After years of anticipation, Amaravati has been officially declared the capital of Andhra Pradesh. The gazette notification was signed on April 6 under the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Act, 2026, providing legal confirmation to a decision that has been awaited since the bifurcation of the state in 2014. According to the notification, Amaravati will be recognized as the official capital retrospectively from June 2, 2024.
This ensures continuity in governance while giving legal effect to the choice of the city as the seat of administration. The announcement formally ends a 12-year period of uncertainty following the creation of Telangana and the joint capital arrangement with Hyderabad.
CM Naidu confirms development
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu confirmed the development on X, stating, “The capital of Andhra Pradesh is Amaravati.” The announcement follows the passage of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Act in Parliament.
The law modifies the 2014 Reorganisation Act by explicitly stating that “Amaravati shall be the new capital,” replacing the previous arrangement of Hyderabad as a temporary joint capital.
The decision gained momentum after the state assembly passed a resolution endorsing Amaravati on March 28. The Bill was subsequently approved by the Lok Sabha on April 1 and cleared by the Rajya Sabha on April 2.
CM expresses gratitude
Naidu thanked the national leadership for supporting the decision. He expressed his appreciation to President Droupadi Murmu for giving assent to the law and to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his guidance.
“This is a victory for my people of Andhra Pradesh, especially my farmers of Amaravati,” he said.
While the move was welcomed by many, opposition voices questioned the decision. YSR Congress Party MP Golla Babu Rao criticised it, calling the legislation “a drama” and stressing that any capital shift should serve the interests of all sections of society.
