Final Seal of Approval from the President
In a decisive and historic development, Droupadi Murmu, the President of India, has given her assent to the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2026, officially declaring Amaravati as the sole and permanent capital of Andhra Pradesh. With this final constitutional step, a prolonged chapter of uncertainty surrounding the state’s capital has come to a close.
The Bill had earlier been passed by both Houses of Parliament during the Budget session, and the President’s assent now gives it full legal force.
A Long Journey Since Bifurcation
The origins of the issue trace back to the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, which led to the bifurcation of the state and the creation of Telangana. At the time, Hyderabad was designated as a temporary joint capital for up to ten years, leaving Andhra Pradesh to identify and develop a new administrative centre.
Amaravati was soon chosen under the leadership of N. Chandrababu Naidu , envisioned as a modern, greenfield capital city. The project saw unprecedented participation from farmers, who pooled large tracts of land in anticipation of rapid development and growth.
Years of Policy Reversals and Delay
However, the capital project faced a major setback after the change in government in 2019, when Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy proposed a decentralised governance model. The plan aimed to distribute capital functions across three cities— Vishakhapatnam (executive), Amaravati (legislative), and Kurnool (judicial).
This proposal triggered widespread protests, especially from farmers in Amaravati, and led to prolonged legal battles and political disagreements. Although the three-capital proposal was eventually withdrawn, the absence of a clear policy direction left the state without a firmly established capital for over a decade.
The 2026 Amendment: Restoring Certainty
The 2026 Amendment to the Reorganisation Act decisively resolves this ambiguity by granting Amaravati exclusive legal status as the capital. It ensures a single, stable administrative centre and puts an end to years of policy inconsistency. The move follows a resolution passed by the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly earlier this year, urging the Centre to formalise Amaravati’s position.
Political Reactions and the Road Ahead
The decision has been welcomed by the ruling leadership as a historic milestone that will restore investor confidence and accelerate infrastructure development. At the same time, opposition parties have expressed concerns over the financial viability and execution challenges of building a world-class capital city.
Despite differing political views, the development is widely seen as a turning point for Andhra Pradesh. With legal clarity now in place, the focus is expected to shift towards the long-delayed task of building Amaravati into a fully functional administrative and economic hub.
A New Chapter Begins
With the President’s assent, Amaravati’s status is no longer a matter of debate but of implementation. For a state that has navigated uncertainty since its bifurcation in 2014, this moment marks both the end of a prolonged wait and the beginning of a more stable future.