Why in News
Parliament passed the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2026, formally establishing Amaravati as the sole statutory capital of Andhra Pradesh. The bill amends Section 5 of the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014, replacing “a new capital for the successor State of Andhra Pradesh” with “Amaravati shall be the new capital”. The bill received broad cross-party support, with YSRCP opposing and staging a walkout.
Background — The Capital Saga
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 2014 | AP Reorganisation Act bifurcated AP; Hyderabad became joint capital for 10 years |
| 2015 | CM Chandrababu Naidu (TDP) selected Amaravati; foundation laid |
| 2019 | CM Jagan Mohan Reddy (YSRCP) proposed three capitals: Amaravati (legislative), Visakhapatnam (executive), Kurnool (judicial) |
| 2020 | AP Decentralisation and Inclusive Development of All Regions Act passed |
| 2022 | AP High Court struck down the three-capital proposal |
| 2024 | TDP returns to power under NDA; Chandrababu Naidu becomes CM again |
| 2026 | Parliament formally designates Amaravati as sole capital |
Key Provisions of the Amendment
| Aspect | Before Amendment | After Amendment |
|---|---|---|
| Section 5 of AP Reorganisation Act | “A new capital” (unnamed) | “Amaravati shall be the new capital” |
| Legal status | No statutory capital designated | Amaravati has statutory backing from Parliament |
| State’s discretion | State could choose/change capital | State cannot change capital without Parliament’s amendment |
Amaravati — The City
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Krishna and Guntur districts, on the banks of Krishna River |
| Area | ~217 sq. km (proposed master plan) |
| Current status | Under construction; basic infrastructure in place |
| Master plan | Designed by Foster + Partners (UK-based architects) |
| Investment so far | ~Rs 15,000 crore (estimated) |
| Distance from Vijayawada | ~30 km |
Constitutional Position on State Capitals
The Indian Constitution does not explicitly define state capitals. Key points:
- First Schedule lists states and their territories — not capitals
- State capitals are traditionally determined by convention and state legislation
- The AP Reorganisation Act, 2014 (a Central Act under Article 3) is what makes Amaravati’s designation a parliamentary matter
- Article 3 gives Parliament the power to form, alter, and reorganise states — including their boundaries and names. Capital designation falls within this scope when done through a reorganisation act
Why the Three-Capital Idea Failed
CM Jagan’s 2019 proposal for three capitals faced legal and practical challenges:
- AP High Court held that decentralising the capital without Centre’s approval violated the Reorganisation Act
- Land acquisition issues — 33,000+ acres of agricultural land pooled by farmers under Naidu’s government would have been abandoned
- Investor confidence — shifting the executive capital to Visakhapatnam created uncertainty for businesses that invested in Amaravati
- Hyderabad’s joint capital status expired in June 2024 — AP urgently needed a functioning capital
UPSC Relevance
GS Paper 2 — Polity & Governance
- Article 3 — Parliament’s power to reorganise states
- State Reorganisation: history, principles, SRC recommendations
- Centre-State relations in capital designation
- AP Reorganisation Act, 2014 — provisions and amendments
Prelims Fast Facts:
- AP Reorganisation Act: 2014 (bifurcated AP and created Telangana)
- Hyderabad was joint capital for: 10 years (2014-2024)
- Amaravati location: Krishna and Guntur districts, on Krishna River
- Article 3: Parliament’s power to form/alter/reorganise states
- YSRCP’s three-capital proposal struck down by: AP High Court
- 2026 Amendment amends: Section 5 of the Reorganisation Act
Facts Corner
- Amaravati has historical significance — it was the capital of the Satavahana dynasty (2nd century BCE) and is home to the famous Amaravati Stupa, one of the earliest Buddhist structures in India
- India’s state capitals are not mentioned in the First Schedule — unlike Pakistan’s constitution which explicitly names Islamabad as the federal capital
- Article 3 requires the President to refer any bill altering state boundaries/names to the affected state legislature for its views — but Parliament is not bound by the state’s opinion
- The State Reorganisation Commission (1955) under Fazal Ali recommended linguistic states — AP was the first state formed on a linguistic basis (Andhra State in 1953, from Madras Presidency)
- AP is the only Indian state that has had its capital changed three times in its modern history: Kurnool (1953-1956), Hyderabad (1956-2024), and now Amaravati (2026-)
