Rashtrapati Nilayam

About Rashtrapati Nilayam

• Rashtrapati Nilayam (literally the “President’s House”), originally known as Residency House, is the official retreat of the President of India. 
• It is located in Secunderabad Cantonment in Hyderabad, Telangana.
• It is one of the Presidential retreats in India and the only one present in Southern India.
• History:
  • Residency House was constructed in 1860 as the country house of the British Resident.
  • It also served as a place of refuge, given its secure location, amid several battles. 
  • After Hyderabad’s annexation in 1948, it became the President’s retreat and used as the Southern Sojourn of the President of India.
• It has a total land area of 90 acres.
• A single-storey building, it contains on its premises 11 rooms. It also has a Dining Hall, Cinema Hall, Darbar Hall, Morning room, Dining room, etc. 
• The President stays at the residence at least once a year and conducts official business.
• It was also used as a guest house for visiting dignitaries.

President’s Retreats

• While the Rashtrapati Bhavan in Delhi is the official residence of the President, there are two retreats for the head of state in India.
• Rashtrapati Nilayam is one, and the other is Rashtrapati Niwas at Mashobra in Shimla.

Q1) What is Operation Polo?

Operation Polo is the military action launched by the Indian Army on September 13, 1948, to integrate the princely state of Hyderabad. The Nizam of Hyderabad was dithering on joining India ever since Independence on August 15, 1947. The military offensive in Hyderabad state was termed as ‘Police Action’ at the time by the then home minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and the Nizam’s forces surrendered to the Indian Army by September 18.

Source: PRESIDENT OF INDIA INAUGURATES VARIOUS TOURIST ATTRACTIONS AT RASHTRAPATI NILAYAM