Andhra Pradesh Politics & Governance

Andhra Pradesh begins free electricity scheme for handloom and powerloom weavers

1 April 2026

Andhra Pradesh began a free electricity scheme for eligible handloom and powerloom weavers. The monthly benefit is capped at 200 units for handlooms and 500 units for powerlooms. The government allocated about ₹150 crore a year to reduce weaving-related electricity costs.

Key Facts

• The free-power scheme originated in G.O.Ms. No.44 of the Industries and Commerce Department, dated 26 March 2025.

Andhra Pradesh approves ₹34 crore canal-water works for Vinjamuru tank

1 April 2026

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu approved ₹34 crore in works to bring Somasila canal water to Vinjamuru old tank in Nellore district. He set October as the completion target to improve water availability in the drought-prone Udayagiri area. Residents separately proposed contributing about ₹70 lakh towards restoring the tank.

Key Facts

• Somasila can supply the neighbouring Kandaleru reservoir by gravity.

Gazette notification advances Neradi Barrage process

1 April 2026

The Centre published the Vamsadhara Water Disputes Tribunal’s further award in the Gazette on 1 April, through a notification dated 30 March. Publication was expressly subject to the outcome of Odisha’s pending Supreme Court petitions. The award permits the proposed Neradi Barrage, subject to the required statutory appraisals and clearances. Later in April, officials sought ₹70 crore for surveys and preparation of a new Detailed Project Report.

Key Facts

• Andhra Pradesh and Odisha agreed to share the Vamsadhara’s available water equally.

Seven Ichchapuram–Palasa railway stations transferred to Visakhapatnam Division

2 April 2026

The Railway Board ordered the transfer of seven stations on the Ichchapuram–Palasa section from the Khurda Road Division of East Coast Railway to Visakhapatnam Division. The section had been under the Odisha-based division. Wider arrangements for the South Coast Railway zone, including its divisions and jurisdiction, remained in progress.

Key Facts

• In February 2025, the Cabinet approved retaining a reduced Waltair division and renaming it Visakhapatnam division.
• The approved restructuring assigned another portion of Waltair to a new Rayagada division under East Coast Railway.

Andhra Pradesh High Court suggests committees to assist panchayat administrators

2 April 2026

The Andhra Pradesh High Court asked the state government to consider committees of two or three people involved in panchayat administration to assist special officers. The suggestion arose during hearings on local-body elections and the expiry of gram panchayat terms. The government said special officers had been appointed after terms ended on 2 April and a commission had been established to study Backward Class reservations in local bodies. The court sought the government’s response and adjourned the matter.

Key Facts

• Article 243E gives a panchayat a five-year term from its first meeting, unless it is dissolved earlier.
• Article 243E requires elections to constitute a panchayat before its normal term expires.
• Article 243K entrusts panchayat electoral rolls and elections to the State Election Commission.

Andhra Pradesh reviews payments of employee and contractor arrears

3 April 2026

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu reviewed pending employee and contractor bills. Officials said ₹1,848 crore in Provident Fund dues and ₹76 crore in Group Life Insurance payments to 4,793 people had been paid, while action was under way to release ₹7,358 crore in employee arrears. They also reported ₹614 crore paid to small contractors. Retirement leave-encashment, gratuity and additional police surrendered-leave bills were still being processed.

Key Facts

• Pending retirement payments included ₹1,800 crore for leave encashment and ₹3,411 crore in gratuity dues.

Andhra Pradesh schedules Rabi paddy procurement with a 2.3-million-tonne target

3 April 2026

Andhra Pradesh scheduled Rabi paddy procurement from 4 April, with a target of 2.3 million tonnes. The state reported setting up 1,917 procurement centres and deploying 17,200 GPS-equipped lorries. Civil Supplies Minister Nadendla Manohar promised payments to farmers within 24 hours of procurement.

Key Facts

• The Civil Supplies Minister said 5.4 crore gunny bags were ready for the procurement operation.
• For marketing season 2025–26, paddy MSP was ₹2,369 per quintal for common paddy and ₹2,389 for Grade A.

Andhra Pradesh awards SSC grace marks for errors in Hindi and English papers

5 April 2026

Andhra Pradesh’s Government Examinations Department decided to award grace marks to SSC candidates after an expert committee identified errors in the ...