Telangana Politics & Governance

Palamuru–Rangareddy project cost estimate rises to about ₹85,000 crore

1 January 2026

The Telangana Irrigation Department’s latest estimate puts the Palamuru–Rangareddy lift-irrigation project’s cost at about ₹85,000 crore, including higher costs for remaining works, land acquisition and distribution canals. The project was initially estimated at ₹35,250 crore in 2015 and revised to ₹55,086 crore in 2023, both at 2015–16 prices. Reported expenditure stood at ₹32,067 crore, while distributary works had not begun.

Key Facts

• The project’s stated purpose is to irrigate 12.3 lakh acres of parched land in the former combined Mahabubnagar district.

Telangana orders ₹25 crore interest on pension deductions

1 January 2026

Telangana’s Finance Department ordered ₹25 crore in interest for pensioners on pension deductions made from March to May 2020. The interest is calculated at 6%, following a 2023 Telangana High Court direction; the deducted principal amounts were released in 2023.

Telangana Assembly passes GHMC and other amendment bills

2 January 2026

The Telangana Assembly passed amendment bills concerning the Municipalities and GHMC laws, the Motor Vehicles law and the Telangana Private Universities law. The government said municipalities within the Outer Ring Road had been merged with GHMC to improve public services, while the number of corporations into which GHMC may be divided remained undecided pending consultations.

Key Facts

• GHMC is Hyderabad’s local civic government, responsible for urban planning, sanitation, road maintenance and public-health services.

CWC defers review of Palamuru–Rangareddy project report

2 January 2026

The Central Water Commission said it could not examine the detailed project report for Telangana’s Palamuru–Rangareddy lift-irrigation project until the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal-II issues its award. It cited unresolved water allocations, including the proposed Godavari-to-Krishna diversion, and said the state should submit an integrated proposal after the tribunal’s decision.

Key Facts

• The Central Water Commission coordinates water-resource schemes with state governments and appraises projects, including irrigation proposals.

Telangana to send intermediate exam hall tickets to parents via WhatsApp

2 January 2026

The Telangana State Board of Intermediate Education announced that it would send examination hall tickets directly to students’ parents through WhatsApp ahead of the annual examinations, scheduled to begin on 25 February. The measure is intended to help parents check examination dates and centre details and spot errors in advance; they were advised to contact the college principal about any corrections.

Key Facts

• The Telangana intermediate board regulates intermediate education, prescribes syllabuses, conducts examinations and affiliates colleges.

Telangana commission recommends Kerala-inspired horticulture measures

2 January 2026

The Telangana Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Commission recommended adapting elements of Kerala’s horticulture model, including vegetable crop insurance, collective farming, village-level crop planning and cluster-based marketing. A team led by commission chair Kodanda Reddy studied horticulture in Kerala and submitted its recommendations to the state government; the measures were proposals, not announced policy.

Key Facts

• Kudumbashree is Kerala’s government programme for poverty eradication and women’s empowerment; its community network includes women’s groups.

GHMC assigns IAS officers to zonal commissioner roles

2 January 2026

The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation assigned nine of its 12 zones to young IAS officers and appointed two senior IAS officers as additional commissioners. The appointments brought the corporation’s reported IAS officer count, including Commissioner R. V. Karnan, to 12.

Key Facts

• GHMC is Hyderabad’s local civic government, responsible for municipal administration.

ADB agrees in principle to ₹4,100 crore loan for Musi project

2 January 2026

The Asian Development Bank agreed in principle to provide a loan of about ₹4,100 crore for the first phase of Telangana’s Musi river redevelopment project, Industries Minister D. Sridhar Babu said in the Assembly. The state was also seeking ₹3,188 crore from the Centre for river clean-up under the National River Conservation Plan.

Key Facts

• ADB finances development in Asia through loans, grants and other support.
• The Musi project’s stated purpose is to restore the river, which has become polluted over time.

Telangana ranks ninth in NAAC-graded institutions

3 January 2026

Telangana had 396 NAAC-graded higher-education institutions, placing it ninth among states by number, compared with 298 reported two years earlier. Of the state’s 149 government degree colleges, 97 had received NAAC grades, and 10 more had applied for grading.

Key Facts

• NAAC is an autonomous public body that assesses and ...