Amaravati has been granted statutory status as the sole and permanent capital of Andhra Pradesh, following a gazette notification issued by the Government of India on Monday, April 7. The move comes after President Droupadi Murmu assented to the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which was passed by Parliament last week.
According to the Ministry of Law and Justice notification, the Act is deemed to have come into force from June 2, 2024. The amendment modifies Section 5(2) of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, replacing the phrase “and there shall be a new capital” with “and Amaravati shall be the new capital.” The term “Amaravati” includes areas notified under the Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority Act, 2014.
Parliament approved the Bill on April 2, with the Rajya Sabha passing it by voice vote a day after its clearance in the Lok Sabha. A total of 35 MPs participated in the debate, with all but two YSR Congress Party members supporting the legislation.
The enactment ends years of uncertainty following the state’s bifurcation in 2014 and effectively rules out any revival of the proposed three-capital model. While the YSRCP opposed the Bill citing concerns of farmers who contributed land for the capital project, the TDP-led NDA government, which returned to power in 2024, has reaffirmed its commitment to developing Amaravati. The project, first initiated in 2015, was revived last year after a prolonged halt under the previous regime.