Kolleru Lake
• Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary.
 • Papikonda Wildlife Sanctuary
• Kolleru Wildlife Sanctuary.
• Gundla Brahmeswara Wildlife Sanctuary
• Sri Penusila Narasimha Wildlife Sanctuary
• Gundla Brahmeswara Wildlife Sanctuary.

State Aminal • Blackbuck (Indian antelope)

State Bird • Indian Roller

State Flower • Lotus

Geographical Indications • Srikalasthi Kalamkari.

• Machilipatnam Kalamkari
• Shadow Puppets

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• Kondapalli Bommalu
• Venkatagiri Sarees.

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• Mangalagiri Sarees
• Dharmavaram Handloom Pattu Sarees
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• Guntur Sannam Chillis and Paavadas
• Budithi Bell and Brass craft
• Bobbili Veena.
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Dams • Nagarjuna Sagar Dam (Krishna River) – one of the largest

in
• Asia
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• Prakasham Barrage (Krishna River)

• Srisailam Dam (Krishna River).
• Telugu Ganga.
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• Polavaram Project
• Somasila Reservoir (Nellore district)
• Thandava dam (visaka district)
• Yeleru Reservoir (East Godavari)
• Kalyani Reservoir (Chittoor).

Historical Sites • Borra Caves.

• Adoni Fort.
• Golconda Fort.
• Talakona waterfall.
• Victoria Museum.
• Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple.
• Bugga Ramalingeswara Swamy.

National Parks • Sri Venkateswara National Park.

Festivals • Ugadi (Telugu New Year)

• Vinayaka Chavithi
• Vasanthotsavam.
 • Attla Taddi.

Tribes • Andh, Bagata, Chenchu, Gadabas, Kondhsm Porja and

• Sawara.

Institutions • School of Planning and Architecture (Vijayawada).

• National Atmospheric Research Laboratory (Tirupati).
• Indian Space Research Organisation at barrier island of
• Sriharikota in Nellore district.

Peak • Arma Konda (1680 mt.)

World Heritage Sites • Tirumala Venkateswara temple in the town of Tirupati in

• Chittoor district.
• Penchalakona Lakshmi Narasimha Swami Temple in
Nellore
• district.
• Kanaka Durga temple in the city of Vijayawada
• Mallikarjuna Swamy temple in srisailam of Kurnool district.
• Sri kalahasthi temple in Chittoor district.

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Hydroelectric power • Srisailam Dam on Krishna River.
plants •

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Nagarjuna Sagar Dam on Krishna River.
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Seaports & Harbors • Vishakapatnam port is one of the largest cargo handling
• port in India.
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Famous personalities • Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan (Bharat Ratna Award Winner) –

• 2nd president of India.
• Sarojini Naidu – freedom fighter and poet; Bengali, married
to
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• a Telugu person.
• Tanguturi Prakasam – known as “Andhra Kesari”
• Alluri Sita Rama Raju – revolutionary, freedom fighter, led
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the
• Rampa Rebellion, Viplava Jyoti.
• Potti Sreeramulu – a revolutionary, fasted to death in
• protest for separate Andhra Pradesh
• Pingali Venkayya – designed the Indian national flag
• Puchalapalli Sundaraiah – a founding member of
Communist
• Party in India.
• Dr D. Subbarao -(IAS) officer of Andhra Pradesh cadre. He
was appointed the 22nd Governor of Reserve Bank of India
(RBI).

Endemic Plants • Cycas beddomei, Pterocarpus santalinus, Terminalia

pallida,
• Syzygium alternifolium, Shorea talura, Shorea tumburgia,
• Psilotum nudum.

Fauna • Tigers, panthers, hyenas, black bucks, cheetals, sambars,

• sea turtles and a number of birds and reptiles.
 State Sport • Kabaddi

State Tree • Vepa (Neem).

State Dance • Kuchipudi

State Song • Maa Telugu Thalliki by Sankarambadi Sundarachari.

More Info about Andhra Pradesh

• The forest in the state can be broadly divided into four major biotic provinces.
• The vegetation found in the state is large of dry deciduous types with a mixture of teak, Terminalia,
Dalbergia, Pterocarpus, Anogeissus, etc.
• The estuaries of river Godavari and Krishna support rich mangrove forests with fishing cats and
otters as keystone species.
• The Minister of Tourism and Culture has issued a declaration of the Telugu language as a Classical
Language.
• The famous Ongole Bull looks similar to Nandi, the vehicle of Lord Shiva. It’s said all the stone
sculptures of Nandi in all temples are modelled after the Ongole Bull.

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• Satish Dhawan Space Centre, located on the banks of Sriharikota in the Nellore District is one of the
main attractions of the state.
•
East ” for its sweetness.
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Telugu, the official language of Andhra Pradesh, was described by Englishmen as the”Italian of the
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• First state to be created on the basis of the language ‘Telugu’ in 1953.
• It has the second largest coastline (974Km Approx) just after Gujarat.
• Tirupati, the most famous Holy Shrine in Chittoor district is situated on Tirumala Hills.
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• Andhra Pradesh is producing maximum amount of Virginia tobacco.

• Tummalapalle mines are rich source of Uranium.
• Operation Polo-Indian Integration of Nizam’s Hyderabad by Military Action is termed as operation
Polo.
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• Visakhapatnam – only natural harbour on the east coast and it has country’s one of the largest sea
port. It is also popularly known as “jewel of the east coast”.
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AP State Capital :

Andhra Pradesh CM has said Vishakhapatnam will be the new capital of the state.

The Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly passed the AP Decentralisation and Inclusive
Development of All Regions Bill, 2020.
 o The Bill intends to give shape to the state government's plan of having
three capitals — executive capital in Visakhapatnam, legislative in
Amaravati and judicial in Kurnool.
o According to the government, multiple state capitals will allow the
development of several regions of the state and hence leading to inclusive
growth.
▪ However, previously the Andhra government had acquired around 30 thousand acres of
land approximately from the farmers in and around the Amaravati region. So the decision
of changing the capital may affect most of the farmers living out there.
▪ In November, 2021, the Andhra Pradesh Decentralisation and Inclusive
Development of All Regions Repeal Bill, 2021, aiming to repeal the earlier laws that
stipulated a three-capitals plan for the State was passed.
o It was promised to introduce a “better” and “comprehensive” Bill after
plugging loopholes in the previous version.
Examples of Multiple Capitals

• Global

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o South Africa has a different capital for its judicial, legislative, and executive

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branches at the federal level (Pretoria, Cape Town, and Bloemfontein).
Countries with 2 capitals: So do Bolivia (with capitals in Sucre and La Paz), Chile
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(Valparaiso and Santiago), and Georgia (Tbilisi and Kutaisi).
• Indian
o In Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Kerala capitals are at Lucknow,
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Bhopal, Gandhinagar, and Thiruvananthapuram whereas the High Courts of these

states are located at Prayagraj, Jabalpur, Ahmedabad, and Kochi.
o Some states also move their legislative assemblies to a different city for part of
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the year. These include Maharashtra (Mumbai and Nagpur), Himachal Pradesh
(Shimla and Dharmshala), and Karnataka (Bengaluru and Belgaum).
AP DISHA BILL
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Andhra Pradesh Disha Bill, 2019 i.e. Andhra Pradesh Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill,
2019 which provides for death sentence for offences of rape and gangrape has been passed recently.

▪ The Bill amends relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and the Code of
Criminal Procedure Act, 1973.
▪ A Women & Children Offenders Registry is to be established, operated and maintained by
the Andhra Pradesh Government in an electronic form. This registry will be made public and
will be available to law enforcement agencies.

▪ The Government of India has also launched a National Registry of Sexual

offenders but the database is not digitized and is not accessible to the public.
 ▪ Exclusive punishment of death penalty in cases relating to rape and murder of a
woman where there is adequate conclusive evidence.

▪ At present, provision for punishing an offender in a rape case is a fixed jail term
leading to life imprisonment or the death sentence.
▪ Reduces the judgment period: The judgment will have to be pronounced in 21 working
days from date of offence in cases of rape crimes with substantial conclusive evidence.

▪ The existing judgment period as per the Nirbhaya Act, 2013 and Criminal
Amendment Act, 2018 is 4 months (two months of investigation period and two
months of trial period).
▪ Stringent punishment for sexual offences against children: The Bill prescribes life
imprisonment for sexual offences against children.

▪ In cases of molestation/sexual assault on children under the POCSO Act, 2012, the
punishment ranges from a minimum of three years to a maximum of seven years of
imprisonment.

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Note : Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy launched the first Disha Police Station in the State in
Rajamahendravaram.

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Andhra Pradesh gets second rank in POSHAN Abhiyan Implementation
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• Andhra Pradesh got the second place among states in the implementation of the Centre's
Poshan Abhiyaan scheme. A Niti Aayog report titled 'Preserving Progress on Nutrition in India:
Poshan Abhiyan in Pandemic Times' said 12 out of 19 large states had an implementation score
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of over 70 per cent.

• Maharashtra won the top rank, AP the second and Gujarat the third rank. The report said that
only 17 states and UTs had more than 75 per cent of children aged 12-23 months having been
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fully immunized, while 11 states and UTs had it at less than 25 per cent. It stressed the need of
accelerating the use of funds released for Poshan Abhiyaan and ensuring adequate health
facilities and supplies.
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Crops Grown in Andhra Pradesh

Because of its many different agro-climatic conditions, Andhra Pradesh is known for its wide range of
foods. Some of Andhra Pradesh's most important crops are:

1. Rice: Andhra Pradesh's main crop is rice, and the state is one of the biggest rice growers in
India. It is mostly grown in the delta areas along the coast, where the land is rich and there is
enough water.
2. Millets: Jowar (sorghum), bajra (pearl millet), and ragi (finger millet) are common millets
grown in Andhra Pradesh's dry and semi-dry areas. These crops are very healthy and can
survive in dry places because they don't need much water.
3. Pulses: Important crops in Andhra Pradesh include red gramme (pigeon pea), black gramme,
green gramme, and Bengal gramme. These legumes are very important because they provide
protein-rich food and make the land more fertile by fixing nitrogen.
4. Oilseeds: Andhra Pradesh is a big producer of oilseeds like peanuts, sesame, sunflower, and
castor. Farmers can make money by growing oilseeds, which helps make food oils and gives
farmers a way to make money.
5. Cotton: A lot of people in Andhra Pradesh, especially in the Rayalaseema area, grow cotton. The
state is known for making high-quality cotton fibers that are used in the textile business. Cotton
 is one of the major cash crops that is extensively grown in Andhra Pradesh. The state has
favorable agro-climatic conditions for cotton cultivation, including a long growing season, hot
summers, and medium rainfall.
6. Tobacco: Andhra Pradesh is a major producer of tobacco, and places like Prakasam, Guntur,
and West Godavari are known for growing tobacco. The state's tobacco is often used to make
cigarettes and other goods with tobacco.
7. Sugarcane: In Andhra Pradesh, sugarcane is an important cash crop. The state is known for
making sugar and jaggery. It has a number of sugar plants.
8. 8.Spices: Andhra Pradesh is known for how well it grows spices. Some of the spices that are
grown in the state are red chilies, turmeric, cilantro, cumin, and black pepper. Guntur is known
for its hot red chilies in particular.
9. Fruits: The state grows a wide range of fruits, such as mangoes, bananas, guavas, papayas,
pomegranates, citrus fruits, and grapes. These fruits are not only eaten in the United States, but
they are also sent to other parts of the country and other countries.
10. 10.Vegetables: Andhra Pradesh grows a lot of vegetables, including tomatoes, brinjals
(eggplants), okra (ladies' fingers), green leafy vegetables, gourds, and beans. Small farmers and
farmers on the edge can make a living by growing vegetables.
11. Cashew: Andhra Pradesh is one of the leading producers of cashew nuts in India. The state's
favorable climate supports cashew cultivation, and regions like East Godavari and West
Godavari are known for their cashew plantations.

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12. Coconut: Coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh are conducive to coconut cultivation. The state
produces both tender coconuts and mature coconuts, which are used for various .

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Andhra Pradesh ranks No1 in eggs production
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As per ministry of animal husbandry AP stands No 1 in eggs production followed by Telangana. Per
capita availability of eggs in Andhra Pradesh is 501. AP accounts for 20.41% of egg production in
India. Worldwide India is ranked NO 3 in eggs production.
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Andhra Pradesh ranks No.3 in tomato production

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According to the report of NABARD AP stands third in tomato production. It accounts for 11.3% of
total tomato production and 23.37 lakh metric tonnes.
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AP highest in cocoa production :

Andhra Pradesh had the highest volume of cocoa production in India in fiscal year 2022, amounting to
over 11 thousand metric tons. Kerala followed, contributing 35 percent to the cocoa production share
that year, all of which totalled to over ten thousand metric tons.

AP ranks first in

• Oil Palm
• Lemon
• Coconut
• Cotton
• Mirchi
• Papaya
• Masala seeds
• Spices
• Banana Exports
 AP ranks second in

• Mango
• Cashew
• Oranges
• Farm productivity

Global Investors summit :

The Andhra Pradesh government hosted a two-day Global Investors Summit 2023 on March 3 and 4
at Visakhapatnam with the aim to achieve remarkable growth in the industrial sector. The theme of
the summit is "Advantage Andhra Pradesh – Where Abundance Meets Prosperity".

The 2-day summit offers an all-inclusive platform to

international and domestic investors, policy-makers,
diplomats from various countries, country business
delegations, influencers, industry associations, and trade
bodies to explore opportunities, and enter into long-term

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partnerships. The state has planned Business-toBusiness
(B2B) and Government to Business (G2B) meetings,

E keynote speeches, sector-specific plenary sessions, and

exhibits as opportunities for global leaders to engage
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fruitfully. Additionally, the AP GIS 2023 will showcase the
local culture, art, and cuisine giving everyone a holistic
experience of Andhra Pradesh.
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Kadapa Steel Plant :

• Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on

Febuary 15 2023 laid the foundation stone for JSW Group's
proposed steel plant at Sunnapurallapalle village in
YSR Kadapa district.
• In the first phase, JSW steel will invest Rs 3,300 crore in the
proposed plant and one million tonnes of steel per annum will
be produced during the first year. The facility will be upgraded
to two million tonnes per year in the second phase and will
eventually reach three million tonnes capacity per annum.

• "Once the steel plant is set up, there will be an ecosystem developed with several ancillary units.
Once the ecosystem is created, then the entire area would be transformed into a Steel City," Jagan
said after laying the foundation stone.
• Sajjan Jindal, chairman and Managing Director of JSW Group, said the laying of the foundation is
just the beginning and it will convert into a big steel plant in the years to come.

The steel plant which he set up in Bellary in 1995 with an initial production capacity of 1.20
million tonnes per annum has now reached 13 MTPA and is poised to become the world's largest

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steel plant with 25 MTPA in the next few years.

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CM Jagan Inaugurates AIL Dixon Electronic Unit at Kopparthi Park
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Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy on Monday inaugurated a unit of AIL Dixon Technologies in the
Electronic Manufacturing Cluster (EMC) at Kopparthi Industrial Estate in Kadapa district.
• The CM also set the foundation stones for several new industries in the park. At the AIL Dixon
Technologies premises, the Chief Minister took a round of the sections manufacturing surveillance
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cameras, digital recorders and laptops. Company officials explained to him about the functioning of
various units.
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Oberoi group’s seven-star hotel at Gandikota

• The Rayalaseema heartland got the much-needed boost on the tourism front, when Chief
Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy inaugurated a speed boating facility and laid the foundation
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stone for the construction of Oberoi group of hotels at Gandikota.

• The super luxury seven-star hotel, the first of its kind in Andhra Pradesh coming up at the
backward Jammalamadugu constituency, is meant to attract tourists in droves to what is
termed as India’s reply to ‘The Grand Canyon’. Currently, the high-end tourist crowd is
reaching the spot from Bengaluru, depriving the backward region its deserving share of the
revenue pie.
• In Visakhapatnam, the seven-star luxury resort of the group will be coming up at
Annavaram coastal village in Bheemili mandal. Located 8 km away from the upcoming
greenfield Bhogapuram International Airport, the ₹350-crore project is expected to be
completed in four years.
AG&P Pratham,
• It is one of the leading players in the Indian City Gas Distribution (CGD) industry, has launched
Andhra Pradesh’s first Liquified Compressed Natural Gas (LCNG) station at APIIC Industrial
Park in Kadapa of YSR district.
• The LCNG Station was inaugurated by the Deputy Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Amzath
Basha Shaik Bepari in the presence of Member of Parliament, Kadapa, Y S Avinash Reddy,
 Abhilesh Gupta – Managing Director & CEO, AG&P Pratham and senior management of AG&P
Pratham.
Jagan inaugurates Village Secretariat complex in Velplula
• Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has said the Velpula Village Secretariat Complex was a
model for the entire state due to the initiatives from local leaders and villagers. The chief
minister inaugurated the complex built at an estimated cost of Rs 3.22 cr at Velplula village in
YSR district on Thursday.
The secretariat was built on an acre of valuable site closer to Kadapa -Pulivendula main road.
Sachivalayam was built with Rs 40 lakh and the Rythu Bharosa Kendram with Rs 21.80 lakh along
with a YSR Health Clinic, a digital library, a post office and a cooperative society. A separate bus stand
was also built in the complex.
Infosys opens new development centre in Visakhapatnam

• IT major Infosys has announced the inauguration of its latest development centre (DC) in
Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.
• Spread across 83,750 sq. ft., the Visakhapatnam DC will provide greater flexibility to employees
to work in a hybrid mode, and closer to their home.
• The new centre will enable Infosys to also attract, re-skill, and up-skill local talent to work on

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global opportunities through next-gen technologies like cloud, AI, and digital, said the
company.

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AP stands first in e-sanjeevini telemedicine services
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Three Andhra cities in top 10 of cleanliness survey 2023

AU Ranks 76th in NIRF rankings:

• Andhra University (AU) slipped to the 76th rank in the ‘overall’ category this year (from 71st
rank in 2022) and 43rd rank in the ‘university’ category (from 36th rank in 2022) in the
National Institutional Ranking Framework-2023 (NIRF-2023), the results of which were
released by the Ministry of Education.

• The institutes were ranked under 13 categories and in the university category, four institutions
from the State made their presence felt. KLU of Vaddeswaram, AU of Visakhapatnam, Sri
Venkateswara University (SVU) of Tirupati, and Vignan’s Foundation for Science, Technology
and Research of Guntur secured 28, 43, 60, and 75 ranks, respectively. These institutions
showcased their excellence with scores of 54.52, 51.04, 48.18, and 45.40.

• Furthermore, four institutions of the State also stood in the top 100 Engineering colleges list
with KLU securing 44th rank followed by Indian Institute of Technology in Tirupati situated in
Yerpedu securing 59th rank, Vignan’s Foundation for Science, Technology and Research
securing 85th rank, and AU College of Engineering (A) of Visakhapatnam securing 94th rank.

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• AP ranked second last among the large states ensuring food safety
Andhra Pradesh ranked second last among the large states in ensuring food safety in 2020-21.

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The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) gave the state a total of 36 points out
of 100 in its state food safety index report 2020-21.
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• The third edition of the index was released by the Union ministry of health and family welfare.
It gave ranks to 20 large states, eight small ones and eight Union territories based on five
parameters-human resources and institutional data (20% weightage), compliance (30%), food
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testing facility (20%), training and capacity building (10%) and consumer empowerment
(20%).
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A.P. bags top rank in linking digital health records with ABHA
o The Department of Health, Medical and Family Welfare, Andhra Pradesh, received a
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national award and two appreciation awards at Ayushman Utkrishtata Puraskar 2023
held in New Delhi on September 26.

• While the State stood first in the çountry for linking the highest number of digital health
records with ABHA (Ayushman Bharat Health Account) per lakh population, in the ‘Districts’
category, Visakhapatnam and Eluru stood at the second place in the country.

• The State also received Certificates of Appreciation for initiating the highest number of
microsites to promote Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) adoption in the Private
Health Sector and for achieving 100% utilisation of funds under Ayushman Bharat Pradhan
Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY).

AP bags six ‘One District One Product’ awards

Andhra Pradesh has won six of the total 12 awards presented under the One District One Product
(ODOP) initiative, said Principal Secretary (Industries and Commerce) Sunitha .

While Araku Coffee from Alluri Sitarama Raju district and Uppada Jamdani sarees from Kakinada
district secured gold medals, Ponduru cotton sarees from Srikakulam and Gadwal sarees from
Kurnool won the bronze award. Additionally, Madanapalle silk sarees of Annamayya district and
Mangalagiri handloom sarees of Guntur received special mentions.
AP ranked 3rd, Telangana 6th in domestic tourist footfalls

• The Centre has listed Andhra Pradesh at No. 3 and Telangana at No. 6 in terms of domestic
tourist visits (DTV) in 2021. As per the 63rd edition of the India Tourism Statistics 2022 of the
Union tourism ministry, AP attracted 9.32 crore domestic tourists, amounting to 13.8 per cent
nationwide.

• Telangana received 2 crore DTVs or 4.7 per cent of the national total. Tamil Nadu topped the
chart with a 11.53 crore domestic tourist visits (17.02 per cent) followed by Uttar Pradesh at
10.97 crore (16.19 per cent).

Andhra Pradesh receives four national water awards

• Vice-President of India Jagdeep Dhankar presented the 4th National Water Award-2022 to
Andhra Pradesh at Vignan Bhavan in New Delhi on Saturday for being the third best state in
spreading awareness among people on the importance of water and motivate them to adopt
best water-use practices. Out of the 41 awards presented under various categories, Andhra
Pradesh received four.

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• Other awards included are KGBV School, Chagalamarri, Nandyal, got the second best school
award; CCL Products India Limited, Tirupati, shared the third best industry award with Apollo

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Tyres Limited, Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu; and Accion Fraterna Ecology Centre, Anantapur,
got the special mention prize under the best NGO category.
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First Ever Census on Water Bodies in India
The key features/findings of the Census are as follows:
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• 24,24,540 water bodies have been enumerated in the country, out of which 97.1%
(23,55,055) are in rural areas and only 2.9% (69,485) are in urban areas.
• Top 05 States in terms of number of water bodies are West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra
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Pradesh, Odisha and Assam which constitute around 63% of the total water bodies in the
country.
• Top 05 States in terms of number of water bodies in urban areas are West Bengal, Tamil
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Nadu, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh and Tripura, whereas in rural areas, top 05 States are West
Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Assam.
• 59.5% of water bodies are ponds, followed by tanks (15.7%), reservoirs (12.1%), Water
conservation schemes/percolation tanks/check dams (9.3%), lakes (0.9%) and others
(2.5%).
• 55.2% of water bodies are owned by private entities whereas 44.8% of water bodies are in
the domain of public ownership.

• Out of all public owned water bodies, maximum water bodies are owned by Panchayats,
followed by State Irrigation/State WRD.
• Out of all private owned water bodies, maximum water bodies are in hands of Individual
owner/farmer followed by group of individuals and other private bodies.

• Top 05 States which lead in the private owned water bodies are West Bengal, Assam, Andhra
Pradesh, Odisha and Jharkhand.
• Out of all 'in use' water bodies, major water bodies are reported to be used in pisciculture
followed by Irrigation.

• Top 05 States wherein major use of water bodies is in pisciculture are West Bengal, Assam,
Odisha, Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh;
 • Top 05 States wherein major use of water bodies is in irrigation are Jharkhand, Andhra
Pradesh, Telangana, West Bengal and Gujarat.

Seven AP varsities figure in global rankings

our government universities, from Andhra Pradesh made it into the Times Higher Education (THE)
World University Rankings 2024. Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Anantapur (JNTUA)
ranked 34 among 91 Indian institutions that made to top 1,000 colleges across the globe. JNTUA
finished in the 801-1000 category. Acharya Nagarjuna University secured national 58th rank and
landed in 1201-1500 global rank band. KLU and SVU were placed in 1202-1500 category, while AU,
GITAM, and Vignan stood in 1501+ global ranking band.

Venkateswara University ranks at 451-500 in QS Asia University rankings

Adding another feather in its cap, Sri Venkateswara University has been ranked 451-500 in QS Asia
University Rankings-2024 and 125 Rank in QS Asia University Rankings in Southern Asia. The QS Asia
University Rankings, the most comprehensive ranking of its kind, shines a light on the best
institutions from across Asia, supporting the mission of enabling motivated people anywhere in the
region to fulfil their potential through educational achievement, international mobility and career
development.

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AP brings down poverty rate to 6%, says Niti Aayog index
Vizianagaram, Srikakulam and Prakasam, which have been considered backward districts, recorded

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significant improvement in the 'National Multi-dimensional Poverty Index.'
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Multi-dimensional poverty in Andhra Pradesh saw a drop of 5.71 per cent from 2015-16 to 2019-
2021, according to the ‘National Multi-dimensional Poverty Index: A progressive review’ report
released by NITI Aayog on Monday. As per the report, the State recorded 6.06 per cent poverty in
2019-2021, down from 11.77 per cent in 2015-16.
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The report is based on the comparative data between the fifth round of the National Family Health
Survey (NFHS-5) for the period of 2019-21 and NFHS-4 for the period of 2015-16.
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The National MPI measures simultaneous deprivations across three equally weighted dimensions of
health, education and standard of living that are represented by 12 (Sustainable Development Goals)
SDG-aligned indicators—nutrition, child and adolescent mortality, maternal health, years of schooling,
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school attendance, cooking fuel, sanitation, drinking water, electricity, housing, assets, and bank
accounts.

Andhra Pradesh has reported a marked improvement in all the indicators. Data for the State has been
compiled based on the 13 erstwhile districts. Vizianagaram, Srikakulam and Prakasam, which have been
considered backward districts, recorded significant improvement in the index.

Village Secretariat System

The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy launched the “ambitious” village
secretariat system on October 2nd at Karapa village near Kakinada. Salient features of the Village
Secretariat system

• The Village and Ward secretary institutions would act as a bridge between the government and
the people by rendering over 500 types of services at their doorstep.
• One secretariat will be established for every village with a population of 2000 people in the
state of Andhra Pradesh.
• Over 5 lakhs people have been employed in the village and ward secretariat.
Benefits of Village secretariat system

• It will bring in a corruption-free, transparent and accountable administration at the

village level.
• It will address the unemployment problem in rural areas.
• It also aims at strengthening and smooth functioning of Panchayati raj institutions.
• It also encourages people's participation in the democratic functioning of the local
government.

First Inclusive Digital Festival of Andhra Pradesh( RDT auditorium in Anantapur)

Over 200 Children with Special Needs (CwSN) will showcase their digital skills along with their able
bodied colleagues in Coding, Block Coding, Python, Java Script, HTML and Web development, Games
development, Animations, Artificial Intelligence, Augmented Reality, Robotics and many other digital
learning tools and multimode born accessible content development.

The main trainer and the event is powered by Cybersquare, a world leader in school IT and early age
computer technologies. Cyber Square is the best online coding platform for kids that offers various
online coding courses which will make kids future-ready. It helps kids to expose their creativity and
acquire 21st-century skills.

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AP ranks among top States in access to education, learning infrastructure

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Andhra Pradesh's education minister Botcha Satyanarayana falsely claimed that his state had
emerged as the best performer, surpassing Kerala, in terms of providing education accessibility.

• The minister expressed pride in the achievement, stating, "AP government takes great pride in
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surpassing Kerala, securing top spot in national education accessibility.

• With an impressive score of 38.5, AP outperformed Kerala (36.55) in the foundational literacy
and numeracy report released by EAC-PM.
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• The visionary and dynamic leadership of Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy and effective
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governance turned what seemed impossible into reality, transforming AP’s education system
within just five years."

RBI regional office at Vizag :

The RBI has decided to set up the regional office in Visakhapatnam and has been scouting for suitable
building space. The RBI is seeking a building with an area of 30,000 square feet and the state
government authorities are reportedly searching for it.

YSR awards: AP Govt release list of 23 winners

The 23 YSR Life Time Achievement award winners include:

Agriculture: Y V Malla Reddy (Anantapur),

Art and Culture: Yedla Gopala Rao, stage artiste (Srikakulam), Talisetti Mohan-Kalamkari (Tirupati),
Kota Sachidananda Sastry-Harikatha (Bapatla), Kona Sanyasi-Tappetagullu (Srikakulam dist), Uppada
handloom weavers cooperative society-Kakinada, SV Ramarao-artist (Krishna), Ravu Bala Saraswati
Devi-playback singer (Nellore), Tallavaghula Sivaji-artiste and writer (Prakasam), Chingicherla
Krishna Reddy-folk arts (Anantapur), Kalisahabi Mahaboob and Sk Mahaboob Subhani-Nadaswaram
(Prakasam),

Telugu literature: Prof Betavolu Ramabrahmam-West Godavari, Namini Subrahmanyam Naidu-

Chittoor, Attada Appalanaidu-Srikakulam. Sports: Pullela Gopichand-Guntur and Karanam Malleswari-
Srikakulam. Medical: Indla Ramasubba Reddy-Psychiatry-NTR dist, EC Vinaykumar Reddy-ENT (YSR
district). Media: Govindaraju Chakradhar-Krishna and HRK-Kurnool district. Social service: Bezwada
Wilson-NTR district, Nirmal Hriday Bhavan-NTR district and Dr G Samaram-NTR district. The four
YSR Achievement award winners are: Pangi Vineeta-Agriculture, Khadirbabu-Telugu language and
literature-Nellore, Mahajabeen-Telugu language and literature-Nellore and Syam Mohan-social
service-Ambedkar Konaseema district.

IIMV(Vizag) selected for PRSI award for book on women entrepreneurs

Indian Institute of Management-Visakhapatnam has been selected for an award by the Public Relations
Society of India. IIM Vizag representative Mr. M S Subrahmanyam received the award during the

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International Public Relations Festival 2023 conducted in Dr. B R Ambedkar International Convention

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Centre, New Delhi on Saturday.
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According to IIMV officials, the premier business school has been chosen for the award for its
innovative book titled ‘Breaking Boundaries’, which chronicled the journeys of 20 women
entrepreneurs as they started their pursuit of new enterprises at the IIMV FIELD (the incubation and
startup hub of IIM Vizag) as part of the second cohort of women startup programme.
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Anantapur dalit farmer gets karmaveer chakra award:

• With natural farming spreading its roots in Andhra Pradesh, over 8.9 lakh farmers in the State
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are witnessing a transformational change under the community managed natural farming
(APCNF) programme implemented by the Department of Agriculture, Government of AP.
Recently, it achieved national recognition by winning three Jaivik India Awards.
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• Making it global, Narayanappa, a marginal farmer of the APCNF programme from the State, was
selected for Karmaveer Chakra Award (Bronze) and REX Karmaveer Global Fellowship 2023-
24 instituted by the Indian Confederation of NGOs (iCONGO), in partnership with the United
Nations. He will receive the award at a programme in New Delhi on November 27. His wife
Parvathi is behind Narayanappa’s success in natural farming. By adopting the ‘Any Time
Money’ model, Narayanappa has achieved a significant transformation. The 42-year-old farmer
hailing from Mallapuram village in Anantapur district, owns a two-acre land holding, which is
located in a semi-arid tropical region.

• Due to insufficient rainfall and persistent drought-like conditions, agriculture had become a
challenging task, and Narayanappa’s family plunged into financial trouble. Observing this, the
APCNF district project manager organised several awareness programmes to encourage
farmers to switch to natural farming. Narayanappa is among many farmers, for whom natural
farming has been life-changing.
 Alluri Sita Rama Raju Statue in Bhimavaram

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi launched the year-long 125th birth anniversary celebration
of legendary freedom fighter Alluri Sitarama Raju in Bhimavaram, Andhra Pradesh, today. Governor of
Andhra Pradesh Shri Biswabhusan Harichandan, Chief Minister Shri Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, Union
Minister Shri G.Kishan Reddy were among those present on the occasion.

As part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, the Government is committed to giving due recognition to the
contribution of freedom fighters and making people across the country aware of them. As part of the
endeavour, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi launched the year-long 125th birth anniversary
celebration of the legendary freedom fighter, Alluri Sitarama Raju, in Bhimavaram. Born on 4th July

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1897, Alluri Sitarama Raju is remembered for his fight against the British, in order to safeguard the
interests of the tribal communities in the Eastern Ghats region. He had led the Rampa rebellion, which

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was launched in 1922. He is referred to as “Manyam Veerudu” (Hero of the Jungles) by the local people.
The government has planned a series of initiatives as part of the year-long celebration. The birthplace
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of Alluri Sitarama Raju at Pandrangi in Vizianagaram district and Chintapalli Police Station (to mark
100 years of Rampa Rebellion - the attack on this police station marked the beginning of Rampa
Rebellion) will be restored. Government has also approved the construction of Alluri Dhyana Mandir at
Mogallu with a statue of Alluri Sitarama Raju in Dhyana Mudra, depicting the life story of the freedom
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fighter through mural paintings and AI-enabled interactive system.

Theme-based tourism in Andhra Pradesh
Themes are
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• Rural Tourism
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• Agri Tourism/Farm Stays

• Heritage, Buddhist

• Eco-Tourism

• Beach and Water-based Tourism

• Adventure and Recreational Tourism

• Religious

• Cuisine

• Spiritual/Wellness and Responsible Tourism.

• Andhra Pradesh has a significant Buddhist heritage as it is a cradle of Mahayana

Buddhism and has more than 40 significant Buddhist sites, the APTA will promote
Buddhist Tourism to popularise the historical significance of Buddhism in the State and
develop special Buddhist circuits by linking all the Buddhist sites in close coordination
with other States.
 • Vizag cluster comprising Salihundam, Thotlakonda, Bojjannakonda and Bavikonda and
Amaravati cluster consisting of Amaravati Stupa, Undavalli Caves and Nagarjuna Konda
are prominent Buddhist tourism clusters in the State.With AP being blessed with a rich
forest cover and having varied flora and fauna, eco-tourism is expected to pay rich
dividends. Eco- tourism will be developed by creating experiences which have low
impact on environment and have high-involvement of local people.

Buddhist Tourism

• Andhra Pradesh is the birthplace of Mahayana Buddhism. There are more than 40 Buddhist
monuments across the State. Vizag cluster – Shalihundam, Thotlakonda, Bojjanakonda,
Bhavikonda and Amaravati Cluster – Amaravati Stupa, Undavalli Caves, Nagarjuna Konda are
prominent Buddhist tourism clusters. Both the clusters are being developed under “Swadesh
Darshan” scheme.

• The subsequent phase of Buddhist tourism development in AP shall focus on promotion of

circuits. The State Tourism Corporation shall start operating tour packages in both these
clusters. The circuits shall be promoted at other prominent Buddhist sites such as Bodh Gaya,
Sarnath, etc. The sites and circuits shall also be promoted in key source markets such as China,
Japan and Sri Lanka.

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• All the literature pertaining to Buddhism in the State shall be translated into multiple

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languages including foreign languages and promotion material such as Coffee Table books and
brochures shall be prepared accordingly.
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Eco Tourism

• Andhra Pradesh is blessed with 1 Tiger Reserve, 1 Elephant Reserve, 1 Biosphere Reserve, 3
National Parks and 13 Wildlife Sanctuaries. Eco Tourism shall be developed by creation of
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experiences which have low-impact on environment have high-involvement of the local

communities.
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• The focus shall be on responsible tourism to ensure the benefits are cascaded down to host
communities to foster inclusive development
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Beach and Water Based Tourism

• Andhra Pradesh has 974 Kms long coastline that hosts some of the most beautiful beaches in
the world. Rushikonda Beach was recently awarded the much-coveted Blue flag certification.

• Beach and water-based tourism is one of the most preferred forms of tourism in the State.
GoAP shall strive to further develop beach and water-based tourism in the State through
several active interventions.

AP won eight national awards at the ‘One World TB Summit’

• The held in Varanasi on Friday. PM Modi attended the summit and appreciated the best
districts for their efforts in achieving TB-free status.

•
Out of 337 districts assessed, 18 were awarded gold, 28 silver and 65 bronze awards. Eluru
district from AP was awarded gold. Visakhapatnam and Konaseema districts won silver.

• Srikakulam, Anakapalli, Kakinada, West Godavari and Guntur districts won bronze awards. The
awards reflect the performance of districts in reducing TB incidence between 2015 and 2022.
Note : World TB Day on March 24. This annual event commemorates the date in 1882 when Dr. Robert
Koch announced his discovery of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacillus that causes tuberculosis
(TB).

Cyclone Michaung
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an “orange” alert for Tamil Nadu and coastal
and interior Andhra Pradesh due to the potential landfall of cyclone Michaung. Michaung moved almost
directly northward along the coast. On December 5, the storm made landfall
between Nellore and Machilipatnam in Andhra Pradesh, weakening as it moved inland. By December 6,
the storm had weakened to a depression over central Andhra Pradesh.

Alerts :

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Guntur Government General Hospital (GGH) 2nd place in digitization :
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The hospital achieved the national second rank in the digitalisation of health records under Ayushman
Bharat Health Care Account in the country.As many as 12.34 lakh patients, including 5.12 lakh men,
7.92 lakh women, and 198 transgender patients, availed outpatient services.More than 3,000 patients
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visit the hospital, particularly for OP services. With this, around 10 additional OP counters were set up
in addition to the existing six counters.
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Over 13.4 lakh patients availed various medical services at the hospital in 2023.Guntur GGH is a major
healthcare hub, where patients not only from neighbouring districts but also from other States,
including Telangana, Odisha, and Bihar, seek treatment.

Andhra Pradesh in PM Modis Mann ki Baat

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi, through his monthly radio show Mann ki Baat has prominently
highlighted Andhra Pradesh’s stories of determination, creativity, and spirit of self-reliance.
• Ashok Gajapati Raju, who spearheaded adult education initiatives in the Vijayanagaram
District.

• Similarly, Sai Praneeth’s efforts in analysing meteorological data and providing crucial
information to local farmers in their native language have served as a fine example of using
technology for society’s benefit.

• In the realm of art and creativity, PM Modi mentioned Srinivasa Padkandla for creating
sculptures using automobile scrap metal, and Venkat from Visakhapatnam for coming up with
 an innovative Atmanirbhar Bharat chart to encourage people to support ‘Made in India’
products.

• CV Raju’s revival of the traditional Eti-Kopakka toys has helped bring back the old glory of this
unique craft.

Certain instances :

1. Ashok Gajapati Rajuof Andhra Pradesh who promoted the initiative of adult education in the
Vijayanagaram District.
2. Sai Praneethwho analyses meteorological data and disseminates the required data to the
farmers in the local language.
3. Srinivasa Padkandlafrom Vijayawada who has created sculptures using wastes from
automobile metal scrap.
4. Venkatfrom Visakhapatnam in AP who manufactured ABC Atmanirbhar Bharat charts
showcasing the self-reliant spirit.
5. The PM has also acknowledged the enthusiasm and the efforts ofEenaadu TV and Ramoji
Raoin implementing the cleanliness drive.
6. KV Rama Subba Reddywho left a well-paying job and opened a Millet processing facility in the

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Nandyal district of Andhra Pradesh.
7. T Vijaya Durgawho made a rangoli on freedom fighter Narasimha Reddy Garu.

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8. Next year,Pushkaramwill be held on the bank of river Tungabhadra in Andhra Pradesh.
9. Ram Bhupal Reddyfrom Markapuram in Andhra Pradesh who opened 100 Sukanya Samriddhi
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Accounts with his post-retirement savings of Rs 25 lakh.
Andhra Pradesh tops State Energy Efficiency Index-2022
Andhra Pradesh topped in the country by achieving more than 60 points in the latest State Energy
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Efficiency Index (SEEI) 2022. It showed the most improvement in energy efficiency parameters
compared to the last year’s SEEI. Notably, the SEEI-2022 was launched by Union Minister for Power R
K Singh recently.
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o The index is developed by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), a statutory body
under the Ministry of Power, in association with Alliance for an Energy-Efficient
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Economy (AEEE).
o It assesses the annual progress of states and UTs in energy efficiency (energy savings
and reduction in emission intensity).
o The updated framework of 50 indicators is aligned with national priorities, and
program-specific indicators are included to track outcomes and impacts of state-level
energy efficiency initiatives.
o Based on the progress and accomplishments of states in energy efficiency
implementation, they have been classified into four categories: Front Runner, Achiever,
Contender, and Aspirant.
Andhra Pradesh leads in Mahila Police :
Across India AP have 21.76% police are mahila police. The list os followed by Bihar .
Uddanam Drinking Water Project Unveiled
December 14, 2023, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, YS Jaganmohan Reddy, inaugurated this
scheme from Makharampuram village in Kanchili Mandal of Srikakulam District.
The YSR Sujaladhara Uddanam drinking water project has been initiated to ensure safe drinking water
access to every home, mainly because the people of this region have been suffering from renal
diseases caused by the consumption of contaminated water. Although Rivers Bahuda and Mahendra
Tanya flow by the Uddanam region, close to Eddana, they have not helped in quenching people's thirst
as they dry up during summers. Taking note of the same, the current chief minister approved the
scheme on September 6, 2019.

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The project has been designed to supply safe drinking water to around seven lakh people residing in
807 villages across Kavithi, Kanchili, Sompeta, Ichchapuram, Mandasa, Vajrapukottur, and Palasa
mandals.
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The project will draw water from the River Vamsadhara at the Hiramandalam Reservoir and transport
it over 100 kilometres. Enabling water transportation, MEIL has laid 1,200 kilometres of pipeline
network. Further, the company also readied intake wells, overhead tanks, and reservoirs. Also, a
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pumping station near Hiramandalam reservoir and in Meliyaputti, a water treatment plant that can
purify 84 million litres of water daily, has been constructed.
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Despite challenges thrown by unforeseen rainfalls, floods, and the pandemic, MEIL teams completed
the project on time.

Speaking on the occasion, CM YS Jaganmohan Reddy said, "During my padayatra, I could see the
suffering of the Uddanam people. It was then that I promised to resolve this decades-long plight of the
people of this region. Currently the government is investing Rs 700 crores to ensure safe drinking
water for the residents."

Background of Uddanam
Since the 1980s, the people in the Uddanaman area have been grappling with Chronic Kidney
Diseases. Nearly six lakh people across 809 villages have fallen prey to CKD. For decades, people here
mainly depended on bore water for drinking purposes. When most people started falling prey to CKD,
various tests were conducted by experts who observed the local people's eating habits, family
connections, and lifestyles, only to know that the groundwater contamination here could have led to
the problem. Uddanaman in Srikakulam district is one of the world's four places with the most cases
of kidney disease. Other areas with high numbers of people with kidney disease
include Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Sri Lanka.
Note : Palasa Kidney research centre is named as YSR Kidney centre. The government spent around
₹74.24 crore for the construction of the multi-specialty hospital to provide medical services for
kidney patients of the Uddanam region.

The hospital with 200 beds offers dialysis and other medical facilities for patients, who currently
have to go to Visakhapatnam for treatment. The Indian Council of Medical and Research (ICMR) will
support research here on chronic kidney disease prevalent in nearly 700 villages of the region.
Greenfield International Airport in Bhogapuram

Greenfield International Airport to be built on 2,200 acres in Bhogapuram

The construction of the Greenfield airport was first proposed by the state government after
the bifurcation of the state in 2014. Under the leadership of N Chandrababu Naidu, the former TDP
government kickstarted the process of acquiring land for the airport and subsequently allocated an
area of 2,700 acres to GMR Group to construct the airport. However, legal hurdles related to land

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acquisition prevented the project from taking off. The Jagan Mohan Reddy government re-initiated the

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land acquisition process with a new alignment for the airport on 2,200 acres and finalized tenders for
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construction under Public-Private Partnership mode by GMR Visakhapatnam International
Airport Limited.
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Greenfield Airport Project Displaced Families to be Compensated for land acquisition in Bhogapuram
The district administration has identified 376 Project Displaced Families from four villages,
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including Rellipeta, Mudasarlapeta, Bollinkalapalem, and Maradapalem in Bhogapuram Mandal.

The government paid Rs 9.20 lakh to each of the PDFs and developed necessary amenities such as
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roads, drainage systems, electrification, community buildings, overhead water tanks, drinking water,
parks, Anganwadi centers, and primary schools for Rs 30 crore. The district administration has
resolved all legal, land acquisition, Rehabilitation, and Resettlement issues, and is now making
preparations for the foundation stone ceremony on May 3.
Varikapudisela lift irrigation scheme
• Chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy launched the works of the 340.26 crore Varikapudisela
lift irrigation scheme at Macherla which can make the Palnadu area green.
•
Addressing a meeting after unveiling the plaque, the chief minister said the first phase of the
scheme will provide drinking water to 20,000 people and irrigate 24,900 acres in upland areas
of Veldurthi, Uppalapadu, Gottipalla, Srigiripadu, Bodilaveedu, Gangalakunta, and Kandlakunta
villages.
Railway Minister Vaishnaw reviews Simhachalam Amrit Railway Station
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw recently conducted a comprehensive review of the
Simhachalam Railway Station’s redevelopment plans under the Amrit Bharat station scheme
during his visit to Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. Vaishnaw offered prayers at the Sri Varaha
Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple in Simhachalam and proceeded to inspect the station,
providing insights into the planned facilities for the New World Class station building.
Vaishnaw emphasised the government’s commitment to upgrading railway infrastructure
nationwide, highlighting the progress and investment in Simhachalam station’s redevelopment.
Acknowledging collaboration between the Centre and the state government, Vaishnaw discussed

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addressing land-related issues for the South Coast Railway Zonal Headquarters in Mudasarlova,
Visakhapatnam.
Andhra Train Accident
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On Sunday, October 29 2023, a tragic train collision occurred in Andhra Pradesh between the
Visakhapatnam-Palasa passenger train and the Visakhapatnam-Ragada passenger train, resulting
in a derailment between the towns of Alamanda and Kantakapalle. This unfortunate incident
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claimed the lives of 14 individuals, and rescue operations are ongoing in the Vizianagaram district.
Andhra Train Accident
On October 29, a tragic train collision in Andhra Pradesh involving the Visakhapatnam-Palasa and
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Visakhapatnam-Ragada passenger trains led to a derailment between Alamanda and Kantakapalle

towns. The devastating accident resulted in 14 casualties, with ongoing rescue efforts in
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Vizianagaram district. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has pledged financial aid, offering ₹2 lakh
from the PM’s National Relief Fund to the families of each victim and ₹50,000 for the injured.
This Andhra Train Accident incident follows previous railway tragedies, including a triple-train
collision in Odisha that claimed nearly 300 lives in June and a coach fire in southern India in
August, which led to nine fatalities. Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy is scheduled to visit the
accident site and the injured in hospitals.

Five New Government Medical Colleges In AP

• Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy inaugurated five government medical colleges.

• He was personally present to inaugurate the government medical college in Vizianagaram

town and, in virtual mode, opened four MCs in Eluru, Nandyal, Machilipatnam and
Rajamahendravaram.

BioEthanol Plant Near Rajahmundry

• Andhra Pradesh CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy will lay the foundation stone for the Assago
Industrial Pvt Ltd (Ethanol) plant. The Ethanol manufacturing plant will be established at APIIC
 Industrial Park in Gokavaram Mandal of East Godavari district. The plant will be built with an
investment of 270 crores. It will generate employment for over 100 direct and 400 indirect
jobs, with support from the AP Government’s Industries Department and district officials.

• The new plant will be spread across 20 acres and equipped with state-of-the-art machinery.
Assago Industries will be producing BioEthanol through residual broken rice and grains
procured locally from Andhra Pradesh.

• Ethanol is considered one of the green fuels that can be used as an alternative fuel to gasoline.
This increases flexibility while lowering the level of pollutants emitted from the tailpipe.

Inorbit Mall at Vizag

• Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has said that the Inorbit Mall being developed by the
Raheja Group in Visakhapatnam at an estimated cost of ₹600 crore will be the biggest in South
India, and a new landmark in the city.

• Addressing the gathering on the occasion, Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy said the mall, to be
constructed in an area of 13 acres, would generate 8,000 jobs, both directly and indirectly.

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• “The developers have been given 17 acres of land, and they plans to utilise the remaining four
acres for the development of IT space on 2.5 acres and a convention centre of international

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standards on the remaining extent,” he said.
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• He said the Adani Data Centre in the city, the Bhogapuram International Airport in
Vizianagaram district, and the seaport in Srikakulam district, for which he had laid stone
recently, would change the face of the North Andhra region.
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• The Oberoi Group and the Mayfair Group of hotels were already in the process of setting up
Star hotels in Visakhapatnam, he said.
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Ramco cement plant at Nandyal

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• Chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy inaugurated the new factory of Ramco cements at
Kalvatala village in Kolimigundla mandal of Nandyal district on Wednesday.
The new cement factory with an annual capacity of 2 million tonnes of cement was established
with an investment of Rs.1790 crore.

Chief minister YS Jagan Mohan underlined that the state of Andhra Pradesh stood on the top of
the chart in the ease of doing business rankings in the country for three consecutive years due
to the progressive industrial policies of the YSRC government.

• YS Jagan assured that the Ramco cements group would provide 1000 jobs for the local youth.

National Law University in Kurnool :

Finance Minister Buggana Rajendranath Reddy announced plans to lay the foundation stone for
National Law University (NLU) in December, a significant step toward establishing Kurnool as the
Judicial Capital. The State government envisions constructing the NLU on 250 acres at
Jagannathagattu in Kurnool outskirts, with Rs 600 crore. During a site visit on Sunday, he discussed
preparations with officials, confirming that arrangements for laying the stone are in progress.
NLU is anticipated to draw law students from across the country, with 50 acres allocated and an
additional 100 acres approved by the cabinet. He directed officials to expedite the completion of the
approach road from the NH to the Indian Institute of Information Technology, Design and
Manufacturing (IIITDM), stressing the connectivity of the cluster university. Highlighting existing
institutions like IIITDM and others, Buggana underscored 120-acre allotment to Silver Jubilee Cluster
University.

AP Aqua University

• Andhra Pradesh, which is the largest exporter of marine products, becomes the fifth state after
Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal to have such an university while Maharashtra
is home to the Central Institute of Fisheries Education.
• The AP Aqua University will come up on a 40-acre site near Narasapuram in West Godavari
district and will be built at an estimated cost of Rs 332 crore in the first phase.
• Thailand-based Asian Institute of Technology came forward in 2015 to a partnership for
technology transfer and Bhimavaram-based Anand Group of Companies ventured to establish
the university in an area of 150 acres.

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• In 2017, the Chinese Xi’an University too agreed to extend its cooperation for setting up the

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fisheries university through knowledge transfer and research.
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• The Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy government enacted a legislation in December 2020 for setting up
the AP Fisheries University and subsequently changed the name to AP Aqua University.
• The existing College of Fishery Science at Muthukur in SPS Nellore district, the Sri Mandali
Venkata Krishna Rao Fisheries Polytechnic in Krishna district, fisheries research stations
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at Kakinada and Undi, the instructional research aqua firm at Balabhadrapuram will now be
brought under the AP Aqua University.
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Vijayawada's Kanaka Durga flyover

The newly constructed Kanakadurga flyover on the Vijayawada-Hyderabad national highway will
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be opened for traffic from Friday, according to Vijayawada MP Kesineni Srinivas.

• However, there would be no formal inauguration as Union Minister of Road Transport and
Highways Nitin Gadkari, who was supposed to inaugurate the flyover virtually, tested positive for
COVID-19 and fell ill.

• foundation stone for the 2.3 kilometre six-lane flyover was laid on December 5, 2015 by Mr.
Gadkari who was the Union Minister of Surface Transport then.

World’s largest integrated renewable energy storage project

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy laid the foundation for the world’s largest
integrated renewable energy storage power project in Kurnool district. The project located at
Gummitham Tanda is undertaken by Greenko Group, which aims at generating 5230 MWs of
electricity.
Noting that history is being created with the project, the Chief Minister said, “What Andhra Pradesh is
showcasing (with the project) will be a triggering point for the entire country to follow in the days to
come. The usage of fuel of fossil fuel would take a back seat and renewable energy in the front seat.”

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister inaugurates 20 tourist police outposts

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on February 14 inaugurated tourist police
outposts at 20 important religious and tourist places, from his camp office in a virtual mode. These
security kiosks will work as additional police stations and attend to complaints from tourists, he
said.
The tourist police outposts would be run by specially trained personnel headed by an SI or ASI rank
officer. Linked with the local police stations, each outpost would have six personnel including women
constables, said Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy.
Sangam Barriage

The state government has prioritised construction of irrigation projects, Andhra Pradesh Chief
Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy said at an event in Sri Potti Sriramulu Nellore district

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Speaking after inaugurating the Mekapati Goutham Reddy Sangam Barrage and Nellore Barrage, the

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chief minister said the two projects would benefit Atmakur, Kovur, Sarvepalli, Nellore rural and Kavali
constituencies.
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Currently, Vande Bharat expresses are running on 25 routes: Three in Andhra Pradesh
• Secunderabad – Visakhapatnam (20834)
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• Secunderabad-Tirupati (20701)
• Vijayawada -Chennai Vande Bharat Express via. Renigunta (20687)
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• Tribal University in A.P.

• Union Minister for Education and Skill Development Dharmendra Pradhan

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laid the foundation stone for Central Tribal University in the presence of Chief
Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy at Mentada, and Dattirajeru mandals of Saluru
constituency, Vizianagaram district on Friday.

• The university will be constructed in an area of 561.88 acres at an estimated cost

of ₹834 crore, according to a press release by the Information and Public
Relations (I&PR) department.

• The State government has taken up land acquisition in Marrivalasa of Dattirajeru

mandal and Chinamedapalli of Mentada mandal in addition to allocating the
government land. The government paid a compensation of ₹25.90 crore to the
farmers who have given their lands to the university, and also spent another
₹28.49 crore for infrastructure facilities.
• Central Tribal University offers 14 academic courses in English, Sociology, Tribal
Studies, Biotechnology, Chemistry, Journalism, MBA, MSW at Postgraduate level,
Artificial Intelligence, Botany, Chemistry, Geology, Tourism and Travel
Management, B.Com in Vocational etc. at degree level and short term courses in
Skill Development, Vocational and job-oriented courses.

• The university will realise the dream of higher education of the tribals and
promote the personal, cultural and environmental development of the tribes, the
release said.

• The government has been conducting classes on the transit campus, Andhra
University old PG campus buildings, Kondakarakam, Vizianagaram district.
Currently 385 students are studying there.

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 Person in News
S Abdul Nazeer

Shri Justice S. Abdul Nazeer was born on 5th January, 1958 in Beluvai, Karnataka. He studied law at Sri
Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara Law College, Mangalore.

Career as a Lawyer:

Shri Justice Nazeer enrolled as an advocate on 18th February, 1983. He practiced for 20 years at the
Karnataka High Court and other courts in Karnataka.

Career as a Judge:

In 2003, he was appointed as an Additional Judge of the Karnataka High Court and next year he
became a Permanent Judge. On 17th February, 2017 Shri Justice Nazeer was elevated to the Supreme
Court.

Appointment as Governor:

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After his retirement, Shri Justice Nazeer was appointed as the Governor of Andhra Pradesh on 12th
February, 2023. He assumed charge as the Governor of Andhra Pradesh on 24th February, 2023.

Tenure as Supreme Court Judge:

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Shri Justice Nazeer retired on 4th January, 2023 after serving almost 6-year term at the Supreme
Court (2017-2023). During his tenure, Shri Justice Nazeer authored a large number of judgments.
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Sri Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur

Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur has been appointed Chief Justice of Andhra Pradesh high court. The Union
government issued a gazette notification after President of India approved the recommendation of the
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Supreme Court collegium. Justice Thakur is presently working as judge of Bombay HC.
Born on April 25, 1964, Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur enrolled as advocate on October 18, 1989,
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with bar council of Delhi and subsequently with bar council of Jammu and Kashmir.

Rajendra Nath Reddy :

K.V. Rajendranath Reddy, a 1992-batch IPS officer, assumed office as Director-General of Police
(DGP), Head of Police Force (HoPF), at the Andhra Pradesh Police Headquarters, at Mangalagiri.

\Mr. Reddy had served in different capacities in United Andhra Pradesh, including Deputy
Commissioner of Police (DCP) in Hyderabad, Superintendent of Police, Nellore, Commissioner of
Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada Commissionerates, DGP (Intelligence) and other positions.

Jawahar Reddy :

Dr KS Jawahar Reddy took over as the new Chief Secretary of Andhra Pradesh on Wednesday.
Incumbent Sameer Sharma retired as CS and handed over the charge to Reddy.

Appointing Jawahar Reddy as the chief secretary, the 1990 batch IAS officer of the Andhra cadre took
charge at the first block CS Chamber of the Amaravati Secretariat. Speaking to the media, Reddy
thanked chief minister Jagan Mohan Reddy for giving his this opportunity. “As CS, I would take the
various development and welfare schemes of the government to the village level and lead the officials
in implementing them,” he said.

Justice P. Lakshman Reddy:

The Andhra Pradesh (AP) government appointed Justice P Lakshmana Reddy, a former judge of the AP
high court, as the state's Lokayukta for five years.
He was born in an agricultural family on April 18, 1945, in Paidipalem of Simhadripuram Mandal in
Kadapa district, he enrolled as an advocate in December 1972 in Kadapa district court.
He later entered district judiciary and became principal district and sessions judge (PDJ) and was
elevated as a high court judge in May 2005.

AP Skill Development Chairman : Suresh Kumar

Bhumana Karunakar Reddy :

Bhumana Karunakar Reddy, who is all set to take over as the chairman of the Tirumala Tirupati

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Devasthanams (TTD) trust board, wishes to steer clear of the administrative machinery’s activities
and stay focussed on policy-making.

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The legislator of Tirupati Assembly constituency is going to hold the reins of the prestigious temple
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board for the second time now, as he was appointed as the chairman in 2004 by the then Chief
Minister Late Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy.
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Mr. Karunakar Reddy thanked the Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy for offering him the
coveted post by reposing faith in his leadership akin to his father, the late YSR, two decades back.
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Important Who is Who ??

• "AP SC Commission chairman Victor Prasad"

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• "AP ST Commission chairman Shankar Rao"

• Vasireddy Padma is the Chairperson of the Andhra Pradesh State Commission for
Women.

• "AP BC Commission chairman Shankar Narayana "

• AP Minority Commission chairman Dr. Iqbal Ahmed Khan

• AP Election commissioner – Mukesh Kumar meena

• AP Public Service commission chairman – Gautam Sawang

• AP Advocate General - S Sriram

• AP Additional Advocate General – Sudhakar Reddy

Posani Krishna Murali gets appointed as AP Film Development Corporation new chairman
Veteran actor Posani has been a film writer, director and actor who has written over 150 films. As an
actor, he has 5 releases this year already ‘Super Machi’, ‘Acharya’, ‘Bhala Thandanana’, ‘Sarkaru Vaari
Paata’, ‘The Warrior’ and the upcoming ‘HIT: The second case’ is his 6th release.

ALI:

AP Govt has also appointed another film actor and Senior comedian Ali as its Electronic media advisor
who too has been a party supporter in the past.

Kommineni Srinivasa Rao appointed Press Academy of Andhra Pradesh Chairman

• Mr. Srinivasa Rao had started his career as a journalist in the year 1978 at Eenadu. He had
served in various capacities before joining Andhra Jyothi as Bureau Chief in 2002. He had
worked as Chief Editor at NTV from 2007 and as Editor in TV5 from September 2007.

• Later, he began conducting KSR live show in Sakshi TV. He hails from Gannavaram in Krishna
district and has penned various books.

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Andhra Pradesh Ministers List :
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Sl. Name Portfolio Constituency
No
1 Y. S. Jagan Mohan Chief Minister General & Personnel Pulivendla
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Reddy administration Law & Order Other

departments not allocated to any
Minister
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2 Rajanna Dora Deputy Chief Ministers - Tribal Welfare Salur

Peedika
3 K. Narayana Swamy Deputy Chief Minister - Excise Gangadhara Nellore
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Commercial taxes
4 Budi Mutyala Naidu Deputy Chief Minister - Panchayati Raj & V.Madugula
Rural Development
5 Amzath Basha Shaik Deputy Chief Minister - Minority welfare Kadapa
Bepari
6 Kottu Satyanarayana Deputy Chief Ministers – Endowments Tadepalligudem
7 Dharmana Prasada Revenue Registration Stamps Srikakulam
Rao
8 R.K Roja Tourism Culture Nagari
9 Dadisetti Roads Buildings Tuni
Ramalingeswara Rao
10 Gudivada Amarnath Industries & Commerce Information & Anakapalli
Technology
11 Karumuri Venkata Civil supplies Consumer affairs TANUKU
Nageswara Rao
12 Buggana Finance & Planning Legislative affairs Dhone
Rajendranath Reddy
 13 Peddireddy Energy Forest & Environment Punganur
Ramachandra Reddy
14 Botsa Satyanarayana Health & Family Welfare Medical Cheepurupalle
education
Sl. Name Portfolio Constituency
No
15 Audimulapu Suresh Municipal Administration Urban Yerragondapalem
Development Education
16 Jogi Ramesh Housing Pedana
17 Ambati Rambabu Irrigation (Water resources) Sattenpalli
18 Taneti Vanita Home Disaster management Kovvur
19 Merugu Nagarjuna Social welfare Vemuru
20 Vidadala Rajini Health & Family Welfare Chilakaluripet
21 Kakani Govardhan Agriculture Cooperation Marketing Sarvepalli
Reddy
22 Pinipe Viswarup Transport Amalapuram
23 Ushashri Charan Women & Child welfare KALYANDURG

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24 Chelluboina Venu Cinematography Backward classes Ramachandrapuram

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Gopala Krishna welfare Information & Public Relations
25 Seediri Appalaraju Animal Husbandry Fisheries Palasa
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26 Gummanur Jayaram Labour, Employment and Training Alur
Factories
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AP Legislature

• Assembly Speaker : Tammineni Sita Ram

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• Assembly Deputy Speaker : Kolagatla Veerabhadra Swamy,

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• Legislative council chairman : Moshen Raju

• Legislative council deputy chairman : Zakia khanam

AP Skill Development Scam :

Telugu Desam Party chief Chandrababu Naidu was arrested at around 6 am from R K Function Hall at
Gnanapuram in Nandyala town in an alleged Andhra Pradesh Skill Development Corporation
scam, the state police . Following this, several TDP leaders have also been placed under house arrest.

Naidu has been arrested under relevant IPC sections, including Sections 120B (criminal conspiracy),
420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property), and 465 (forgery). In addition, AP CID
has also invoked the Prevention of Corruption Act against him.
What is Andhra Pradesh Skill Development Corruption Case?

The APSSDC was established in 2016 during the TDP government in Andhra Pradesh. The program
focused on the empowerment of unemployed youth by providing skill training.
The AP CID started an investigation into an alleged scam worth ₹3,300 crore in March which revealed
that the project was initiated without following a proper tendering process.
Apart from this, the investigation also uncovered several other irregularities in the program which
include no project approval from the Andhra Pradesh cabinet, failure to invest resources of Siemens
Industry Software India (a part of the consortium involved in the MoU signed by the TDP
government), and funneling of funds allocated for the project into shell companies.
The task of developing six centers of excellence for skill development was given to Siemens Industry
Software India when the project was launched.

Sahitya Academy Award Winner from Telugu :

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Patanjali Sastri for Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award

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Several progressive writers, poets and environmentalists hailed eminent writer, poet and
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environmentalist Tallavajjula Patanjali Sastri for winning the Kendra Sahitya Akademi award
for his ‘Rameswaram Kakulu’ and other stories. Patanjali Sastry is a renowned writer and
environmentalist from Rajamahendravaram.
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• He was born in Pithapuram and earned fame also as an environmentalist and archaeologist. He
fights for the rights of different sections of people. Sastry played a vital role in protecting
Kolleru lake and won a court order to protect the migratory birds and the lake. Eminent story
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writer Vadrevu Veera Lakshmi Devi said Patanjali Sastry has a special style of writing in
Telugu.

•
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“The subjects he selected were unique and made his readers sit and think. He wrote more than
100 short stories, four novels and progressive Telugu poems. His novels Veera Nayakudu and
Devara Kotishu (A satirical novel) are excellent subject-oriented literary creations. He wrote
about the lifestyles of cities.”

APSCPCR Chairman Kesali Appa Rao

Kesali Appa Rao, chairperson AP State Commission for Protection of Child Rights. He belong to
Vijayanagaram.

Andhra Pradesh State Human Rights Commission (APSHRC) Chairperson Justice Mandhata
Seetharama Murti.

Collector drives electric car to office

Collector Pravin Kumar driving to his office in an electric car in Visakhapatnam. According to him,
Visakhapatnam is the first to officially use pollution-free electric car in the entire country. He
expressed his happiness in his driving it first.
The city that set a trend by introducing LED lights after Hudud Cyclone damaged its streetlights,
notched up another first, he said.

K.Vishwanath’s demise
Legendary film director K. Vishwanath passed away in Hyderabad on February 2, at the age of 92
while undergoing treatment for age-related illnesses at a hospital. In a career spanning seven decades,
Vishwanath wrote, directed and acted in several movies. Though his work was primarily in Telugu
cinema, he also directed several Hindi remakes.

K. Vishwanath and The Awards:

His films won five National Film Awards and seven state Nandi Awards. For his work, he was
conferred with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the highest award in Indian cinema, in 2017. He was
also a recipient of the Padma Shri.
Calyampudi Radhakrishna Rao

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The 2023 International Prize in Statistics, which is regarded as the equivalent of the Nobel Prize in
statistics, has been awarded to Calyampudi Radhakrishna Rao, an Indian-American statistician.
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International Prize in Statistics 2023
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The 2023 International Prize in Statistics, which is regarded as the equivalent of the Nobel Prize in
statistics, has been awarded to Calyampudi Radhakrishna Rao, an Indian-American statistician. The
prize, established in 2016, is presented once every two years to an individual or team that has made
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significant contributions to science, technology, and human welfare through the use of statistics. The
award is given out by a collaboration of five major international statistics organizations and recognizes
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major accomplishments by an individual or team. Rao will be honored with the prize, which carries an
$80,000 cash award, at the International Statistical Institute World Statistics Congress in Ottawa,
Canada, in July.

Note : He passed away on 22nd August 2023

RRR’s “Naatu Naatu” wins Best Original Song: Oscar Award

The 95th Academy Awards (Oscars 2023) have announced that RRR‘s “Naatu Naatu” won Best
Original Song. The song had to beat out songs like “Applause” from Tell It Like a Woman, “Hold My
Hand” from Top Gun: Maverick, “Lift Me Up” from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, and “This is Life”
from Everything Everywhere All At Once. The Oscars 2023 was accepted by lyricist Chandrabose and
composer Keeravani.
Drawing inspiration from the lives of freedom fighters Komaram Bheem and Alluri Sitarama
Raju, RRR narrates a fictional tale set in the 1920s. The film boasts an ensemble cast, starring the likes
of Jr NTR, Ram Charan, Ajay Devgn, Alia Bhatt, Olivia Morris, Samuthirakani, Alison Doody, and Ray
Stevenson.
GI Tags of Andhra Pradesh

GI Tags of Andhra Pradesh

S.No. Geographical Indication Type

1. Srikalahasthi Kalamkari Handicraft

2. Kondapalli Bommalu Handicraft

3. Machilipatnam Kalamkari Handicraft

4. Budiiti Bell & Brass Craft Handicraft

5. Andhra Pradesh Leather Puppetry Handicraft

6. Uppada Jamdani Sarees Handicraft

7. Tirupati Laddu[a] Foodstuff

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8. Guntur Sannam Chilli Agricultural

9. Venkatagiri Sarees Handicraft

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10. Bobbili Veena Handicraft

11. Mangalagiri Sarees and Fabrics Handicraft

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12. Dharmavaram Handloom Pattu Sarees and Paavadas Textile

13. Bandar Laddu Food Stuff

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14. Udayagiri Wooden Cutlery Handicraft

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15. Banganapalli Mangoes Agricultural

16. Durgi Stone Carvings Handicraft

17. Etikoppaka Toys Handicraft

18. Allagadda Stone Carvings Handicraft

19. Araku Valley Arabica Coffee Agricultural

Geographical Indications (GI) tags in India serve as a form of intellectual property protection,
aiming to safeguard goods associated with specific geographical regions. Governed by the
Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999, these tags recognize
products whose qualities, reputation, or characteristics are inherently linked to their geographic
origin. The tags are assigned to foodstuffs, handicrafts, wine and spirit drinks, industrial products,
and agricultural products. The first product to be assigned with a GI tag in India was Darjeeling tea
in the year 2004-05.
Atreyapuram Pootharekulu receives GI Tag

• Atreyapuram Pootharekulu is a traditional sweet originating from Atreyapuram village,

situated on the banks of the Godavari River in the Konaseema district of Andhra Pradesh.

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• The name ‘Pootharekulu’ translates to ‘coated sheets,’ although this description may appear
somewhat vague.

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• This traditional sweet is known for its extraordinary delicacy and distinct taste.
• It is created by layering paper-thin sheets of rice flour, which are delicately coated with ghee
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(clarified butter) and then folded to encase powdered jaggery or sugar dust.
• Additionally, some variants of Pootharekulu may include finely chopped roasted dry fruits such
as pistachios, almonds, and cashews.
• The preparation of relies on a specific type of rice known as MTU-3626, referred to locally as
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Bondalu.
• This rice variety is chosen for its unique taste and its ability to yield a sticky consistency, which
is crucial for crafting this sweet.
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Best nataka parishad in state to be awarded

State government has decided to present Dr YSR Rangasthala Puraskaram to the best nataka
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parishad in the state, annually. The award is meant to encourage drama companies, theatrical troupes
and nataka prasihads which are doing extensive works to preserve the theatre art for future
generations.
AP Film, Television and Theatre Development Corporation (APFTTDC) managing director and ex
officio secretary of information and broadcasting department, Tamma Vijayakumar Reddy, in a press
release here on Saturday said the state government is committed to encouraging nataka parishads
which are striving hard to protect the art.

• Rayalaseema Thermal Powerplant receives National Award for best safety

• Satya Sai Seva trust receives UNO recognition

• Kurnool Airport receives PM Excellence award

 • Guntur-resident Konda Usharani began farming using chemical fertilisers, but soon realised
the ill effects it had on soil and human health. So she learned natural farming and now
guides fellow farmers to follow the path.
• Konda Usharani, a member of a farming family from Nutakki village of Guntur, Andhra
Pradesh, stopped her studies after Class 10 due to poverty. Like all other girls in the
locality, she was married at the age of 17.

S. No Andhra Pradesh District List in English

1 Srikakulam – Srikakulam

2 Vizianagaram – Vizianagaram

3 Manyam Dist – Parvathipuram (new)

4 Alluri Sitaram Raju District – Paderu (new)

5 Visakhapatnam – Visakhapatnam

6 Anakapalli – Anakapalli (new)

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7 Kakinada – Kakinada (new)

8 Kona Seema – Amalapuram (new)

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9 East Godavari – Rajamahendravaram

10 West Godavari – Bheemavaram

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11 Eluru – Eluru (new)

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12 Krishna – Machilipatnam

13 NTR District – Vijayawada (new)

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14 Guntur – Guntur

15 Bapatla – Bapatla (new)

16 Palnadu – Narsaraopeta (new)

17 Prakasam – Ongole

18 SPS Nellore – Nellore

19 Kurnool – Kurnool

20 Nandyal – Nandyal (new)

21 Ananthapuram – Ananthapuram

22 Sri Satyasai District – Puttaparthy (new)

23 YSR Kadapa – Kadapa

24 Annamayya District – Rayachoty (new)

25 Chittoor – Chittoor

26 Sri Balaji Dist. – Tirupati (new)

NACIN Complex in Andhra Pradesh

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 16th January 2024 inaugurated the new campus of the
National Academy of Customs, Indirect Taxes and Narcotics (NACIN) at Palasamudram in Sri
Satya Sai district of Andhra Pradesh.

• Referring to the tax reforms initiated during the last 10 years, he said the introduction of the
modern system of GST that enabled simplified income tax and faceless assessment. “All these
reforms have resulted in record tax collection,” Mr. Modi observed, adding that the tax
reforms after 2014 had actually resulted in tax savings of about ₹2.5 lakh crore for the

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citizens.

•
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As the day was observed as ‘Thiruvalluvar Day’ across Tamil Nadu, he quoted the great Tamil
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saint and underlined the role of revenue officers in collecting taxes that lead to people’s
welfare in a democracy. “The money collected as tax is returned to the people and this good
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governance is the message of Ram Rajya,” he concluded.

• Earlier, Mr. Modi visited Veerabhadra temple in Lepakshi, heard the verses of Ranganatha
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Ramayanam and participated in Bhajan Keertan with devotees. As the day marked the ‘Ram
Jatayu Samvad’ that had taken place nearby, the Prime Minister said that he was observing an
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11-day ‘Anushtan’ ahead of the Pran Prathista at Ayodhya temple.

• The national-level institute will train officials of the Indian Revenue Service (Customs and
Indirect Taxes) as well as central allied services, state and partner nations, with special focus
on use of new-age technologies such as Augmented & Virtual Reality, Blockchain and Artificial
Intelligence for training and capacity building.
125-foot-tall Ambedkar statue in Vijayawada
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy will inaugurate the 125-foot-tall statue of Dr.
B.R. Ambedkar at Swarajya Maidan of Vijayawada on January 19, Andhra Pradesh State Scheduled
Castes Finance Corporation Chairman M. Victor Prasad has said and described the event as a ‘historic
moment’ not only for the State, but also for the entire nation.

“The Smriti Vanam has a multipurpose convention hall with 3,000 seats, an open theatre with 2,000
seats, and a library with 10,000 books. This monument will be a major tourist attraction in
Vijayawada city,”

YSR Sports centre at Pulivendula :

Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy inaugurated the new municipal administrative building and YSR
Integrated Sports Academy, here on Sunday.

The Chief Minister interacted with the Municipal Council members in the new building and spent time
for a photo session with them.

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Kurnool Airport Inaguarated:

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Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy inaugurated Kurnool Airport located at Orvakal
and named it after the freedom fighter Uyyalavada Narasimha Reddy.
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After inauguration, the Chief Minister said that the flight operations from the airport will start
servicing to Bengaluru, Visakhapatnam, and Chennai.
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AP renames NTR university after YSR

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The Andhra Pradesh assembly passed the bill changing the name of NTR University of Health Sciences

as Dr YSR University of Health Sciences. Earlier in 1998 it was named as NTR Health University which

was AP University of Health Sciences

AP CM launches distribution of tabs worth ₹620 crore to 4.34 lakh students

• AP Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy formally launched the distribution of tabs to Class VIII
students at Chintapalli on Thursday.
• The distribution of tabs, worth ₹620 crore to 4,34,285 students, will take place for the next ten
days across the State and MLAs, school teachers and Education Department officials will
oversee the distribution in every mandal.
• Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said each tab is worth ₹33,000 including Byju’s
content worth ₹15,500 and reiterated that investment on education is productive investment
on future human resources.
 • The tabs would contain useful applications like AI (Artificial Intelligence)-aided doubt-
clearance and learning foreign languages apps, he said, stating that they would work like
teachers and help students improve their knowledge.
• Negating the view that tabs are distracting students, Reddy said parents would be able to track
the way they are used by their children.
• This is the second consecutive year that the tabs are being distributed to the students of class
8, and so far, Government has distributed 9,52,925 tabs worth ₹1306 crore.
• Digitalisation of 62097 classrooms from class 6 and above would be completed by the end of
January and it would help students become the best in the world, he said, observing that the
facade of education and the job market would totally change in the next 20 years.

‘One District One Product’ (ODOP) programme

• The Andhra Pradesh government has recently identified one product each from 13 districts

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under the ‘One District One Product’ (ODOP) programme that aims at developing traditional
industrial hubs at the district level. It is also preparing action plans to realise the export

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potential of the respective products.
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• The district-wise products are: readymade garments (Anantapur), pen Kalamkari (Chittoor),
coir and coir products (East Godavari), red chillies (Guntur), barium and barytes (Kadapa),
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Kondapalli toys (Krishna), stone carving (Kurnool), wooden cutlery (Nellore), granite
polishing (Prakasam), Ponduru cotton (Srikakulam), Etikoppaka toys (Visakhapatnam),
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mango jelly (Vizianagaram) and crochet lace (West Godavari).

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AP Students speech in UNO:

Two government school students made Andhra Pradesh proud as they have been chosen to
speak at the United Nations conference on the topic of education, in New York next month.

• While M Shiva Lingamma is a native of Podalakunta Madiri village in Kurnool district, C

Rajeswari is from Nandyal town. The poor financial background of the girls, both aged 16, did
not deter their competitive spirits as they fought for the opportunity with eight other students.
Both the students, currently studying intermediate, had appeared for a written test and
interview conducted by the UN delegates.

• Andhra Pradesh is the only State to have 3 industrial corridors viz.,

• Visakhapatnam - Chennai Industrial Corridor (VCIC)
• Chennai - Bengaluru Industrial Corridor (CBIC)
• Hyderabad - Bengaluru Industrial Corridor (HBIC)
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Andhra Pradesh has started a Supporting Andhra’s Learning Transformation (SALT) programme

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to transform foundational learning in government schools for which the World Bank has approved a
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loan of 250 million dollars. The main objectives of the programme are strengthening foundation
schools and providing training and skill development to teachers. Andhra Pradesh’s public school
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education system has more than 40 lakh children and nearly 2 lakh teachers.

About the programme:

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• The five-year programme is result-oriented with the WB releasing funds after key goals are
achieved. The government has converted all Anganwadis into pre-primary schools and attached
them to the nearest schools.
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• The government’s document on SALT documents several challenges to improving the learning
outcomes.
• These include inadequate facilities in schools and a need for increased focus on foundational
learning, the need for upgrading teaching skills of teachers, improving teacher-student
interactions in classes, and capacity development of state-level institutions such as the Andhra
Pradesh State Council of Education Research and Training (SCERT), State Institute of
Education Management and Training (SIEMAT) and District Institutes of Education and
Training (DIETs).
• The government is also setting up new administrative structures which will monitor the working
of schools, like the AP School Education Regulatory and Monitoring Commission.
AP State Symbols :

STATE ANIMAL
BLACK BUCK (Antilope cervicapra)
The blackbuck (Krishna Jinka) is a diurnal antelope and inhabits grassy plains and slightly forested
areas. Due to their regular need of water, they prefer areas where water is perennially available. The
vernacular name "blackbuck" is a reference to the dark brown to black colour of the dorsal (upper)
part of the coat of the males. The long, ringed horns that resemble corkscrews, are generally present
only on males, though females may develop horns, as well. The horns diverge forming a "V"-like shape.

In India, hunting of blackbuck is prohibited under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972
STATE BIRD
ROSE RINGED PARAKEET (Psittacula krameri)
The rose-ringed parakeet (Rama Chiluka) also known as the ring-necked parakeet, is a medium-sized
parrot and it is sexually dimorphic. The adult male sports a red and black neck ring, and the hen and
immature birds of both sexes either show no neck rings, or display shadow-like pale to dark grey neck
rings. Rose-ringed parakeets measure on average 40 cm (16 in) in length, including the tail feathers, a
large portion of their total length.

This usually feed on buds, fruits, vegetables, nuts, berries, and seeds. Rose-ringed parakeets are
popular as pets and both males and females have the ability to mimic human speech.

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STATE TREE

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NEEM (Azadirachta indica)
Neem (Vepa Chettu) is native to the Indian subcontinent. It is typically grown in tropical and
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subtropical regions.

Description of the plant: Neem is an evergreen tree but in severe drought it may shed its leaves. The
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branches are wide and spreading. The fairly dense crown is roundish and may reach a diameter of 20–
25 metres
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Uses: Used to treat eye disorders, intestinal worms, diabetes, skin diseases like acne & psoriasis and
also used in shampoos & Tooth pastes.
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STATE FLOWER
JASMINE (Jasminum officinale)
Jasmine (Malle Puvvu) is a genus of shrubs and vines in the olive family (Oleaceae). Jasmines are
widely cultivated for the characteristic fragrance of their flowers. Jasmine can be either deciduous or
evergreen and can be erect, spreading, or climbing shrubs and vines. The flowers are typically around
2.5 cm in diameter. They are white or yellow in colour, although in rare instances they can be slightly
reddish. The flowers are borne in cymose clusters with a minimum of three flowers, though they can
also be solitary on the ends of branchlets.

Jasmine is widely cultivated for its flowers, and the flowers are worn by women in their hair in South
and South East Asia. They are grown in the gardens and also as a house plant.

• AP State Song : Maa Telugu Talliki

• AP State Fruit : mango
 • AP State Sport : Kabaddi
• State formation day : November 1st
• State Dance : Kuchipudi

The nine Navaratnalu

YSR Rythu Bharosa A promise to offer financial assistance of Rs 50,000 to farmers has been made by
the YSRCP. In the second year, each family of the farmers would be given Rs 12,500 per year, in
addition to zero-interest loans and free bore-wells. A calamity relief fund of Rs 4,000 crore, 9 hours
free electricity during the day, cold storage units and food processing centers have been assured. With
62 per cent of Andhra Pradesh population dependent on agriculture and allied sectors, the wellbeing
of farmers, farmhands and of those related to these sectors is crucial for the ruling YSRCP

Fee Reimbursement The Government is providing a comprehensive fee reimbursement scheme, in

line with the vision of the late Chief Minister Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy. In addition to this, an

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allowance of Rs 20,000 would be given to every student. A total of Rs 1 to 1.5 lakh would be spend on

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the education of each student. Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has launched initiatives to improve the quality
of education in the state by providing English-medium education, improving enrolment numbers and
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minimizing drop-out rates through schemes like Vidya Deevena, Vasathi Deevena, Amma Vodi and
Vidya Kanuka. The state has spent Rs 25,714 crore in two years on the education sector. As a part of
the educational reforms, the state is to implement the CBSE syllabus from the 2021-22 academic year
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and convert anganwadi centers launched under the Integrated Child Development Scheme into YSR
Pre-Primary Schools.
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Aarogyasri The scheme is applicable to all medical treatments above Rs 1,000. Hospitals of any
location, all medical expenses would be borne by the government. Among health initiatives, Reddy has
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upgraded the cover of the Dr YSR Aarogyasri scheme to include all families with an annual income of
Rs 5 lakh and increased the number of procedures covered to 2,434 at empanelled hospitals in the
state as well as Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad. He is planning health hubs in all 13 districts of the
state and three other cities in public-private partnership.

Jalayagnam For benefitting lakhs of families by irrigation projects. Priority of this scheme is the
completion of Polavaram project.

Ban on Alcohol A ban on alcohol is promised to be placed by the YSRCP regarding its sale across the
State in three stages.

Amma Vodi With a view to encourage families with school-going children, the YSRCP government is
providing Rs 15,000 towards assistance to all mothers who send their children to school.
YSR Cheyutha Through YSR Cheyutha, the YSRCP intends to support all women from SC, ST, BC and
minority communities, who are aged over 45. This would amount to Rs 75,000 per woman from these
communities over a period of 4 years. The Jagan Mohan Reddy government has also prioritized
women and disbursed Rs 88,040.2 crore through welfare schemes like YSR Asara, YSR Cheyutha, YSR
Sunna Vaddi, YSR Kapu Nestham, YSR Sampurna Poshana, YSR Nethanna Nestham and YSR EBC
Nestham. The YSR tag is meant to commemorate his father, the late Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, chief
minister of erstwhile Andhra Pradesh.

HOUSING for all poor The YSRCP promises to build 25 lakh homes for the poor in a five-year
duration. Permanent houses to the homeless poor will be built over a period of 5 years and registered
in name of the woman of the household. The distribution of 2,500,000 housing sites for economically
weaker sections of the population on December 25, 2020, brought Reddy massive goodwill.

Pension Enhancement The eligibility age criteria of 65 years for the pensions would be reduced to
60 years. Senior citizens aged above 60 would be given Rs 2,000 while the physically challenged

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would be given a pension of Rs 3,000. The establishment of village and ward secretariats to bring the

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administration to the villages and towns firmly entrenched the YSRCP at the grassroots level. Over
300,000 village and ward volunteers, who were appointed to deliver the benefits of various
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government schemes, be it pensions or ration, directly to the beneficiaries at their doorsteps, proved a
masterstroke for him.
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AP BUDGET 2023 – 24 Highlights

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The Finance Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Mr. Buggana Rajendranath, presented the Budget for the
state for the financial year 2023-24 on March 16, 2023.
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The Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) of Andhra Pradesh for 2023-24 (at current prices) is
projected to be Rs 14,49,501 crore, amounting to growth of 10% over 2022-23.

▪ Expenditure (excluding debt repayment) in 2023-24 is estimated to be Rs 2,60,868 crore, an

increase of 16% over the revised estimates of 2022-23. In addition, debt of Rs 18,411 crore will be
repaid by the state.

▪ Receipts (excluding borrowings) for 2023-24 are estimated to be Rs 2,06,280 crore, an increase of
17% as compared to the revised estimate of 2022-23. In 2022-23, receipts (excluding borrowings) are
estimated to decrease by 7.7% at the revised stage.

▪ Revenue deficit in 2023-24 is estimated to be 1.5% of GSDP (Rs 22,317 crore), lower than the
revised estimates for 2022-23 (2.2% of GSDP). In 2022-23, the revenue deficit is expected to be higher
than the budget estimate (1.3% of GSDP).
▪ Fiscal deficit for 2023-24 is targeted at 3.8% of GSDP (Rs 54,588 crore). In 2022-23, as per the
revised estimates, fiscal deficit is expected to be 3.6% of GSDP, same as the budget estimates for the
year. Policy Highlights

▪ Loan waiver scheme: The YSR Aasara scheme for waiving outstanding bank loans of women self-
help groups was launched in 2020. Rs 6,700 crore has been allocated towards the scheme in 2023-24.

▪ Urban Development and Housing: Rs 9,381 crore will be allocated towards municipal
administration and urban development department in 2023-24. Under the Pedalandariki Illu Scheme,
30.21 lakh permanent houses will be provided by 2023, of which 4.4 lakh have been constructed so
far. Rs 5,600 crore has been allocated towards this scheme in 2023-24.

▪ Livestock insurance: The YSR Pasu Bhima Yojana has been approved which seeks to provide
livestock insurance to farmers. It will cover improved and indigenous as well as nondescript breeds of
animals.

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▪ Pension: The government seeks to increase the pension for various categories of pensioners in the

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state to Rs 3,000 in the coming years. It has allocated Rs 21,434 crore towards YSR Pension Kanuka in
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2023-24. Andhra Pradesh’s Economy ▪ GSDP: In 2022-23, Andhra Pradesh’s GSDP (at constant
prices) is estimated to grow at 7%, same as the national GDP in 2022-23.
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▪ Sectors: In 2022-23, services sector grew at 10% over a low base (see Figure 1). Manufacturing and
agriculture sector grew at 5% each. In 2022-23, agriculture, manufacturing and services sectors are
estimated to contribute 39%, 21%, and 40% to the economy, respectively (at current prices).
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▪ Per capita GSDP: The per capita GSDP of Andhra Pradesh in 2021-22 (at current prices) is estimated
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at Rs 2,19,518

▪ Total expenditure (excluding debt repayment) in 2023-24 is targeted at Rs 2,60,868 crore. This is
an increase of 16.3% over the revised estimate of 2022-23. This expenditure is proposed to be met
through receipts (excluding borrowings) of Rs 2,06,280 crore and net borrowings of Rs 53,611 crore.
Total receipts for 2023-24 (other than borrowings) are expected to register an increase of 16.9% over
the revised estimate of 2022-23.

▪ Revenue deficit in 2023-24 is estimated to be 1.5% of GSDP (Rs 22,317 crore), lower than the
revised estimates for 2022-23 (2.2% of GSDP). Fiscal deficit for 2023-24 is targeted at 3.8% of GSDP
(Rs 54,588 crore), higher than the revised estimates for 2022-23 (3.6% of GSDP).

Receipts in 2023-24

▪ Total revenue receipts for 2023-24 are estimated to be Rs 2,06,224 crore, an increase of 17% over
the revised estimate of 2022-23. Of this, Rs 1,17,999 crore (57%) will be raised by the state through
its own resources, and Rs 88,225 crore (43%) will come from the centre. Resources from the centre
will be in the form of state’s share in central taxes (20% of revenue receipts) and grants (23% of
revenue receipts).

▪ Devolution: In 2023-24, state’s share in central taxes is estimated at Rs 41,391 crore, an increase of
8% over the revised estimate of 2022-23.

▪ Grants from the centre in 2023-24 is estimated at Rs 46,835 crore. In 2022-23, grants received from
the centre are expected to be 15% lower than the budgeted amount.

▪ State’s own tax revenue: Andhra Pradesh’s total own tax revenue is estimated to be Rs 1,02,599
crore in 2023-24, an increase of 22% over the revised estimate of 2022-23. Own tax revenue as a
percentage of GSDP is estimated at 7% in 2023-24, higher than the revised estimates for 2022-23
(6.4%). As per the actual figures for 2021-22, own tax revenue as a percentage of GSDP was 5.9%.

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▪ Education: Andhra Pradesh has allocated 12.6% of its expenditure on education in 2023-24. This is
lower than the average allocation for education by states in 2022-23 (14.8%).

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▪ Roads and bridges: Andhra Pradesh has allocated 1.8% of its total expenditure towards roads and
bridges, which is lower than the average allocation for roads and bridges by states (4.5%).
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▪ Urban Development: Andhra Pradesh has allocated 3.5% of its expenditure on urban development.
This is the same as the average allocation for urban development by states (3.5%).
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▪ Welfare of SC, ST and OBC: Andhra Pradesh has allocated 19.8% of its expenditure towards welfare
of SCs, STs, and OBCs. This is significantly higher than the average allocation by states (3.5%).
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▪ Energy: Andhra Pradesh has allocated 2.1% of its total expenditure towards energy, which is lower
than the average expenditure on energy by states (4.8%).

▪ Police: Andhra Pradesh has allocated 2.9% of its total expenditure towards police, which is lower
than the average allocation by states (4.3%).
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