Andhra Pradesh, located on the southeastern coast of India, is a state rich in history, culture, and natural beauty.
Establishment and Formation
The modern state of Andhra Pradesh was formed on November 1, 1956, by merging the Andhra State with the Telugu-speaking districts of the former Hyderabad State, following the States Reorganisation Act, 1956.
* Andhra State was the first state in India created on a linguistic basis (for Telugu speakers) on October 1, 1953, by separating the Telugu-speaking northern districts from the Madras State.
* The state was bifurcated on June 2, 2014, to create the new state of Telangana.
* Capital: Amaravati has been designated as the new capital of Andhra Pradesh, succeeding Hyderabad, which serves as the joint capital for both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana until 2024.
Borders and Geography
Andhra Pradesh is the seventh-largest state by area and the tenth-most populous state in India. It has the second-longest coastline among all Indian states, spanning about 970 km along the Bay of Bengal.
* North: Telangana
* Northwest: Telangana and Karnataka
* West: Karnataka
* South: Tamil Nadu
* Northeast: Odisha and Chhattisgarh
* East: Bay of Bengal
Population, Languages, and Religion (2011 Census for undivided state, and post-2014 for current state)
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Population | 49,577,103 (as per 2011 Census of the bifurcated state) |
| Official Language | Telugu (The most widely spoken language, often referred to as the 'Italian of the East'). |
| Other Languages | Urdu, Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, Marathi, and Oriya are spoken by significant minorities. |
| Primary Religion | Hinduism (approx. 90.9%) |
| Minority Religions | Islam (approx. 7.3%), Christianity (approx. 1.4%) |
President's Rule
President's Rule (Article 356 of the Indian Constitution) has been imposed in the region that constitutes the current state of Andhra Pradesh on three occasions:
* Andhra State (pre-1956): November 15, 1954, to March 28, 1955.
* United Andhra Pradesh (1956-2014): January 18, 1973, to December 10, 1973 (due to the Jai Andhra Agitation).
* United Andhra Pradesh (leading to bifurcation): March 1, 2014, to June 8, 2014 (following the resignation of the Chief Minister in protest of state bifurcation).
Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh (Since 1956)
The following table lists the Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh from its formation in 1956 to the present day:
| No. | Chief Minister | Term Start | Term End | Political Party |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Neelam Sanjiva Reddy | Nov 1, 1956 | Jan 11, 1960 | Indian National Congress (INC) |
| 2 | Damodaram Sanjivayya | Jan 11, 1960 | Mar 12, 1962 | INC |
| 3 | Neelam Sanjiva Reddy | Mar 12, 1962 | Feb 20, 1964 | INC |
| 4 | Kasu Brahmananda Reddy | Feb 21, 1964 | Sep 30, 1971 | INC |
| 5 | P. V. Narasimha Rao | Sep 30, 1971 | Jan 10, 1973 | INC |
| | President's Rule | Jan 11, 1973 | Dec 10, 1973 | N/A |
| 6 | Jalagam Vengala Rao | Dec 10, 1973 | Mar 6, 1978 | INC |
| 7 | Marri Chenna Reddy | Mar 6, 1978 | Oct 10, 1980 | INC |
| 8 | Tanguturi Anjaiah | Oct 11, 1980 | Feb 24, 1982 | INC |
| 9 | Bhavanam Venkatarami Reddy | Feb 24, 1982 | Sep 20, 1982 | INC |
| 10 | Kotla Vijaya Bhaskara Reddy | Sep 20, 1982 | Jan 9, 1983 | INC |
| 11 | N. T. Rama Rao | Jan 9, 1983 | Aug 16, 1984 | Telugu Desam Party (TDP) |
| 12 | Nadendla Bhaskara Rao | Aug 16, 1984 | Sep 16, 1984 | TDP |
| 13 | N. T. Rama Rao | Sep 16, 1984 | Dec 2, 1989 | TDP |
| 14 | Marri Chenna Reddy | Dec 3, 1989 | Dec 17, 1990 | INC |
| 15 | N. Janardhana Reddy | Dec 17, 1990 | Oct 9, 1992 | INC |
| 16 | Kotla Vijaya Bhaskara Reddy | Oct 9, 1992 | Dec 12, 1994 | INC |
| 17 | N. T. Rama Rao | Dec 12, 1994 | Sep 1, 1995 | TDP |
| 18 | N. Chandrababu Naidu | Sep 1, 1995 | May 14, 2004 | TDP |
| 19 | Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy | May 14, 2004 | Sep 2, 2009 | INC |
| 20 | K. Rosaiah | Sep 3, 2009 | Nov 24, 2010 | INC |
| 21 | N. Kiran Kumar Reddy | Nov 25, 2010 | Mar 1, 2014 | INC |
| | President's Rule | Mar 1, 2014 | Jun 8, 2014 | N/A |
| 22 | N. Chandrababu Naidu | Jun 8, 2014 | May 30, 2019 | TDP |
| 23 | Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy | May 30, 2019 | Jun 12, 2024 | YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) |
| 24 | N. Chandrababu Naidu | Jun 12, 2024 | Present | TDP |
Famous Places and Products
Andhra Pradesh is renowned for its religious sites, historical monuments, and contributions to agriculture and crafts, both globally and within India.
Famous Places
* Tirumala Venkateswara Temple (Tirupati): One of the most visited and richest pilgrimage centers in the world, dedicated to Lord Venkateswara.
* Amaravati: A historical site with ancient Buddhist monuments and stupas (dating back to the 2nd century BCE), significant for its religious and architectural value.
* Visakhapatnam (Vizag): A major port city known for its scenic beaches, the Borra Caves, and being the headquarters of the Eastern Naval Command.
* Lepakshi: Famous for the magnificent Veerabhadra Temple and a massive granite Nandi (bull) statue, showcasing Vijayanagara architecture.
Major Products
Andhra Pradesh is often called the "Rice Bowl of India" due to its fertile river basins (Krishna and Godavari) and high rice production.
| Product Category | Famous Product/Variety | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture/Spices | Guntur Chilli | One of the hottest chilli varieties globally; a major export. |
| Horticulture | Banganapalle Mangoes (GI Tag) | Widely acclaimed for their sweetness and quality; exported worldwide. |
| Textiles/Handicrafts | Dharmavaram Silk Sarees (GI Tag) | Known for rich gold-plated borders and intricate designs. |
| Sweets | Tirupati Laddu (GI Tag) and Pootharekulu (a thin, paper-like sweet) | Tirupati Laddu is a prasad (offering) from the Tirumala temple, famous globally among devotees. |
| Dance Form | Kuchipudi | A classical Indian dance form that originated in the state, recognized internationally.
