Lok Sabha has passed the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2026

¨    The Lok Sabha has passed the Andhra Pradesh Reorganization (Amendment) Bill, 2026, under which Amaravati has been formally recognized as the sole and permanent capital of Andhra Pradesh.

¨    This move aims to resolve the long-standing ambiguity in central legislation regarding the status of the state's capital. The Bill received support from both the ruling party and the opposition, although the YSR Congress Party staged a walkout from the House in protest.

¨     Once enacted, the law will come into effect retrospectively from June 2, 2024, thereby firmly cementing Amaravati's status as the capital, without any possibility of future alteration.

Background of the Dispute

¨     This issue is linked to the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh in 2014, when the state of Telangana was formed. Hyderabad was designated as the joint capital for a maximum period of ten years.

¨   However, the Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act, 2014, did not explicitly mention a permanent capital for Andhra Pradesh

¨ This led to prolonged political and administrative uncertainty, with differing perspectives emerging over time.