Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill 2026, Provisions

Parliament has passed the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2026. The bill amends the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014 and accords statutory status to Amaravati as the sole and permanent capital of Andhra Pradesh.

Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2026 Background

The issue of Andhra Pradesh’s capital emerged after the enactment of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, which led to the bifurcation of the state and the creation of Telangana. Hyderabad was designated as the common capital for both states for a period of ten years, after which Andhra Pradesh was expected to establish its own capital. However, the Act did not clearly define the process or timeline for finalising the new capital. 

In the initial phase, the Union Government appointed the K.C. Siva Ramakrishnan Committee, which recommended a decentralised approach and cautioned against building a large greenfield capital due to financial and environmental concerns. Despite this, the Andhra Pradesh government in 2016 officially notified Amaravati as the capital via executive action and initiated a land pooling scheme involving thousands of farmers, aiming to build a world-class city.

However, the capital issue soon became politically contested. A change in state government led to the proposal of a three-capital model, with Visakhapatnam as the executive capital, Kurnool as the judicial capital, and Amaravati as the legislative capital. This shift, justified in the name of regional balance, triggered widespread protests, particularly by farmers in Amaravati, along with legal challenges and administrative uncertainty. The lack of policy continuity resulted in governance disruptions, declining investor confidence, and stalled infrastructure development.

Amid this prolonged uncertainty, the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly, on March 28, 2026, passed a resolution urging the Union Government to amend the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014 to grant statutory recognition to Amaravati as the capital. Acting on this request, the Union Government introduced the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2026 in Parliament. The Bill was subsequently passed by both Houses of Parliament and accorded statutory status to Amaravati as the sole and permanent capital of Andhra Pradesh.

Key Provisions of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2026. 

• Statutory Recognition of Amaravati: The Bill amends Section 5 of the 2014 Act to explicitly designate Amaravati as the sole and permanent capital of Andhra Pradesh. This moves beyond executive notification and gives the decision legal sanctity.
• Retrospective Effect: The law provides retrospective recognition to Amaravati from 2 June 2024, marking the end of the 10-year common capital arrangement with Telangana.
• Rejection of the Three-Capital Model: By legally establishing Amaravati as the sole capital, the Bill effectively nullifies earlier proposals for Visakhapatnam as executive capital, Kurnool as judicial capital and Amaravati as legislative capital. This ensures a centralised administrative structure.
• First-of-its-Kind Legislative Precedent: This is the first instance in independent India where Parliament has enacted a law specifically declaring a particular city as the permanent capital of a state.

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Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2026 Significance 

• Legal Clarity: The Bill definitively establishes Amaravati as the permanent capital, ending prolonged ambiguity.
• Administrative Stability: It enables a unified governance structure by avoiding fragmentation across multiple locations.
• Policy Certainty: The legislation ensures continuity by protecting the capital decision from future political reversals.
• Investment Boost: Clear capital status improves investor confidence and facilitates long-term economic planning.
• Infrastructure Push: It accelerates planned development of Amaravati as a modern administrative and urban centre.
• Economic Growth: A stable capital contributes to employment generation and overall state development.
• Political Closure: It resolves a decade-long contentious issue, bringing stability to governance.
• National Precedent: The law sets an example of Parliament formally designating a state capital.