THE ANDHRA PRADESH REORGANISATION (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2026 (further to amend the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014):
- The Lok Sabha today passed a Bill to declare Amaravathi as the capital of Andhra Pradesh.
- The Bill, the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation(Amendment) Bill, 2026, was introduced by Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai.
- The Bill intends to amend Section 5 of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, which declared Hyderabad as the joint capital for Andhra Pradesh and the then newly formed Telangana, bifurcated from the former territory, for a period not exceeding 10 years.
- As per Section 5(2), after the expiry of 10 years, Hyderabad shall be the capital of the State of Telangana, and there shall be a new capital for Andhra Pradesh. The 2026 amendment will substitute the words “there shall be a new capital” in Section 5(2) with the words “and Amaravati shall be the new capital”.
- It further clarifies that “Amaravati” includes the capital city area notified under the Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority Act, 2014.
- Importantly, the amendment is given retrospective effect from June 2, 2024, ensuring legal continuity and removing ambiguity regarding the capital status.
- The Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2026 seeks to amend the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014 to provide statutory clarity regarding the capital of Andhra Pradesh.
STATEMENT OF OBJECTS AND REASONS
- The Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014 was enacted to provide for the reorganisation of the erstwhile State of Andhra Pradesh and for matters connected therewith.
- The provisions of section 5 provide that on and from the appointed day, Hyderabad shall be the common capital for the States of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh for such period not exceeding ten years, after which Hyderabad shall be the capital of the State of Telangana and there shall be a new capital for the successor State of Andhra Pradesh.
- Subsequent to enactment of the Act, the Government of Andhra Pradesh, after due consideration, consultation, and planning, identified and notified “Amaravati” as the new capital of that State.
- Significant administrative and legislative measures have been undertaken, besides the infrastructural developments in and around Amaravati, with the objective of establishing it as the capital of the State of Andhra Pradesh.
- The Legislative Assembly of Andhra Pradesh passed a Resolution on the 28th March, 2026 requesting the Government of India for amending section 5 of the Act, so as to incorporate the name of “Amaravati” as the new capital of the successor State of Andhra Pradesh.
- Accordingly, in order to give effect to the said Resolution of the Legislative Assembly of Andhra Pradesh and to provide statutory clarity regarding the capital of the State of Andhra Pradesh, it is proposed to amend sub-section (2) of section 5 of the said Act to incorporate the name of “Amaravati” therein as the new capital of the State of Andhra Pradesh with effect from the 2nd day of June, 2024.