Amaravati Officially Designated as Andhra Pradesh's Capital Following Legislative Approval

Amaravati has officially been declared the capital of Andhra Pradesh after receiving presidential approval for the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Amendment Act. This significant development fulfills a long-standing aspiration for the state's residents, particularly benefiting the farmers of Amaravati. Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other supporters. The new law clarifies Amaravati's status and includes areas under the Capital Region Development Authority. The journey to establish Amaravati as the capital began in 2014 but faced challenges under the current government. The recent parliamentary discussions saw support from multiple parties, although concerns regarding farmers' compensation were raised.

By Narendra Chaudhary Apr 7, 2026, 17:54 IST

Amaravati Becomes the Capital of Andhra Pradesh

On Monday, Amaravati was officially recognized as the capital of Andhra Pradesh after President Droupadi Murmu approved the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Amendment Act.

This legislation was passed by the Lok Sabha on April 1 and subsequently by the Rajya Sabha on April 2.

Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu expressed that this milestone fulfills a long-held aspiration for the people of Andhra Pradesh. He emphasized that this achievement is particularly significant for the farmers of Amaravati.

In a social media update, Naidu thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the supporting MPs, and the citizens for their backing.

The newly enacted law modifies Section 5 of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, replacing the phrase "and there shall be a new capital" with "and Amaravati shall be the new capital." It also specifies that Amaravati encompasses areas designated under the Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority Act.

The initiative to establish Amaravati as the state capital commenced in 2014, coinciding with the formation of Telangana from the erstwhile Andhra Pradesh, which resulted in Hyderabad serving as a shared capital for both states for a decade. The Andhra Pradesh Cabinet approved Amaravati as the capital site on September 1, 2014, with Naidu announcing this decision on October 22, 2015.

However, the development of Amaravati as the capital stalled when the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress assumed power in 2019. In 2020, the YSR Congress proposed a new arrangement with Vishakhapatnam as the executive capital, Amaravati as the legislative capital, and Kurnool as the judicial capital.

In March 2022, the Andhra Pradesh High Court ruled that Amaravati should be the sole state capital.

During the recent parliamentary discussions on the amendment bill, the Telugu Desam Party, Bharatiya Janata Party, and Congress expressed their support for the legislation. While Congress backed Amaravati's designation as the capital, they also advocated for special status for the state.

Conversely, the YSR Congress contended that the law would lack substance unless it safeguarded farmers' interests and established a clear timeline for compensating those whose land was acquired.