View source for Andhra Pradesh

{{Short description|State in southeastern India}}
{{redirect|Andhra}}
{{good article}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox Indian state or territory
| name = Andhra Pradesh
| type = State
<!-- image_skyline restricted to 3 images as per consensus on talk page discussion during May 2023 (Talk:Andhra_Pradesh/Archive_2#Reducing_the_number_of_images_in_infobox). For any improvements, please discuss first on the talk page .... -->| official_name = State of Andhra Pradesh
| former = [[Madras Presidency]]
| image_skyline = {{multiple image
| border                   = infobox
| total_width              = 300
| image_style              = 
| perrow                   = 1/2/2/2/1
| image1 = Tirumala 090615.jpg
| caption1 = [[Venkateswara Temple, Tirumala|Sri Venkateswara Swami Temple]]
| image2 = Undavalli Caves, Vijayawada.JPG
| caption2 = [[Undavalli Caves]]
| image3 = Dhyaan buddha Amaravthi.jpg
| caption3 = [[Dhyana Buddha statue]]
| image4 = LVM3 M4, Chandrayaan-3 - Launch vehicle at the Second Launch Pad (SLP) of SDSC-SHAR, Sriharikota 06.webp
| caption4 = [[Satish Dhawan Space Centre]]
| image5 = Araku valley view.jpg
| caption5 =  [[Araku Valley]]
| image6 = Nandi Lepakshi Temple Hindupur 5.jpg
| caption6 = [[Lepakshi|Lepakshi Nandi]]
| image7 = Vizag seaport.jpg
| caption7 = [[Visakhapatnam Port]]
}}
| image_caption = <!--Do not add caption again-->
| image_seal = File:Emblem of Andhra Pradesh.png
| seal_size = 150
| etymology = "Province of the [[Andhras]]"
| motto = [[Satyameva Jayate]] ([[Sanskrit]])<br/>"Truth alone triumphs"{{force singular}}
| anthem = [[Ma Telugu Talliki]] ([[Telugu language|Telugu]])<br/> "To Our Mother Telugu"
| image_map = IN-AP.svg
| coordinates = {{coord|16.51|80.52|region:IN-AP_type:adm1st_dim:500000|display=inline,title}}
| region = South India
| year_start = <!--  the year in which the territory was established as a separate entity -->
| formation_date4 = [[Andhra movement|1 October 1953]] ({{Years ago|1953}} Years ago) <!--  formation date of the state or territory -->
| consolidation = [[Visalandhra movement|1 November 1956]] ({{Years ago|1956}} Years ago) <!-- the date when the states or territories were merged or into another state -->
| before_was = [[Andhra Pradesh (1956–2014)|Undivided Andhra Pradesh]]
| formation_date3 = 2 June 2014 (Bifurcation by forming [[Telangana]]) <!-- date when the state or territory was bifurcated -->
| capital = Amaravati
| largestcity = Visakhapatnam
| metro = Andhra Pradesh Capital Region
| districts = [[List of districts of Andhra Pradesh|26]]
| Governor = [[Syed Abdul Nazeer]]
| Chief_Minister = [[N. Chandrababu Naidu]]
| party = [[Telugu Desam Party|TDP]]
| Deputy_CM = [[Pawan Kalyan|K. Pawan Kalyan]]<br />([[Janasena Party|JSP]])
| judiciary = [[Andhra Pradesh High Court]]
| Chief_secretary = K.Vijayanand, IAS
| legislature_type = Bicameral <br/>[[Andhra Pradesh Legislature]]
| assembly = [[Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly]]
| assembly_seats = 175 seats
| council = [[Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council]]
| council_seats = 58 seats
| rajya_sabha_seats = 11 seats
| lok_sabha_seats = 25 seats
| area_total_km2 = 162970
| area_rank = 7th
| elevation_m = 
| elevation_max_m = 1680
| elevation_max_point = [[Arma Konda]]
| elevation_min_m = 0
| elevation_min_point = [[Bay of Bengal]]
| population_footnotes = <ref>{{cite book | url=https://ruralindiaonline.org/en/library/resource/population-projections-for-india-and-states-2011-2036/ | title=Population Projections for India and States, 2011–2036 | date=July 2020 | access-date=25 March 2023 | archive-date=13 March 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230313055356/https://ruralindiaonline.org/en/library/resource/population-projections-for-india-and-states-2011-2036/ | url-status=live }}</ref>
| population_total = {{IncreaseNeutral}} 53,586,000
| population_as_of = 2025
| population_rank = 10th
| population_urban = 37.69%
| population_rural = 62.31%
| population_density = 304
| population_demonym = Andhrulu, [[Telugu people|Teluguvaaru]]
| 0fficial_Langs = [[Telugu language|Telugu]]
| additional_official = [[Urdu]]<ref name=":1"/><ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehansindia.com/andhra-pradesh/ap-govt-issues-orders-recognising-urdu-as-the-official-language-749112|title=AP govt. issues orders recognising Urdu as the official language|last=Pavan|work=[[The Hans India]]|date=17 June 2022|access-date=27 July 2023|archive-date=27 July 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230727054829/https://www.thehansindia.com/andhra-pradesh/ap-govt-issues-orders-recognising-urdu-as-the-official-language-749112|url-status=live }}</ref>
| official_script = [[Telugu script]]
| GDP_footnotes = <ref name="MOSPI">{{cite web|url=http://mospi.nic.in/sites/default/files/press_releases_statements/State_wise_SDP_15_03_2021.xls|title=MOSPI State Domestic Product, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of India|date=15 March 2021|accessdate=28 March 2021}}</ref>
| GDP_total = {{Increase}} $216 billion (nominal)<br/>{{Increase}} $906.91 billion (PPP)
| GDP_year = 2024-2025
| GDP_rank = 9th
| GDP_per_capita = {{Increase}}  {{INRConvert|298058|lk=r}}<br/>{{Increase}} $14,426 (PPP)
| GDP_per_capita_rank = 15th
| HDI_year = 2022
| HDI = {{Increase}} 0.673 {{color|#fc0|Medium}} <ref>{{cite web |title=India: Subnational HDI |url= https://globaldatalab.org/shdi/table/shdi/IND/?levels=1+4&years=2022&interpolation=0&extrapolation=0 |website=Global Data Lab |access-date=16 October 2025}}</ref>
| HDI_rank = 26th
| literacy = 72.6%<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.mospi.gov.in/sites/default/files/publication_reports/AnnualReport_PLFS2023-24L2.pdf |title=Annual Report, Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) (July 2023 – June 2024) |date=23 September 2024 |publisher=National Sample Survey Office, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of India |pages=A-10 |chapter=Appendix-A: Detailed tables, Table (7): Literacy rate (in per cent) of persons of different age groups for each State/UT (persons, age-group (years): 7 & above, rural+urban (column 6))}}</ref>
| literacy_year = 2024
| literacy_rank = 36th
| sex_ratio = 993[[female|♀]]/1000 [[male|♂]]
| sexratio_year = 2025
| sexratio_rank = 20th
| iso_code = IN-AP
| registration_plate = AP
| website = ap.gov.in
| foundation_day = Andhra Pradesh Day
| mammal = [[Blackbuck]]<ref name="dc-newsymbols">{{Cite news |title=Andhra Pradesh gets new state bird, state flower |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/310518/andhra-pradesh-gets-new-state-bird-state-flower.html |work=Deccan Chronicle |date=31 May 2018 |access-date=1 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180601000928/https://deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/310518/andhra-pradesh-gets-new-state-bird-state-flower.html |archive-date=1 June 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>
| bird = [[Rose-ringed parakeet]]<ref name="dc-newsymbols" />
| flower = [[Jasmine]]
| tree = [[Azadirachta indica]]
| fruit = [[Banganapalle (mango)|Banginapalle Mango]]
| image_highway = SH IN-AP.png
| SH_numbers = [[List of state highways in Andhra Pradesh|AP SH1{{ndash}}AP SH240]]
}}

'''Andhra Pradesh'''{{efn|[[ISO 15919|ISO]]: {{transliteration|te|ISO|Āndhra Pradēśa}}, {{IPA|te|aːndʱɾə pɾədeʃᵊ|pron|LL-Q8097 (tel)-V Bhavya-ఆంధ్రప్రదేశ్.wav}}, {{small|abbr.}} '''AP'''}} is a [[States and union territories of India|state]] on the [[East Coast of India|east coast]] of southern [[India]]. It is the [[List of states and union territories of India by area|seventh-largest state]] and the [[List of states and union territories of India by population|tenth-most populous]] in the country. [[Telugu language|Telugu]], one of the [[classical languages of India]], is the most widely spoken language in the state, as well as its official language. [[Amaravati]] is the state capital, while the largest city is [[Visakhapatnam]]. Andhra Pradesh shares borders with [[Odisha]] to the northeast, [[Chhattisgarh]] to the north, [[Karnataka]] to the southwest, [[Tamil Nadu]] to the south, [[Telangana]] to northwest and the [[Bay of Bengal]] to the east. It has the [[Coastline of Andhra Pradesh|longest coastline]] in India (aerial distance between extreme ends) at about {{convert|1000|km}}.

[[Archaeology|Archaeological]] evidence indicates that Andhra Pradesh has been continuously inhabited for over 247,000 years, from early archaic [[Hominini|hominins]] to [[Neolithic]] settlements. The earliest reference to the [[Andhras]] appears in the [[Aitareya Brahmana]] ({{Circa|800 [[BCE]]}}) of the [[Rigveda]]. Around 300 BCE, the Andhras living in the Godavari and Krishna river deltas were renowned for their formidable military strength—second only to the [[Maurya Empire]] in the subcontinent. The first major Andhra polity was the [[Satavahana dynasty]] (2nd century BCE–2nd century CE) which ruled over the entire [[Deccan Plateau]] and even distant areas of western and central India. They established trade relations with the [[Roman Empire]], and their capital, [[Dharanikota|Dhanyakataka]], was the most prosperous city in India during the 2nd century CE. Subsequent major dynasties included the [[Vishnukundina dynasty|Vishnukundinas]], [[Eastern Chalukyas]], [[Kakatiya dynasty|Kakatiyas]], [[Vijayanagara Empire]], and [[Sultanate of Golconda|Qutb Shahis]], followed by [[British Raj|British rule]]. After gained independence, [[Andhra State]] was carved out of [[Madras State]] in 1953. In 1956, it merged with Telangana, comprising the Telugu-speaking regions of the former [[Hyderabad State (1948–1956)|Hyderabad State]], to form [[United Andhra Pradesh|Andhra Pradesh]]. It reverted to its earlier form in 2014, when the new state of [[Telangana]] was bifurcated from it.

The [[Eastern Ghats]] separate the coastal plains from the [[peneplain]]s. Major rivers include the [[Krishna River|Krishna]], [[Godavari River|Godavari]], [[Tungabhadra River|Tungabhadra]] and [[Penna River|Penna]]. Andhra Pradesh holds about one-third of India's [[limestone]] reserves and significant deposits of [[baryte]] and [[granite]]. Agriculture and related activities employ 62.17% of the population, with rice being the [[Staple food|staple crop]]. The state contributes 30% to India's fish production and accounts for 35% of the country's seafood exports. The [[Satish Dhawan Space Centre|Sriharikota Range]], located on [[Sriharikota]] island in [[Tirupati district]], serves as India's primary satellite launch centre.

Andhra is the birthplace of the [[Amaravati art|Amaravati school of art]], an ancient Indian art style that influenced [[South India]]n, [[Sri Lanka]]n, and [[Southeast Asia]]n art. It is also home to [[Kuchipudi]], one of [[Indian classical dance|India's classical dance forms]], and has produced several renowned [[Carnatic music]] composers. The state features prominent [[Tourism in Andhra Pradesh#Religious and pilgrimage sites|pilgrimage centres]] and [[Tourism in Andhra Pradesh#Nature tourism|natural attractions]], including the [[Venkateswara Temple, Tirumala|Venkateswara temple]] in [[Tirumala]] and the [[Araku Valley]]. Notable products with [[geographical indication]] (GI) registration include [[Tirupati Laddu]], [[Banganapalle (mango)|Banganapalle mangoes]], [[Kondapalli toys]], [[Dharmavaram handloom pattu sarees and paavadas|Dharmavaram sarees]], and [[Pootharekulu]].

== Etymology ==
{{Main|Andhras}}

[[Andhras]] were mentioned in [[Aitareya Brahmana]] of the [[Rigveda]] ({{Circa|800–500 BCE}}) as descendants of the sage [[Vishvamitra]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Martin Haug |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.104262/page/n175/mode/2up?q=andhras |title=Aitareya Brahmana Of The Rigveda |date=1922 |pages=175}}</ref> Andhras were referred to as non-Aryans living on the fringes of Aryan settlements.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Shimada |first=Akira |title=Early Buddhist architecture in context: the great stūpa at Amarāvatī (ca. 300 BCE-300 CE) |date=2013 |publisher=Brill |isbn=978-90-04-23283-9 |series=Brill's Indological library |location=Lieden; Boston |quote=In the Aitareya Brahmaņa (VII, 18), the Andhras were mentioned together with the Pundras, Sabaras, Pulindas and Mūtibas as Dasyu (non-Aryan tribes) living on the borders of the land}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Bhandarkar |first=D. R. |url=https://archive.org/details/dli.csl.7014/page/n15/mode/2up?q=andhras |title=Lectures on the Ancient History of India on the period from 650 to 325 B.C. |date=1919 |publisher=University of Calcutta, Calcutta |pages=14}}</ref> The [[Satavahana dynasty|Satavahanas]], the earliest kings who ruled this region were mentioned by the names ''Andhra'', ''Andhrara-jateeya'', and ''[[Andhrabhrtya]]'' in the [[Puranas|Puranic literature]]. "Andhra" is both a tribal and a territorial name.{{Sfn|Sen|1999|p=172–176}} The region inhabited by Andhras was called [[Andhradesa]].<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/dli.jZY9lup2kZl6TuXGlZQdjZM1k0My/page/3/mode/2up |title=A History of the Early Dynasties of AndhraDesa C. 200-625 A.D. : with a map of ancient Andhradesa and Daksinapatna |date=1942 |publisher=V. Ramaswami Sastrulu & sons (Madras)}}</ref>

== History ==
{{Main|History of Andhra Pradesh}}

=== Pre-history===
Excavated stone tools from [[Hanumanthunipadu]] in [[Prakasam district|Prakasam]] district were dated to be 2.47 [[lakh]] (247,000) years old ([[Middle Paleolithic]]). This finding means that these tools were developed by archaic hominins (pre-humans) as such tools were thought to be used by modern man migrating out of Africa about 2.10 lakh (210,000) years ago. In the absence of fossil evidence, it became a riddle to understand what happened to them.<ref>{{Cite web |last=P. |first=Sujatha Varma |date=30 September 2022 |title=Ancient stone tools found in Prakasam lead to startling revelations |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/ancient-stone-tools-found-in-prakasam-lead-to-startling-revelations/article65946249.ece |url-access=subscription |access-date=21 July 2024 |website=[[The Hindu]] |archive-date=21 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240721120534/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/ancient-stone-tools-found-in-prakasam-lead-to-startling-revelations/article65946249.ece |url-status=live }}</ref> The discovery of petroglyphs, pictographs, and dolmens in Chakrala Bodu, near Boyalapalli village in the Yerragondapalem mandal area of Prakasam district indicates the presence of Neolithic-age human settlements in the region.<ref>{{Cite news |last=IVNP |first=Prasad |date=17 November 2023 |title=Neolithic-age rock art, burial chambers discovered in Prakasam |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/andhra-pradesh/2023/Nov/17/neolithic-age-rock-art-burial-chambers-discovered-in-prakasam-2633669.html |access-date=21 July 2024 |work=[[The New Indian Express]] |archive-date=21 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240721121055/https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/andhra-pradesh/2023/Nov/17/neolithic-age-rock-art-burial-chambers-discovered-in-prakasam-2633669.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Early and medieval history ===
[[File:Maha_Stupa_at_Bhattiprolu_01.jpg|thumb|left| Ruins of the Buddhist Maha Stupa at [[Bhattiprolu]], built during the 3rd century BCE–2nd century BCE]]
[[Megasthenes]] reported in his [[Indica (Megasthenes)|''Indica'']] ({{Circa|310 BCE}}) that Andhras were living in the [[Godavari River|Godavari]] and [[Krishna]] [[river delta]]s and were famous for their military strength which was second only to Mauryans in all of [[Indian subcontinent|India]].<ref name=":6">{{Cite book |last=V. D. |first=Mahajan |author-link=Vidya Dhar Mahajan |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7TJlDwAAQBAJ&dq=Megasthenes+Andhras&pg=PA297 |title=Ancient India |date=2016 |publisher=[[S. Chand Group|S. Chand Publishing]] |isbn=978-93-5253-132-5 |pages=297}}{{Cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=History of Andhra Pradesh|url=http://www.aponline.gov.in/quick%20links/hist-cult/history.html|publisher=[[Government of Andhra Pradesh]]|access-date=22 July 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120716182646/http://www.aponline.gov.in/quick%20links/hist-cult/history.html|archive-date=16 July 2012}}</ref> Archaeological evidence from places such as [[Bhattiprolu]], [[Amaravathi, Guntur district|Amaravathi]], and [[Dharanikota]] suggests that the Andhra region was part of the [[Maurya Empire|Mauryan empire]]. After the death of Emperor [[Ashoka]], Mauryan rule weakened around 200&nbsp;BCE and was replaced by several smaller kingdoms in the Andhra region.<ref name="Akira_2012">{{Cite book |author=Akira Shimada |title=Early Buddhist architecture in context: The great stupa at Amaravati (ca. 300&nbsp;BCE{{snd}}300&nbsp;CE) |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YweEJsuLNCUC&pg=PA39 |year=2012 |publisher=BRILL |isbn=978-90-04-23283-9 |pages=33–40 |access-date=14 October 2016}}{{Cbignore}}</ref> One of the earliest examples of the [[Brāhmī script|Brahmi]] script, from Bhattiprolu was used on an urn containing the relics of Buddha.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.buddhavihara.in/ancient.htm |access-date=29 April 2024|title= Ananda Buddha Vihara|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071014070155/http://www.buddhavihara.in/ancient.htm |archive-date=14 October 2007}}</ref> This is considered as the rosetta stone for decipherment of Tamil Brahmi.<ref name="Magnum">{{Cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/fline/fl2013/stories/20030704000207100.htm|title=A magnum opus on Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions|last=Champahalakshmi|first=R|work=Frontline|publisher=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=7 October 2011|archive-date=30 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131230030420/http://www.hindu.com/fline/fl2013/stories/20030704000207100.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> Kadamba script, derived from Bhattiprolu Brahmi later led to the evolution of Telugu and Kannada scripts.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Alla |first1=Chakradhar |editor1-last=Chakrabarti |editor1-first=Debkumar |title=Ergonomics for design and innovation |date=1 June 2022 |page=331 |url=https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-94277-9 |access-date=29 July 2024 |chapter=Impact of writing tools in the evolution of Telugu script |series=Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems |volume=391 |doi=10.1007/978-3-030-94277-9_29 |isbn=978-3-030-94276-2 |publisher=Springer |archive-date=13 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230513133402/https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-94277-9 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The [[Satavahana dynasty]] dominated the [[Deccan Plateau]] from the 1st century BCE to the 3rd century CE.<ref name="CH_2009">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=H1c1UIEVH9gC&pg=PA299 |title=Encyclopedia of ancient Asian civilizations |author=Charles Higham |publisher=Infobase Publishing |year=2009 |isbn=978-1-4381-0996-1 |page=299 |access-date=6 March 2016 }}{{Cbignore}}</ref> It had trade relations with the Roman Empire.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Dutt |first1=Sukumar |title=Buddhist monks and monasteries of India: Their history and their contribution to Indian culture |date=1988 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |isbn=978-81-20-80498-2 |page=132 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lxRHYFd0fB4C&pg=PA132 |access-date=29 April 2024}}{{Cbignore}}</ref> The Satavahanas made [[Amaravathi, Palnadu district|Dhanyakataka-Amaravathi]] their capital. According to historian [[Stanley Wolpert]], it might have been the most prosperous city in India in 2nd century CE.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History of Amaravati |url=https://crda.ap.gov.in/APCRDADOCS/DataModuleFIles/History/01~10531.Historical%20timeline.pdf |website=crda.ap.gov.in |publisher=Government of AP |access-date=29 July 2024 |archive-date=19 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240519110822/https://crda.ap.gov.in/APCRDADOCS/DataModuleFIles/History/01~10531.Historical%20timeline.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":10">{{Cite book |last=Wolpert |first=Stanley A. |author-link=Stanley Wolpert |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QSZuAAAAMAAJ&q=Andhra |title=A new history of India |date=1989 |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |isbn=978-0-19-505636-5 |pages=75, 76|quote=Amaravati on the banks of the Krishna, which was later the southeast capital of the Satavahanas, flourished in its trade with Rome, Ceylon, and Southeast Asia, and may well have been the most prosperous city of India during the second century of the Christian era.}}{{Cbignore}}</ref> [[Nagarjuna]], the philosopher of [[Mahayana]], lived in this region.<ref>{{Cite book |author=David M. Knipe |title=Vedic voices: Intimate narratives of a living Andhra tradition |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8oUSBwAAQBAJ&q=Nagarjuna |year=2015 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-026673-8 |pages=8–9 |access-date=24 July 2024 }}{{Cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last1=Padma|first1=Sree|last2=Barber|first2=Anthony W. |title=Buddhism in the Krishna river valley of Andhra|publisher=SUNY Press |year=2008|page=2}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Davidson|first=Ronald|title=Tibetan renaissance| publisher= Columbia |year=2005|pages=29}}</ref> Mahayana spread to China, Japan, and Korea. It became the largest Buddhist denomination in the world.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Warder |first=Anthony Kennedy |author-link=A. K. Warder |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sE8MgUVGNHkC&q=Andhra |title=Indian Buddhism |date=2004 |publisher=[[Motilal Banarsidass]] |isbn=978-81-208-1741-8 |pages=336, 355, 402, 464|quote=Those of us who have studied the evidence above will prefer to locate this source of most of the Mahāyāna sutras in Andhra. (p. 355) From the internal evidence, it appears that this sutra was written in South India, very likely in Andhra, in which case the country of origin of the Mahāyāna continued in the lead in the development of new ideas in India. (p. 402)}}{{Cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last1=Johnson|first1=Todd M.|url=http://media.johnwiley.com.au/product_data/excerpt/47/04706745/0470674547-196.pdf|title=The world's religions in figures: An introduction to international religious demography|last2=Grim|first2=Brian J.|publisher=Wiley-Blackwell|year=2013|location=Hoboken, NJ|page=36|access-date=2 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020100448/http://media.johnwiley.com.au/product_data/excerpt/47/04706745/0470674547-196.pdf|archive-date=20 October 2013}}</ref> [[Amaravati art|Amaravati School of Art]] is regarded as one of the three major styles of ancient Indian art and had a great influence on art in South India, Sri Lanka, and Southeast Asia.{{Sfn|Rowland|1967|p=210}} The [[Andhra Ikshvaku]]s, with their capital at [[Vijayapuri South|Vijayapuri]], succeeded the Satavahanas in the [[Krishna River]] valley in the latter half of the 2nd century CE.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Subramanian|first1=K. R.|title=Buddhist remains in Andhra and the history of Andhra between 225 and 610 A.D.|publisher=Asian Educational Services|isbn=978-81-20-60444-5|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vnO2BMPdYEoC&q=andhra+ikshvaku&pg=PA82 |access-date=29 April 2024|year=1989}}{{Cbignore}}</ref> The [[Salankayana dynasty|Salankayanas]] were an ancient dynasty that ruled the Andhra region between Godavari and Krishna rivers with their capital at [[Vengi]] (modern [[Pedavegi]]) around 300 CE.{{Sfn|Sen|1999|p=433}} [[Telugu Chodas|Telugu Cholas]] ruled present-day Kadapa region from the six to the thirteenth centuries intermittently.<ref>{{cite web |title=History – Kadapa district |url=https://kadapa.ap.gov.in/history-2/ |website=Kadapa district |access-date=25 August 2024}}</ref> Kallamalla ''sasanam'' (law), engraved in 575&nbsp;CE during the rule of Dhanamjaya, is the earliest completely Telugu inscription.<ref>{{Cite news |last=రెడ్డి |first=తులసీ ప్రసాద్ |date=22 February 2022 |title=కడప జిల్లాలోని కలమల్ల శాసనమే తొలి తెలుగు శాసనమా? |language=te |publisher=BBC News తెలుగు |url=https://www.bbc.com/telugu/india-60467482 |access-date=5 April 2023 |archive-date=6 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230406173134/https://www.bbc.com/telugu/india-60467482 |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Undavalli Caves, Vijayawada, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India (2018) 1.jpg|thumb|[[Undavalli Caves|Undavali caves]], Guntur district]]
The [[Vishnukundina dynasty|Vishnukundinas]] was the first dynasty in the fifth and sixth centuries to hold sway over South India.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Sarma|first=A. Rajeswara|year=2009|title=Indrapura: The capital city of Vishnukundi dynasty|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/44147663|access-date=29 April 2024|journal=Proceedings of the Indian History Congress|volume=70|pages=138–141|jstor=44147663|issn=2249-1937}}</ref> [[Undavalli Caves]] is an example of [[Indian rock-cut architecture]] of that time.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://guntur.nic.in/undavalli_caves.html|title= Welcome to Guntur district official website|access-date=31 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160627173402/http://guntur.nic.in/undavalli_caves.html|archive-date=27 June 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[Eastern Chalukyas]] of Vengi, whose dynasty lasted for around five hundred years from the 7th century until 1130&nbsp;CE, eventually merged with the [[Chola dynasty]]. They continued to rule under the protection of the Chola dynasty until 1189&nbsp;CE.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ap.gov.in/eastern-chalukyas/ |title=About Eastern Chalukyas – Official AP state government portal – AP state portal|access-date=27 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160617075255/http://www.ap.gov.in/eastern-chalukyas/ |archive-date=17 June 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> At the request of King [[Rajaraja Narendra]], [[Nannaya]], considered the first Telugu poet, took up the translation of the Mahabharata into Telugu in 1025 CE.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ak9csfpY2WoC&dq=Nannaya+tikkana&pg=PA393 |title=Literary cultures in history: Reconstructions from South Asia |date=19 May 2003 |publisher=University of California Press |isbn=978-0-520-22821-4 |editor-last=Pollock |editor-first=Sheldon |editor-link=Sheldon Pollock |pages=393, 397|access-date=1 June 2023}}{{Cbignore}}</ref>

[[Kakatiya dynasty|Kakatiyas]] ruled this region and Telangana for nearly two hundred years between the 12th and 14th centuries. They were defeated by the [[Delhi Sultanate]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mamidi |first=Harikrishna |author-link=Mamidi Harikrishna |date=19 October 2023 |title=Rise and fall of Kakatiyas, turning point in Indian history |url=https://telanganatoday.com/rise-and-fall-of-kakatiyas-turning-point-in-indian-history |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231019020424/https://telanganatoday.com/rise-and-fall-of-kakatiyas-turning-point-in-indian-history |archive-date=19 October 2023 |access-date=30 October 2023 |website=Telangana Today}}</ref> [[Bahmani Sultanate|Bahamani sultanate]] took over when Delhi sultanate became weak.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Kulke|first1=Hermann|title=A History of India |last2=Rothermund|first2=Dietmar|publisher=Psychology Press|year=2004|isbn=9780415329200 |pages=181|quote=The Bahmani sultanate of the Deccan: Soon after Muhammad Tughluq left Daulatabad, the city was conquered by Zafar Khan, a Turkish or Afghan officer of unknown descent, had earlier participated in a mutiny of troops in Gujarat.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Wink |first=André |title=The making of the Indo-Islamic world C.700–1800 CE |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=2020 |isbn=9781108417747 |pages=87|quote=Finally, and more importantly, the independent Bahmani dynasty of the Deccan was founded in 1348 by Zafar Khan, probably an Afghan who broke away from Delhi with the support of Afghan and Mongol "New Muslims"}}</ref> Around the same time, [[Musunuri Nayakas|Musunuris]] and [[Reddi Kingdom]] ruled parts of this region in the early 14th century.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Talbot |first=Cynthia |title=Pre-colonial India in practice: Society, region, and identity in medieval Andhra |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19803-123-9 |year=2001 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pfAKljlCJq0C|page=177}}{{Cbignore}}</ref> [[Reddy]] kings constructed [[Kondaveedu Fort]] and [[Kondapalli Fort]].<ref name=gazette>{{Cite web|url=https://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?volume=15&objectid=DS405.1.I34_V15_399.gif |title=Imperial gazetteer of India, v. 15 1931|work=Kondaveedu|page=393|access-date=20 October 2009|publisher=Digital South Asia Library|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100613100037/http://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?volume=15&objectid=DS405.1.I34_V15_399.gif |archive-date=13 June 2010|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=gallery>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/apac/other/019wdz000000739u00000000.html |title=Kondavid-durg near Guntur. 19 February 1804. Signed 'W.R.'|access-date=20 October 2009|publisher=British on line Gallery|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018115359/http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/apac/other/019wdz000000739u00000000.html |archive-date=18 October 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Gajapati Kingdom|Gajpathis]] ruled parts of this region, before the entire region became part of the [[Vijayanagara Empire]] during the reign of [[Krishnadevaraya]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Durga Prasad |first=J. |title=History of the Andhras up to 1565 A. D. |year=1988 |publisher=P.G. Publisher |location=Guntur |url=http://202.41.85.234:8000/gw_44_5/hi-res/hcu_images/G2.pdf |access-date=27 January 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060422120411/http://202.41.85.234:8000/gw_44_5/hi-res/hcu_images/G2.pdf |archive-date=22 April 2006|pages=231–235 }}</ref> [[Pemmasani Nayaks]] controlled parts of Andhra Pradesh and had large mercenary armies that were the vanguard of the empire in the 16th century.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Stein |first=Burton |author-link=Burton Stein |year=1989 |title=The new Cambridge history of India: Vijayanagara |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OpxeaYQbGDMC&pg=PA1 |access-date=29 April 2024|publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-0-521-26693-2 |page=88 |quote= "Controlling numerous villages and many large towns, these powerful chiefs commanded large mercenary armies that were the vanguard of Vijayanagara forces during the sixteenth century."}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |last=Ramaswamy |first=Vijaya |chapter=Mapping migrations of South Indian weavers before, during and after the Vijayanagara Period: Thirteenth and eighteenth centuries |editor-first1=Jan |editor-last1=Lucassen |editor-first2=Leo |editor-last2=Lucassen |title=Globalising Migration History: The Eurasian Experience (16th–21st Centuries) |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CCqiAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA99 |year=2014 |publisher=BRILL |isbn=978-90-04-27136-4 |page=99}}{{Cbignore}}</ref> Several tanks and anicuts were built. Some of these include the Cumbum tank, Mopad tank, and Koregal anicut, Vallabhapur anicut across the [[Tungabhadra River|Tungabhadra]] River.<ref name="wrd-aboutus">{{Cite web |url=https://irrigationap.cgg.gov.in/wrd/aboutUs |title=Water resources department – History |access-date=30 May 2023 |website=Water resources department |archive-date=30 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230530064708/https://irrigationap.cgg.gov.in/wrd/aboutUs |url-status=live }}</ref> The empire's patronage enabled fine arts and literature to reach new heights in Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, and Sanskrit, while [[Carnatic music]] evolved into its current form.<ref>{{Cite book|author=B. A. Saletore|title=Social and political life in the Vijayanagara Empire Vol II|year=1930|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.52848 |access-date=29 April 2024 }}</ref> The [[Lepakshi]] group of monuments built during this period have mural paintings of the Vijayanagara kings, Dravidian art, and inscriptions. These are put on the [[World Heritage Site#Nomination process|tentative list of the UNESCO World Heritage committee]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/lepakshi-nandi-veerabhadra-temple-on-unesco-world-heritage-tentative-list/article65271080.ece |title=Lepakshi Nandi, Veerabhadra temple on UNESCO world heritage tentative list|website=[[The Hindu]]|date=29 March 2022|access-date=30 May 2023|archive-date=1 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221201091816/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/lepakshi-nandi-veerabhadra-temple-on-unesco-world-heritage-tentative-list/article65271080.ece |url-status=live|url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/6607/ |title=Sri Veerabhadra Temple and Monolithic Bull (Nandi), Lepakshi |access-date=22 July 2024 |publisher=[[UNESCO]] |archive-date=17 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220517062600/http://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/6607/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Modern history ===
{{See also|Andhra State|Andhra Pradesh (1956–2014)}}
[[File:India1765and1805b.jpg|thumb|Parts of Andhra Pradesh in 1765 (left) ruled by [[Nizam of Hyderabad|Nizam]], [[Carnatic Sultanate]], British [[East India Company]] and [[Kingdom of Mysore]] and transformation to British East India Company rule by 1801 (map dated 1805) (right)]]

Following the defeat of the Vijayanagara Empire, the [[Qutb Shahi dynasty]] held sway over most of present-day general Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Later, this region came under the rule of the Mughal Empire.<ref name="Richards">{{Cite journal|last=Richards|first=J. F.|title=The Hyderabad Karnatik, 1687–1707|year=1975 |journal=[[Modern Asian Studies]] |volume=9|issue=2|pages=241–260|doi=10.1017/S0026749X00004996|s2cid=142989123| issn = 0026-749X}}</ref> [[Nizam-ul-Mulk, Asaf Jah I|Chin Qilich Khan]] who was initially appointed as viceroy of Deccan by the Mughal in 1713, established himself as a semi-independent ruler as [[Nizam of Hyderabad]].{{Sfn|Faruqui, At Empire's End|2013|pp=9–13}} In 1765, British Lord [[Robert Clive]] obtained from the Mughal emperor [[Shah Alam II]] a grant of four circars to the British East India Company, that was formalised in 1778 treaty with Nizam Ali, the 5th Nizam of Hyderabad state with addition of another circar. Later, four territories were ceded to the British by Nizam Ali in 1800, which eventually became the Rayalaseema region.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=T. |first1=Bhujang Rao |title=The ceded districts, the circars, and the Nizam |journal=Triveni Journal |year=1940 |url=https://trivenijournal.org/CD%20&%20WEB/TheCededDistrictstheCircarsandtheNizamoct40.html |access-date=20 August 2024}}</ref> Meanwhile, in the present day North Andhra, Raja Viziaram Raz (Vijayaram Raj) established a [[Vizianagaram Estate|sovereign kingdom]] and acquired neighbouring estates with the support of British. Later it fell out with the British and as a result, was attacked and defeated in the [[battle of Padmanabham]] in 1794. It was annexed as a tributary estate like other principalities and remained so until it acceded to the [[Dominion of India|Indian Union]] in 1949.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V24_345.gif|title=Imperial gazetteer of India v. 24|pages=339–341|access-date=31 May 2023|archive-date=4 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230604191302/https://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V24_345.gif|url-status=live}}</ref> Following the annexation of Carnatic sultanate in 1801, the last major piece of the present day Andhra Pradesh came under British East India Company rule as part of [[Madras Presidency]].<ref>{{Cite journal |title=British annexation of the Carnatic, 1801 |journal=Proceedings of the Indian History Congress |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/44138505 |last=K. |first=Rajayyan |issue=2 |volume=32 |pages=54–62 |year=1970 |jstor=44138505 |access-date=18 July 2024}}{{Cbignore}}</ref> After the [[Indian Rebellion of 1857]], the region became part of [[British Raj|British crown]] till [[Indian independence movement|India became independent]] in 1947.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Nizam-British relations, 1724–1857|publisher=Concept Publishing| pages=130–150|isbn=978-81-7022-195-1|last=Regani|first=Sarojini|year=1988}}</ref>
[[File:Dowleswaram Barrage.jpg|left|thumb|[[Dowleswaram Barrage]] built in 1850 by [[Arthur Cotton]]]]
Anicut at [[Dowleswaram Barrage|Dowleswaram]] built in 1850 by [[Arthur Cotton]]<ref name="hope">{{Cite book |last1=Hope |first1=Elizabeth |title=General Sir Arthur Cotton, R. E., K. C. S. I.: His life and work |year=1900 |publisher=Hodder and Stoughton |location=London |isbn=978-1444629965 |page=[https://archive.org/details/generalsirarthur01hope/page/120 120] |url=https://archive.org/details/generalsirarthur01hope |quote=dowleswaram. |access-date=26 December 2018}}</ref> and several others at Vijayawada, Nellore, Sangam, Sunkesula, and Polampalli are examples of irrigation facilities built during the British raj, that irrigated lacs of acres across coastal districts.<ref name="wrd-aboutus"/> Buckingham Canal built during 1806–1878, running parallel to the Coramandal coast from Kakinada to Marakkanam in Tamil Nadu served as a major water transportation route for goods till the 1960s.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=K. |first1=Venkateshwarlu |title=An ambitious plan to revive the Buckingham Canal |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/long-live-the-canal/article19429503.ece |access-date=24 August 2024 |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=5 August 2017}}</ref> Telegraph service initiated in 1850 served for over 160 years till it was stopped on 15 July 2013 citing poor patronage due to advances in mobile communications and short message service.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Telegram is dead |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/telegram-is-dead/article4915659.ece |work=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=24 August 2024 |date=15 July 2013}}</ref> [[Charles Philip Brown]] did pioneering work in transforming Telugu to the print era and introduced [[Vemana]] poems to English readers.<ref>{{Cite book|author=Peter L. Schmitthenner|title=Telugu resurgence: C.P. Brown and cultural consolidation in nineteenth-century South India |year=2001|publisher=Manohar|isbn=978-81-7304-291-1|page=94|url=https://archive.org/details/teluguresurgence0000schm}}</ref> [[Kandukuri Veeresalingam]] is considered the father of the Telugu renaissance movement, as he encouraged the education of women and lower caste people. He fought against Brahmin marriage customs such as child marriage, the bride price system, and the prohibition of widow remarriage.<ref>{{Cite book |author1=John Leonard |editor1-last=Jones |editor1-first=Kenneth W |title=Religious controversy in British India |date=1992 |publisher=SUNY Press |url=https://sites.socsci.uci.edu/~kbleonar/bio/Karen%20Religious%20Controversy%20in%20British%20India%20.pdf |access-date=6 August 2024|chapter=Viresalingam and the idea of Social change in Andhra |archive-date=6 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240806104944/https://sites.socsci.uci.edu/~kbleonar/bio/Karen%20Religious%20Controversy%20in%20British%20India%20.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Potti Sreeramulu.png|thumb|left|[[Potti Sreeramulu]], whose fast unto death in 1952 led to the formation of [[Andhra State]]]]
To gain an independent state based on linguistic identity and to protect the interests of the Telugu-speaking people of [[Madras State]], [[Potti Sreeramulu]] fasted to death in 1952. The Telugu-speaking area of [[Andhra State]] was carved out of Madras state on 1 October 1953, with [[Kurnool]] as its capital city.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Struggle for Andhra state – AP state portal|url=https://www.ap.gov.in/?page_id=228|access-date=20 July 2020|archive-date=15 June 2020|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200615190824/https://www.ap.gov.in/?page_id=228|url-status=dead}}</ref> On the basis of the [[Gentlemen's Agreement of 1956]], the [[States Reorganisation Act, 1956|States reorganisation act]] created [[Andhra Pradesh (1956–2014)|Andhra Pradesh]] by merging the neighbouring Telugu-speaking areas of the [[Hyderabad State]] with [[Hyderabad]] as the capital on 1 November 1956.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.aponline.gov.in/quick%20links/hist-cult/history_post.html#Emergence |title=Post-independence era, then and now |publisher=aponline.gov.in |access-date=3 August 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131220113947/http://www.aponline.gov.in/quick%20links/hist-cult/history_post.html |archive-date=20 December 2013 }}</ref> Hyderabad grew rapidly partly through investments flowing in from agrarian change and 'green revolution' in coastal Andhra.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.rediff.com/money/2007/nov/13spec1.htm |title=Local origins of Hyderabad's development |date=13 November 2007 |access-date=17 July 2024 |work=[[Rediff.com]] |last=Barua |first=Sanjay |archive-date=17 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240717050415/https://www.rediff.com/money/2007/nov/13spec1.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

In the unified state, [[Indian National Congress]] (INC) enjoyed a monopoly in ruling the state till 1983. After that [[Telugu Desam Party]] (TDP) led by [[N. T. Rama Rao]] (NTR) came to power and became another major party to rule the state.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/nt-rama-rao-a-timeline/article62061789.ece |title=N.T. Rama Rao: A timeline |date=28 May 2017 |access-date=1 June 2023 |website=[[The Hindu]] |archive-date=1 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230601112102/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/nt-rama-rao-a-timeline/article62061789.ece |url-status=live |url-access=subscription}}</ref> [[Nagarjuna Sagar Dam]] commissioned in 1967, [[Srisailam Dam|Srisailam hydro electric project]] commissioned in 1982 are few examples of irrigation and electricity projects.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://irrigationap.cgg.gov.in/wrd/static/approjects/Nagarjuna.html |title=Nagarjuna Sagar Dam |access-date=18 July 2024 |website=Water resources department |archive-date=16 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240416064910/https://irrigationap.cgg.gov.in/wrd/static/approjects/Nagarjuna.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=V. |first=Raghavendra |date=6 August 2023 |title=AP-Genco plans capital overhaul of Srisailam right bank powerhouse in phases |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/ap-genco-plans-capital-overhaul-of-srisailam-right-bank-power-house-in-phases/article67164609.ece |access-date=19 July 2024 |website=[[The Hindu]] |archive-date=9 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240809105425/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/ap-genco-plans-capital-overhaul-of-srisailam-right-bank-power-house-in-phases/article67164609.ece |url-status=live }}</ref> The increased presence of women, Dalits, and tribals in the social and political spheres of the state, driven by social movements, led to a rise in violence against these groups. Securing access to resources like land remains an unachieved objective in the effort to expand their economic opportunities in the state.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Human development report 2007 – Andhra Pradesh |date=2008 |publisher=Government of Andhra Pradesh |location=Hyderabad |pages=19–32 |url=https://www.undp.org/sites/g/files/zskgke326/files/migration/in/human_revelop_report_andhra_pradesh_2007_full_report.pdf |access-date=25 August 2024}}</ref> When the union cabinet decided to consider the formation of Telangana state in 2009 heeding to the demand of [[Telangana movement|relaunched Telangana movement]], [[Samaikyandhra Movement]] opposing it took shape and the state went through a turmoil.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Hyderabad on the edge; APNGOs meet today |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/hyderabad-on-the-edge-apngos-meet-today/article5101666.ece |access-date=19 August 2024 |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=7 September 2013}}</ref> Finally, the [[Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014|Andhra Pradesh reorganisation act]] bill was passed by the [[parliament of India]] for the formation of the Telangana state, despite opposition by the state legislature.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/a-challenge-to-indian-federalism/article5278609.ece |title=A challenge to Indian federalism |date=28 October 2013 |access-date=20 June 2023 |website=[[The Hindu]] |author=Jayaprakash Narayan |archive-date=20 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230620002607/https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/a-challenge-to-indian-federalism/article5278609.ece |url-status=live |url-access=subscription}}</ref> The new state of Telangana came into existence on 2 June 2014 after approval from the [[president of India]], with the residual state continuing as Andhra Pradesh.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/andhra_pradesh/Telangana-State-to-Be-Born-on-June-2/2014/03/04/article2090470.ece|title=Telangana state formation gazette|work=[[The New Indian Express]]|access-date=14 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140706093144/http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/andhra_pradesh/Telangana-State-to-Be-Born-on-June-2/2014/03/04/article2090470.ece|archive-date=6 July 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

TDP formed the first government of the residual state with Chandrababu Naidu as chief minister.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/naidu-takes-oath-as-andhra-pradesh-cm/article6094917.ece|title=Naidu takes oath as Andhra Pradesh CM|date=8 June 2014 |access-date=6 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140610025100/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/naidu-takes-oath-as-andhra-pradesh-cm/article6094917.ece |archive-date=10 June 2014 |work=[[The Hindu]]|url-access= subscription|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2017, [[Government of Andhra Pradesh|the government of Andhra Pradesh]] began operating from its new greenfield capital, [[Amaravati]], for which 33,000 acres were acquired from farmers through an innovative land pooling scheme.<ref>{{Cite news|last=P|first=Ashish|date=2 March 2017|title=Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu inaugurates new Andhra Pradesh assembly|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/new-andhra-pradesh-assembly-chandrababu-naidu-velagapudi-guntur-district-963618-2017-03-02|access-date=9 March 2021|work=India Today|archive-date=14 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414060454/https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/new-andhra-pradesh-assembly-chandrababu-naidu-velagapudi-guntur-district-963618-2017-03-02|url-status=live}}</ref> In the [[2019 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|2019 elections]], [[Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy]], leader of the [[YSR Congress Party]], became the chief minister by winning 151 out of 175 seats.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Jagan Mohan Reddy sworn in as Andhra Pradesh CM |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/jagan-mohan-reddy-sworn-in-as-andhra-pradesh-cm/article27316397.ece |access-date=19 August 2024 |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=30 May 2019}}</ref> He introduced the 'village and ward volunteers' system,<ref>{{Cite news |title=Jagan rolls out grama and ward volunteer system |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/jagan-asks-volunteers-to-rise-and-shine/article29103714.ece |date=15 August 2019 |access-date=15 July 2024 |work=[[The Hindu]] |archive-date=15 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240715003522/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/jagan-asks-volunteers-to-rise-and-shine/article29103714.ece |url-status=live }}</ref> and reorganised the state with 26 districts.<ref name="apreorg-2022">{{Cite news |last1=V. |first1=Raghavendra |title=Jagan launches 13 new districts of Andhra Pradesh |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/thirteen-new-districts-come-into-existence-in-andhra-pradesh/article65289032.ece |access-date=21 August 2024 |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=4 April 2022}}</ref> Introduction of English as the medium of instruction was done in almost all the state schools. The move to three capitals with Amaravati getting reduced to being the legislative capital, Vizag as the executive capital and Kurnool as the judicial capital was stuck down by the High Court. His government appealed to the Supreme Court.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Supreme Court to examine if A.P. can insist on compulsory English medium education |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/supreme-court-to-examine-if-ap-can-insist-on-compulsory-english-medium-education/article32512075.ece |date=3 September 2020 |access-date=15 July 2024 |work=[[The Hindu]]|url-access=subscription|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200903184404/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/supreme-court-to-examine-if-ap-can-insist-on-compulsory-english-medium-education/article32512075.ece |archive-date=3 September 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Three capitals case: Supreme Court adjourns hearing of SLP filed by A.P. govt. to December |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/three-capitals-case-supreme-court-adjourns-hearing-of-slp-filed-by-ap-govt-to-december/article67071078.ece |last=V |first=Raghavendra |date=12 July 2023 |access-date=15 July 2024 |work=[[The Hindu]]|url-access=subscription|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230713032159/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/three-capitals-case-supreme-court-adjourns-hearing-of-slp-filed-by-ap-govt-to-december/article67071078.ece|archive-date=13 July 2023}}</ref>

== Geography ==
{{Main|Geography of Andhra Pradesh|List of rivers in Andhra Pradesh}}
[[File:Andhra Pradesh relief map.svg|thumb|Andhra Pradesh relief map]]
Andhra Pradesh is the [[List of states and union territories of India by area|seventh-largest state]] with an area of {{cvt|162970|km2}}.{{Sfn|DOP|2023|p=3}} Politically, the state shares borders with [[Odisha|Orissa]] to the northeast, [[Chhattisgarh]] to the north, [[Karnataka]] to the southwest, [[Tamil Nadu]] to the south, [[Telangana]] to northwest and the [[Bay of Bengal]] to the east. [[Yanam district]], an enclave of [[Puducherry (union territory)|Puducherry]], is in the state bordering [[Kakinada district]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://surveyofindia.gov.in/documents/polmap-eng-11012021.jpg |title=Political map of India 1:4000000 (10th edition) |date=1 January 2020 |access-date=16 June 2023 |website=Survey of India |archive-date=10 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230410024610/https://surveyofindia.gov.in/documents/polmap-eng-11012021.jpg |url-status=dead }}</ref> It has a coastline of around {{Convert|974|km}}, which makes it the second-longest coastline in the nation.{{Sfn|DOP|2023|p=3}}

The [[Eastern Ghats]] are a major dividing line separating coastal plains and [[peneplain]]s in the state's geography. These are discontinuous, and individual sections have local names. The ghats become more pronounced towards the south and extreme north of the coast. Some of these consist of the [[Horsley Hills]], the Seshachala Hills, the [[Nallamala Hills]], and the Papi Hills.<ref name="Kohli2013">{{Cite book | author=M.S. Kohli | title=Mountains of India: Tourism, Adventure and Pilgrimage | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GIs4zv17HHwC&pg=PA36 | access-date=4 July 2013 | date=August 2010 | publisher=Indus Publishing, 2014 | isbn=978-81-7387-135-1 | pages=36–}}{{Cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.goindigo.in/get-inspired/hill-stations-in-andhra-pradesh.html |title=7 offbeat hill stations in Andhra Pradesh that are worth exploring this season |date=3 January 2023 |access-date=29 April 2024 |website=Goindigo |archive-date=9 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240809113347/https://www.goindigo.in/get-inspired/hill-stations-in-andhra-pradesh.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|first=Sudhakar|last=G. |title=Compendium on Indian biosphere reserves: Progression during two decades of conservation |date=2012 |publisher=Ministry of environment and forests, Government of India |pages=178–183 |url=https://gbpihed.gov.in/PDF/Publication/comp_IBR.pdf |access-date=19 August 2024 |chapter=18 Seshachalam biosphere reserve|editor-last1=Palni |editor-first1=Lok Man Singh |editor-last2=Rawal |editor-first2=Ranbeer S |editor-last3= Rai|editor-first3=Rama K|editor-last4= S. |editor-first4=Venkata Reddy }}</ref> [[Arma Konda]], located in Visakhapatnam district, is the highest peak in the state.<ref name="Kohli2013"/><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.peakbagger.com/peak.aspx?pid=52152 |title=Arma Konda, India |access-date=17 June 2023 |website=peakbagger |archive-date=5 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230105061047/https://peakbagger.com/peak.aspx?pid=52152 |url-status=live }}</ref> Peneplains, part of Rayalaseema, slope towards the east.{{Sfn|DES|2021|p=107}} The [[Eastern Coastal Plains]] comprise the area of coastal districts up to the Eastern ghats as their border along the Bay of Bengal, with variable width. These are, for the most part, delta regions formed by the [[Krishna River|Krishna]], [[Godavari River|Godavari]], and [[Penna River|Penna]] rivers. The state has five different soil types with the majority soil types being red lateritic and black soil types.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Natural forming – Andhra Pradesh |url=https://naturalfarming.niti.gov.in/andhra-pradesh/ |website=Niti Ayog |access-date=11 August 2024}}</ref> Most of the coastal plains are put to intensive agricultural use.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=D |first1=Kumara Charyulu|last2=D.|first2=Moses Shyam|last3=S.P.|first3=Wani|last4=KV |first4=Raju KV |title=Rythu Kosam: Andhra Pradesh primary sector mission Coastal Andhra region baseline summary report, Research report IDC-13 |url=https://oar.icrisat.org/9900/1/Cover%20and%20Text%20%20Rythu%20Kosam%20(Coastal%20Andhra%20Region%20Baseline)).pdf |publisher=ICRISAT |access-date=20 August 2024}}</ref> The Kadapa basin, formed by two arching branches of the Eastern ghats, is a mineral-rich area.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Kadapa or Cuddapah basin|url=https://www.ndrdgh.gov.in/NDR/?page_id=860|publisher=Directorate General of Hydrocarbons|access-date=2 June 2023|url-status=live|archive-date=26 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230426141217/https://www.ndrdgh.gov.in/NDR/?page_id=860}}</ref>

[[File:Indian Grand Canyon Sudhakar Bichali.jpg|thumb|[[Gandikota|Gandikota gorge]] in YSR district]]
The valleys include [[Araku Valley]], which is rich in biodiversity<ref>{{Cite book |title=Visakhapatnam hub |publisher=Andhra Pradesh tourism authority |location=Vijayawada |pages=3–4 |url=https://aptourism.gov.in/media-data/brouchers/11-e5315decdcefede21063bca108b108ce783f9e6d.pdf |access-date=19 August 2024}}</ref> and [[Gandikota|Gandikota gorge]]. Gandikota gorge is a canyon formed between the Erramala range of hills, through which the Penna (Pennar) river flows.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gandikota: The stunning Indian gorge that resembles the Grand Canyon |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-asia-india-59731622 |publisher=BBC |access-date=19 August 2024|date=5 January 2022}}</ref> [[Borra Caves]], created millions of years ago by water activity<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Bhattacharjee|first1=Sumit|title=Natural world heritage status for Borra Caves sought|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Visakhapatnam/Natural-world-heritage-status-for-Borra-Caves-sought/article17041900.ece|access-date=13 May 2017|work=[[The Hindu]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170116062146/http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Visakhapatnam/Natural-world-heritage-status-for-Borra-Caves-sought/article17041900.ece|archive-date=16 January 2017|url-status=live|url-access=subscription}}</ref> and the country's second-longest cave system, the [[Belum Caves]] are in the state.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Film tourism to boost Kurnool economy|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/lifestyle/viral-and-trending/030217/film-tourism-to-boost-kurnool-economy.html|access-date=13 May 2017|work=[[Deccan Chronicle]]|date=3 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170313031427/http://www.deccanchronicle.com/lifestyle/viral-and-trending/030217/film-tourism-to-boost-kurnool-economy.html|archive-date=13 March 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> The state has several beaches in its coastal districts, such as [[Rushikonda]], [[Mypadu]], [[Suryalanka Beach|Suryalanka]].<ref>{{Cite book |title=The charming beaches of Andhra Pradesh |publisher=AP tourism authority |url=https://aptourism.gov.in/media-data/brouchers/7-e96706d65633f39c39fc01a0514e30d260d77afc.pdf |access-date=12 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220712023755/https://aptourism.gov.in/media-data/brouchers/7-e96706d65633f39c39fc01a0514e30d260d77afc.pdf |archive-date=12 July 2022}}</ref>

=== Flora and fauna ===
{{Main|Natural vegetation and wildlife of Andhra Pradesh}}
[[File:Rose-ringed Parakeet (Psittacula krameri) feeding on Azadirachta indica (Neem) W2 IMG 8122.jpg|thumb|[[Rose-ringed parakeet]] (parrot) (state bird) feeding on [[Azadirachta indica|Neem]] fruits (state tree)]]
The total forest cover of the state is {{convert|29784.3|km2}}, amounting to 18.28% of the total area.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Chapter 13: Forests and tree resources in states and union territories |year=2021 |pages=257–264|url=https://fsi.nic.in/isfr-2021/chapter-13.pdf |access-date=2 June 2023 |archive-date=2 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230602105334/https://fsi.nic.in/isfr-2021/chapter-13.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> The Eastern ghats region is home to dense tropical forests, while the vegetation becomes sparse as the ghats give way to the peneplains, where shrub vegetation is more common. The vegetation found in the state is largely of dry deciduous types, with a mixture of [[teak]], and genera of ''[[Terminalia (plant)|Terminalia]]'', ''[[Dalbergia]]'', ''[[Pterocarpus]]'', etc. The state possesses some rare and endemic plants like ''[[Cycas beddomei]]'', ''[[Pterocarpus santalinus]]'', ''Terminalia pallida'', ''[[Syzygium alternifolium]]'', ''Shorea tumburgia'' etc.<ref name="flora and fauna">{{Cite book |title=India state of forest report 2019, Vol II |date=2019 |publisher=Forest Survey of India |pages=2–12 |url=https://fsi.nic.in/isfr19/vol2/isfr-2019-vol-ii-andhra-pradesh.pdf |access-date=22 August 2024}}</ref>

The state has 3 [[List of national parks of India|national parks]] and 13 [[List of wildlife sanctuaries of India|wildlife sanctuaries]] {{as of|2019|lc=y}}.<ref name="flora and fauna"/> The diversity of fauna includes [[tiger]]s, [[leopards]], [[cheetal]]s, [[Sambar deer|sambars]], [[sea turtle]]s, and several birds and reptiles. The estuaries of the Godavari and Krishna rivers support rich mangrove forests with [[fishing cat]]s and [[otter]]s as [[keystone species]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=About-us |url=https://forests.ap.gov.in/about.php |publisher=AP Forest Department |access-date=6 June 2024 |archive-date=5 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240605071323/https://forests.ap.gov.in/about.php |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary]] is an example of [[Mangrove|mangrove forests]] and salt-tolerant forest ecosystems near the sea. The area of these forests is {{convert|582|km2|abbr=on}}, accounting for about 9% of the local forest area of the state.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://eastgodavari.ap.gov.in/tourist-place/coringa-sanctuary/ |title=Coringa sanctuary |access-date=2 June 2023 |website=East godavari district, Government of AP |archive-date=2 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230602102822/https://eastgodavari.ap.gov.in/tourist-place/coringa-sanctuary/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Other sanctuaries include [[Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://nstr.in/facts.php?page=facts |title=Facts & Figures of NagarjunaSagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve Atmakur Andhra Pradesh |access-date=26 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202104626/http://nstr.in/facts.php?page=facts |archive-date=2 February 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Kolleru Bird Sanctuary]],<ref name="lakes and wetlands">{{Cite web|title=The list of wetlands of international importance|url=http://www.ramsar.org/pdf/sitelist.pdf|website=The Ramsar convention on wetlands|publisher=The Secretariat of the Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar, Iran, 1971)|access-date=5 June 2014|page=20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120530015101/http://www.ramsar.org/pdf/sitelist.pdf|archive-date=30 May 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> and [[Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary]].<ref>{{Cite news |last1=G. |first1=Ravikiran |title=Rain brings back winged visitors |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Vijayawada/rain-brings-back-winged-visitors/article19994754.ece |access-date=22 August 2024 |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=7 November 2017}}</ref> [[Azadirachta indica|Neem]] (Azadirachta indica) is the state tree, jasmine is the state flower, [[Rose-ringed parakeet|rose ringed parakeet]] is the state bird, and [[blackbuck]] is the state mammal.<ref name="dc-newsymbols" />

=== Mineral resources ===
[[File:Mangampet Barytes.jpg|thumb|Mangampet [[Baryte]]s]]
The state, with its varied geological formations, contains a variety of industrial minerals and building stones. Major minerals found in significant quantities in the state include [[beach sand]], [[bauxite]], [[limestone]], [[granite]], and [[diamond]]s. Minor minerals include [[barytes]], [[calcite]], and [[mica]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.mines.ap.gov.in/miningportal/Inner/MineralReserves.aspx |title=Mineral reserves |access-date=29 April 2024 |website=Mines, Government of Andhra Pradesh |archive-date=7 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221207071803/https://www.mines.ap.gov.in/miningportal/Inner/MineralReserves.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref> The largest reserves of [[uranium]] are in Tummalapalli village of YSR district.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-14196372|title=India: 'Massive' uranium find in Andhra Pradesh|date=19 July 2011|publisher=[[BBC World News]]|access-date=19 July 2011|location=New Delhi|archive-date=19 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719112659/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-14196372|url-status=live}}</ref> The state also has reserves of [[Oil reserves|oil]] and [[natural gas]].{{Sfn|MOPNG|2023}}

=== Climate ===
The climate varies considerably, depending on the geographical region. Summers last from March to June. In the coastal plain, the summer temperatures are generally higher than in the rest of the state, with temperatures exceeding {{convert|35|°C}}. The minimum temperature during summer is about {{convert|20|°C}} in the far southwest. July to September is the season for tropical rains from the [[Monsoon#Southwest monsoon|southwest monsoon]]. The winter season is from October to February.<ref name="Britannica-ap"/> Low-pressure systems and [[tropical cyclone]]s form in the Bay of Bengal along with the [[Monsoon#Northeast monsoon|northeast monsoon]] during October to December, bringing rains to the southern and coastal regions of the state.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=M |first1=Rajeevan |title=IMD Meteorological Monograph: Northeast Monsoon of South Asia |date=2022 |publisher=Indian Meteriological department |pages=5–7 |url=https://mausam.imd.gov.in/imd_latest/contents/met_monograph.pdf |access-date=7 August 2024 |archive-date=9 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240809113415/https://mausam.imd.gov.in/imd_latest/contents/met_monograph.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> The range of winter temperatures is generally {{convert|30|to|35|°C}} except in the northeast where it could fall below {{convert|15|°C}}.<ref name="Britannica-ap">{{Cite encyclopedia |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Andhra-Pradesh/People |title=Andhra Pradesh |last=Britannica |date=23 April 2024 |access-date=29 April 2024 |encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica |archive-date=29 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240429041751/https://www.britannica.com/place/Andhra-Pradesh/People |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Lambasingi]] in [[Alluri Sitharama Raju district]] is nicknamed the "Kashmir of Andhra Pradesh" as its temperature ranges from {{convert|0|to|10|°C}}.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Ganguly|first1=Nivedita|title=Lambasingi set to become tourist hotspot|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Visakhapatnam/lambasingi-set-to-become-tourist-hotspot/article6416560.ece|access-date=26 November 2014|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=17 September 2014|location=Visakhapatnam|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150903183458/http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Visakhapatnam/lambasingi-set-to-become-tourist-hotspot/article6416560.ece|archive-date=3 September 2015|url-access=subscription|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Lambasingi records 2º c|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/131216/news-current-affairs/article/lambasingi-records-2%C2%BA-c|access-date=26 November 2014|work=Deccan Chronicle|date=16 December 2013|location=Visakhapatnam|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150713203422/http://www.deccanchronicle.com/131216/news-current-affairs/article/lambasingi-records-2%C2%BA-c|archive-date=13 July 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> The normal rainfall for the state is {{Convert|966|mm|abbr=on}}.{{Sfn|DES|2021|p=31}}

== Demographics ==

{{See also|Ethnic groups of Andhra Pradesh|Demographics of Andhra Pradesh|Religion in Andhra Pradesh}}
{{Pie chart
| label1 = Telugu
| value1 = 89.21
| color1 = #FF9966
| label2 = Urdu
| value2 = 6.55
| color2 = green
| label3 = Tamil
| value3 = 1.04
| color3 = saddlebrown
| label4 = Others
| value4 = 3.20
| color4 = grey
| caption = Languages of Andhra Pradesh{{efn|name=lang1|Based on 2011 census data, excluding districts and mandals which are part of Telangana}} (2011)<ref name="census2011-langreport"/>
}}

Based on the 2011 [[Census of India]], the population of Andhra Pradesh is 49,577,103, with a density of {{cvt|304|/km2}}. The rural population accounts for 70.53%, while the urban population accounts for 29.47%.{{Sfn|DOP|2023|p=3}} The state has 17.08% scheduled caste (SC) and 5.53% scheduled tribe (ST) population.{{Sfn|DOP|2023|p=16}} Children in the age group of 0–6 years number 5,222,384, constituting 10.6% of the total population.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Population in different age group – Census 2011 |publisher=MHRD |pages=3 |url=https://www.education.gov.in/sites/upload_files/mhrd/files/statistics-new/Population2011.pdf |access-date=28 May 2023 |archive-date=10 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221010154018/https://www.education.gov.in/sites/upload_files/mhrd/files/statistics-new/Population2011.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> The state has a [[Human sex ratio|sex ratio]] of 997 females per 1000 males, higher than the national average of 926 per 1000. The [[Literacy|literacy rate]] in the state stands at 67.35%. Erstwhile West Godavari district has the highest literacy rate of 74.32%, and erstwhile Vizianagaram district has the lowest with 58.89%.{{Sfn|DOP|2023|p=3}}

Human Development Index (HDI) of the state for the year 2022 is 0.673.<ref name="snhdi-gdl">{{Cite web |title=Sub-national HDI – area database |url=https://globaldatalab.org/shdi/shdi/IND/?levels=1%2B4&interpolation=1&extrapolation=0&nearest_real=0 |access-date=16 November 2024 |website=Global Data Lab |publisher=Institute for Management Research, Radboud University}}{{Cbignore}}</ref> {{As of|2023|1|1}}, there are 39,984,868 voters including 3,924 third-gender voters. Kurnool district has the maximum number of voters at 1,942,233, while Alluri Sitharama Raju district has the minimum at 729,085.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/ap-has-39984868-voters-women-outnumber-men/article66342507.ece |title=A.P. has 3,99,84,868 voters, women outnumber men |date=5 January 2023 |access-date=28 May 2023 |work=[[The Hindu]] |archive-date=28 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230528033458/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/ap-has-39984868-voters-women-outnumber-men/article66342507.ece |url-access=subscription|url-status=live }}</ref>

[[Telugu language|Telugu]] is the first official language, and [[Urdu]] is the second official language of the state.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |title=Bill recognising Urdu as second official language passed |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/bill-recognising-urdu-as-second-official-languagepassed/article65252966.ece |access-date=21 August 2024 |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=23 March 2022}}</ref> Telugu is the mother tongue of nearly 90% of the population.{{efn|name=lang1}}<ref name="census2011-langreport">{{Cite web |title=Table C-16 Population by mother tongue: Andhra Pradesh |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/10193/download/13305/DDW-C16-STMT-MDDS-2800.XLSX |publisher=[[Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India]] |access-date=4 January 2023 |archive-date=12 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221112190710/https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/10193/download/13305/DDW-C16-STMT-MDDS-2800.XLSX |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Tamil language|Tamil]], [[Kannada]], and [[Odia language|Odia]] are spoken in the border areas. [[Lambadi]] and several other languages are spoken by the scheduled tribes of the state.<ref name="nclmanurep2010">{{Cite web|url=http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM47thReport.pdf|title=Report of the commissioner for linguistic minorities: 47th report (July 2008 to June 2010)|publisher=Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities, Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of India|pages=122–126|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120513161847/http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM47thReport.pdf|archive-date=13 May 2012|access-date=16 February 2012}}</ref> 19% of the population aged 12+ years can read and understand English, as per the Indian readership survey for Q4 2019.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Indian readership survey 2019 Q4 |publisher=IRS |year=2020 |url=https://mruc.net/uploads/posts/cd072cdc13d2fe48ac660374d0c22a5d.pdf |page=20 |access-date=27 May 2023 |archive-date=25 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200925203217/https://mruc.net/uploads/posts/cd072cdc13d2fe48ac660374d0c22a5d.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Religion===
{{Pie chart
| label1 = [[Hinduism]]
| label2 = [[Islam in India|Islam]]
| label3 = [[Christianity in Andhra Pradesh|Christianity]]
| label4 = [[Jainism]]
| label5 = Others
| value1 = 90.89
| value2 = 7.30
| value3 = 1.38
| value4 = 0.05
| value5 = 0.37
| color1 = darkorange
| color2 = green
| color3 = blue
| color4 = pink
| color5 = grey
| caption = Religion in Andhra Pradesh <ref name="census2011">{{cite web  | title = Census of India – Religious Composition  | publisher = Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs  | url = http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-01.html  | access-date = 27 August 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150913045700/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-01.html  | archive-date = 13 September 2015 | url-status=live }}</ref>
}}

According to the 2011 census, the major religious groups in the state are Hindus (90.89%), Muslims (7.30%), and Christians (1.38%).<ref name="religion">{{Cite web|year=2011|title=Population by religion – Andhra Pradesh|url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/11363/download/14476/DDW28C-01%20MDDS.XLS|publisher=[[Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India]]|access-date=4 January 2023|archive-date=28 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220528173240/https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/11363/download/14476/DDW28C-01%20MDDS.XLS|url-status=live}}</ref> Some of the popular Hindu religious pilgrim destinations include [[Venkateswara Temple, Tirumala|Tirumala Venkateswara temple]] at Tirupati, [[Mallikarjuna Temple, Srisailam|Mallikarjuna temple]] at Srisailam, [[Kanaka Durga Temple]] at Vijayawada, and [[Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha temple, Simhachalam|Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha temple]] at Simhachalam.{{Sfn|APTDC|2018}} Buddhist sites at [[Amaravathi, Palnadu district|Amaravati]] and [[Nagarjunakonda|Nagarjuna Konda]] are also popular.{{Sfn|APTDC|2019|p=18–25}}

=== Sub categorisaton ===
For the state of Andhra Pradesh, there are 59 entries in the [[Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes|SC]] category, 34 entries in the ST category, and 104 entries in [[Other Backward Class]]es (OBC) category.<ref>{{Cite web |title=SC list – Andhra Pradesh |url=https://socialjustice.gov.in/writereaddata/UploadFile/Scan-0001.jpg |website=Department of Social Justice and Empowement |access-date=25 August 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=ST list |url=https://tribal.nic.in/ST/LatestListofScheduledtribes.pdf |website=Ministry of Tribal Affairs |access-date=25 August 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=State/UT-wise Number of Entries in the Central List of OBCs (as on 12.04.2018 |url=https://socialjustice.gov.in/common/76674 |website=Department of Social Justice and Empowerment |access-date=25 August 2024 |date=12 April 2018}}</ref> [[Komati (caste)|Komati]], [[Telugu Brahmin|Brahmin]], [[Kamma (caste)|Kamma]], [[Kapu (caste)|Kapu]], [[Raju]], [[Reddy]], and [[Velama]] communities constitute the [[forward caste]]s.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister to release second tranche of YSR EBC Nestham on April 12 |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/andhra-pradesh-chief-minister-to-release-second-tranche-of-ysr-ebc-nestham-on-april-12/article66725268.ece |access-date=25 August 2024 |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=11 April 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister releases ₹536.77 crore aid for women under Kapu Nestham scheme in A.P. |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/chief-minister-releases-53677-crore-aid-for-women-under-kapu-nestham-scheme-in-andhra-pradesh/article67314648.ece |access-date=25 August 2024 |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=16 September 2023}}</ref>

== Culture ==
{{Main|Culture of Andhra Pradesh}}

{{Map/Museums in Andhra Pradesh}}
Andhra Pradesh has 32 museums featuring a varied collection of ancient sculptures, paintings, idols, weapons, cutlery, inscriptions, and religious artefacts.{{Sfn|Seth|Sadiya|2023}}{{Efn|Two entries are repeated}} The [[Archaeological Museum, Amaravati|Amaravathi archaeological museum]] has a display of art traditions of Amaravathi and images of Buddha.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://asi.nic.in/asi_museums_amravati.asp|title=Archaeological museum, Amaravati – Archaeological Survey of India|publisher=Asi.nic.in|access-date=19 August 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929190235/http://asi.nic.in/asi_museums_amravati.asp|archive-date=29 September 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Bapu Museum, Vijayawada|Bapu museum]] in Vijayawada has historical galleries, stone cut writings, coins, swords, body armour, shields, arms, and ornamentation.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Tourist Guide to Andhra Pradesh|publisher=Sura Books|isbn=978-81-747-8176-5|page=36|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=E4l78qG3TkAC&dq=Mangalagiri+Sarees&pg=PA36|accessdate=24 January 2016}}{{Cbignore}}</ref> ''[[Telugu Samskruthika Niketanam]]'' in Visakhapatnam displays historical artefacts of the pre-independence era.{{Sfn|Seth|Sadiya|2023|p=18|loc=1.19}} The [[Archaeological Survey of India]] identified 135 centrally protected monuments in the state of Andhra Pradesh. These include the reconstructed monuments at Anupu and [[Nagarjunakonda]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://asi.nic.in/alphabetical-list-of-monuments-andhra-pradesh/ |title=Alphabetical list of monuments – Andhra Pradesh |access-date=24 May 2023 |website=Archaeological Survey of India |archive-date=30 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221130155258/https://asi.nic.in/alphabetical-list-of-monuments-andhra-pradesh/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> The state has 17 [[geographical indication]] (GI) registrations in the categories of agriculture, [[handicraft]]s, [[foodstuff]]s, and textiles as per the ''Geographical indications of goods (Registration and protection) act, 1999''.<ref name="GIlist">{{Cite book |title=Annual report 2021-22 Intellectual property India |publisher=The Office of the controller general of patents, designs and geographical indications, Government of India |year=2022 |pages=76 |url=https://ipindia.gov.in/writereaddata/Portal/Images/pdf/Final_Annual_Report_Eng_for_Net.pdf |access-date=30 May 2023 |archive-date=30 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230530054648/https://ipindia.gov.in/writereaddata/Portal/Images/pdf/Final_Annual_Report_Eng_for_Net.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Clothing===
[[File:Kalamkari Art.jpg|thumb|[[Kalamkari]] artwork on a cloth]]
The men's traditional wear consists of ''Panche'', a {{convert|4.5|m}} long, white rectangular piece of non-stitched cloth often bordered in brightly coloured stripes.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Indian Dhoti|url=https://www.indianmirror.com/culture/clothing/dhoti.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200729202155/https://www.indianmirror.com/culture/clothing/dhoti.html|archive-date=29 July 2020|access-date=3 January 2021|website=Indian Mirror}}</ref> Women traditionally wear a ''[[sari]]'', a garment that consists of a drape varying from {{convert|5|to|9|yd|}} in length and {{convert|2|to|4|ft|}} in breadth that is typically wrapped around the waist, with one end draped over the shoulder, baring the midriff, as according to Indian philosophy, the navel is considered as the source of life and creativity.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Boulanger|first=Chantal|title=Saris: An Illustrated Guide to the Indian Art of Draping|year=1997|publisher=Shakti Press International|location=New York|isbn=978-0-966-14961-6}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Lynton|first=Linda|title=The Sari|year=1995|publisher=Harry N. Abrams, Incorporated|location=New York|isbn=978-0-810-94461-9}}</ref> Women wear colourful [[silk]] saris on special occasions such as marriages.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Sociology of Religion|first1=Susanne|last1=C. Monahan|first2= William|last2= Andrew Mirola|first3=Michael|last3= O. Emerson|publisher=Prentice Hall|year=2001|isbn=978-0-130-25380-4|page=83}}</ref> The traditional wear of young girls is a half-saree with blouse.<ref>{{Cite web |title='Lehnaga choli' back in vogue in Bengaluru this Diwali |url=https://www.onmanorama.com/lifestyle/beauty-and-fashion/2020/11/13/lehnaga-choli-back-in-vogue-in-bengaluru-diwali.html |website=Onmanorama |access-date=22 August 2024 |date=13 November 2020}}</ref> The shift to wearing western clothing of pant and shirt has become common for boys and men, while women also wear ''salwar kameez'' in addition to saris.{{citation needed|date=June 2025}} [[Dharmavaram handloom pattu sarees and paavadas|Dharmavaram textiles]], [[Pedana Kalamkari|Machilipatnam]], and [[Srikalahasti Kalamkari|Srikalahasti]] [[Kalamkari]] handicrafts are few examples in clothes category with GI status.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Kalamkari: Craft of the matter|url=http://www.mid-day.com/articles/kalamkari-craft-of-the-matter/16478155|website=mid-day|access-date=26 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160131082254/http://www.mid-day.com/articles/kalamkari-craft-of-the-matter/16478155|archive-date=31 January 2016|url-status=live|date=24 August 2015}}</ref><ref name="GIlist"/>

=== Cuisine ===
{{Main|Telugu cuisine}}

[[File:Vegetarian Andhra Meal.jpg|thumb|Vegetarian Andhra meal, served on important occasions]]
Andhra meals are combinations of spicy, tangy, and sweet flavours. The use of chillies, tamarind, and ''[[gongura]]'' (leaves of roselle) is common in Andhra food.{{Sfn|APTDC|2019|p=54–63}} Curry leaves are used copiously in most preparations of curries and chutneys. Various types of ''Pappu'' are made using lentils in combination with [[tomato]]es, [[spinach]], gongura, [[ridge gourd]], etc. Apart from curries, ''pulusu'', a stew made using [[tamarind]] juice in combination with vegetables, seafood, chicken, mutton, etc., is popular. ''Pachchadi'', a paste usually made with a combination of [[peanut|groundnuts]], fried vegetables, and chillies, is a must in a meal. Pickles made using mangoes, gooseberries, lemons, etc. are enjoyed in combination with ''Pappu''. Buttermilk and yoghurt mixed with rice eaten towards the end of the meal soothe the body, especially after eating spicy food items earlier.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.indianculture.gov.in/food-and-culture/south/andhra-cuisine-symphony-spices |title=Andhra cuisine: A symphony of spices |access-date=29 May 2023 |website=Indianculture.gov.in |archive-date=29 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230529003146/https://www.indianculture.gov.in/food-and-culture/south/andhra-cuisine-symphony-spices |url-status=live }}</ref>

A tamarind-rich dish popularly known as ''Pulihora'' is made with a thick sauce of tamarind, chillies, salt and asafoetida. It is tempered with mustard, curry leaves, peanuts and mixed with rice. It is offered even to the gods and then served as a ''prasadam'' (divine offering) in the temples to the devotees. Popular vegetarian curries include ''Dondakaya koora'' (ivy gourd cooked with coconut and green chilli) and ''Guttivankaya koora''(stuffed brinjal curry). ''Thalakaya koora'' (lamb head gravy), ''Royyala koora'' (prawns cooked in tamarind), and ''Natukodi koora'' (freehold chicken curry with chillies) are popular non-vegetarian dishes across Guntur and surrounding regions. ''Yeta mamsam kobbari'' biryani (mutton cooked with coconut), ''Seema kodi'' (Rayalaseema-style chicken), ''Chennuru dum biryani'', and ''Gongura mamsam'' (mutton cooked in sorrel gravy) are popular non-vegetarian dishes in [[Rayalaseema]]. Among fish preparations, ''Pulasa pulusu'', thick aromatic and tangy gravy made from a single fish of the Godavari Pulasa variety is most desired in [[Konaseema district|Konaseema]]. ''[[Ariselu]]'', ''Burelu'', ''[[Laddu]]'', and ''[[Pootharekulu]]'' are some of the sweets made for special festivals and occasions. ''Pootharekulu'', a preparation of sugar and rice flour and ''Taandri'', a mango-flavoured sun-dried fruit jelly are popular sweets originating from Athreyapuram in Konaseema. [[Kakinada district|Kakinada]] ''Khaaja'' layered flour deep fried and dipped in sugar is another popular sweetmeat.{{Sfn|APTDC|2019|p=60-62}} ''[[Bandar laddu]]'', ''[[Tirupati Laddu]]'' are some of the food products with GI status.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Naidu|first1=T. Appala|title=Bandar laddu gets GI tag|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Vijayawada/bandar-laddu-gets-gi-tag/article17722857.ece|access-date=13 May 2017|work=[[The Hindu]]|archive-date=12 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112020245/https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Vijayawada/bandar-laddu-gets-gi-tag/article17722857.ece|url-access=subscription|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="GIlist"/>

=== Literature ===
{{Main|Telugu literature}}

[[Nannayya]], [[Tikkana]], and [[Yerrapragada]] form the trinity who translated the Sanskrit epic ''[[Mahabharata]]'' into [[Telugu language|Telugu]] during 11–14 centuries.{{Sfn|Pandippedi|Mantripragada|1928|pages=42–49}} Nannayya wrote the first treatise on Telugu grammar, called ''Andhra Shabda Chintamani'' in Sanskrit.<ref name="Padmapriya ch1">{{Cite book |title= A comparative study of Andhrasabdachintamani and Balavyakaranam |last= Gopavaram |first= Padmapriya |author2=Subrahmanyam, Korada |year= 2011 |publisher= University of Hyderabad |location=Hyderabad|chapter=1}}</ref> [[Pothana]] translated ''[[Bhagavata Purana|Bhagavatam]]'' into Telugu.{{Sfn|Pandippedi|Mantripragada|1928|page=64}} [[Vemana]] was an Indian philosopher who wrote Telugu poems using simple language and native idioms on a variety of subjects including [[yoga]], wisdom, and morality.{{Sfn|Pandippedi|Mantripragada|1928|page=99}} [[Potuluri Veerabrahmam|Potuluri Veerabrahmendhra swami]], a clairvoyant and social reformer of 17th century, wrote [[Kalagnanam]], a book of predictions.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Celebrated Professor harassed for identifying 17th-century social reformer as 'Sudra' |url=https://thewire.in/caste/andhra-professor |last=Shaw |first=Padmaja |date=5 November 2019 |access-date=29 April 2024 |work=[[The Wire (India)|The Wire]] |archive-date=9 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240809105935/https://thewire.in/caste/andhra-professor |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=Proceedings of the Andhra Pradesh oriental conference, first session, Andhra Saraswathi Parishat, Hyderabad, May 1977|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HhlUAAAAYAAJ|publisher=The Conference|year=1979|page=131|quote=Kalagnana is a special type of discipline very popular in Andhra Desa because of the famous Kalagnanam of Sri Potuluri Veerabrahmendhra swami written in Telugu. It forecasts many incidents which are proved to be correct by the posterity.|access-date=2 June 2023}}{{Cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=South Asian intellectuals and social change: A study of the role of vernacular-speaking intelligentsia|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5ZvZAAAAMAAJ |access-date=29 April 2024|page=314|author=Yogendra K. Malik|publisher=Heritage|year=1981|isbn = 978-08-364-0825-6|quote=A later poet similar to Vemana was Potuluri Veerabrahmendhra swami, popularly known as Brahmamgaru}}{{Cbignore}}</ref>

Telugu literature after [[Kandukuri Veeresalingam]] is termed ''Adhunika Telugu Sahityam'' (modern Telugu literature).{{Sfn|D.|1976|p=80}} He was the author of the first Telugu [[social novel]] ''Rajasekhara Charitram'', published in 1880.{{Sfn|D.|1976|p=88}} The use of colloquial idiom rather than ''grandhik'' (classical) in literature, championed by [[Gurajada Apparao]] and [[Gidugu Venkata Ramamurthy|Gidugu Ramamurthy Panthulu]] led to increased literacy.<ref name="subbarayudu">{{Cite book |url=https://omnilogos.com/twentieth-century-telugu-literature/ |title=Handbook of twentieth-century literatures of India. |editor=Nalini Natarajan |publisher=Greenwoord press |year=1996 |chapter=Twentieth-century Telugu literature |access-date=30 May 2023 |first1=Subbarayudu |last1=GK |first2=Vijayasree |last2=C |archive-date=14 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114193908/https://omnilogos.com/twentieth-century-telugu-literature/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Various forms of literature such as poetry, novel, short story were vibrant as indicated by the responses to national and international developments in various spheres of human life.<ref name="tlt-1995">{{Cite journal |title=Telugu Literature Today |journal=Indian Literature |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/23335697 |last=Dasari |first=Amarendra |date=1 March 1995|volume=38 |issue=2 |pages=159–163 |jstor=23335697 |access-date=18 July 2024}}</ref> The modern Telugu poetry, which began around 1900 developed into three forms – ''Bhava kavitvam'' (lyrical poetry), ''Abhyudaya kavitvam'' (progressive poetry), and new experimental poetry, including ''Viplava kavitvam'' (revolutionary poetry). Gurajada Apparao, [[Rayaprolu Subba Rao|Rayaprolu Subbarao]], [[Gurram Jashuva]], [[Viswanatha Satyanarayana]], [[Devulapalli Krishnasastri]], and [[Sri Sri (writer)|Sri Sri]] were some of the modern Telugu poets. Palagummi Padmaraju's short story ''Galivaana'' won second prize in World Short Story competition in 1952.<ref>{{Cite journal |title=Palagummi Padmaraju—Sensitive Telugu Writer |journal=Indian Literature |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/23331331 |last=D. |first=Anjaneyulu |date=1 September 1983 |issue=5 |volume=26 |pages=22–26|jstor=23331331 }}</ref> Rachakonda Viswanadha Sastry initiated a new trend by focussing on the downtrodden in his novel Raju-Mahishi. Women writers such as Malati Chandur and Ranganayakamma dominated novels in the 1950s and 1960s. However, in the late 1970s, [[Yandamuri Veerendranath]] started writing popular novels with a focus on sex, suspense and violence, which were serialised in magazines.<ref name="tlt-1995"/> Viswanatha Satyanarayana was conferred the first [[Jnanpith Award]] for Telugu literature in 1970.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Jnanpith laureates official listings|url=http://jnanpith.net/laureates/index.html|publisher=[[Jnanpith]] Website|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013122739/http://jnanpith.net/laureates/index.html|archive-date=13 October 2007|access-date=7 November 2008}}</ref> Telugu film song as literature took shape in the 1930s. Some of the famous lyric writers include [[Samudrala Sr.|Samudrala Senior]], [[Aarudra|Arudra]], [[Acharya Aatreya|Athreya]], [[Daasarathi]], and [[C. Narayana Reddy]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=C Narayana Reddi: Changing contours of Telugu film lyrics |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/music/the-hindu-friday-review-telangana/article30535419.ece |last=A.D. |first=Rangarajan |date=10 January 2020 |access-date=7 May 2024 |work=[[The Hindu]] |archive-date=7 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240507085557/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/music/the-hindu-friday-review-telangana/article30535419.ece |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Architecture===
[[File:TIRUMALA ,AP,INDIA - panoramio.jpg|thumb|left|[[Venkateswara Temple, Tirumala]], showing ''Gopuram'' (big tower) in the front and ''Vimanam'' (small tower) in gold color at the back]]
Traditional temple architecture is influenced by Dravidian and Vijayanagara styles. In Dravidian architecture for which [[Venkateswara Temple, Tirumala|Tirumala temple]] is an example, the temples consisted of porches or ''mantapas'' preceding the door leading to the sanctum, gate-pyramids or ''[[gopuram]]s'' in quadrangular enclosures that surround the temple, and ''pillared halls'' used for many purposes. Besides these, the temple usually has a tank called the ''Kalyani'' or ''pushkarni''.<ref>{{Cite book|last= Fergusson|first= James|title= History of Indian and Eastern Architecture|orig-date= 1910|edition= 3rd|year= 1997|publisher=Low Price Publications|location= New Delhi|page= 309}}</ref> The gopuram is a monumental tower, usually ornate at the entrance of the temple forms a prominent feature.<ref name="Gopuram">{{Cite book|first=Francis D.K.|last= Ching|year= 2007|title= A Global History of Architecture|publisher=John Wiley and Sons|location=New York|isbn=978-0-471-26892-5|page=762|display-authors=etal}}</ref> They are topped by the ''kalasam'', a bulbous stone [[finial]].<ref>{{Cite book|first=Francis D.K.|last= Ching|year= 1995|title= A Visual Dictionary of Architecture|publisher=John Wiley and Sons|location=New York|isbn=978-0-471-28451-2|page=253}}</ref> ''[[Vimana (architectural feature)|Vimanam]]'' are similar structures built over the ''[[garbhagriha]]'' or inner sanctum of the temple but are usually smaller than the gopurams.<ref>{{Cite book|author=S.R. Balasubrahmanyam|title = Middle Chola Temples|publisher=Thomson Press|year=1975|isbn=978-9-060-23607-9|pages=16–29}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Neela|first1=N.|last2=Ambrosia|first2=G.|title=Vimana architecture under the Cholas|journal=Shanlax International Journal of Arts, Science & Humanities|date=April 2016|volume=3|issue=4|page=57|url=https://www.shanlax.com/wp-content/uploads/SIJ_ASH_V3_N4_008.pdf|access-date=5 July 2019|issn=2321-788X|archive-date=5 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190705140824/https://www.shanlax.com/wp-content/uploads/SIJ_ASH_V3_N4_008.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> In the Vijayanagar style for which [[Veerabhadra Temple, Lepakshi|Lepakshi Veerabhadra temple]] is an example, the main temple is laid out in three parts, these are: The assembly hall known as the ''mukha'' [[mantapa]]; ''arda'' mantapa or ''antarala'' (ante chamber); and the ''[[garbhagriha]]'' or the sanctum sanctorum.{{Sfn|Bhardwaj|1998|p=295}} Sri [[Venkateswara]] institute of traditional sculpture and architecture, run by [[Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams]] offers diploma courses.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=A.D. |first1=Rangarajan |title=Ornate sculptures delight visitors at SVITSA expo |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/ornatesculptures-delight-visitors-at-svitsa-expo/article65143784.ece |access-date=11 August 2024 |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=1 March 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=T. |first1=Sudhakar |title=Institute of traditional sculpture, ancient architecture at Tirupati |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/andhra-pradesh/2014/Oct/05/institute-of-traditional-sculpture-ancient-architecture-at-tirupati-668114.html |access-date=22 August 2024 |work=[[The New Indian Express]] |date=5 October 2014}}</ref> Civic architecture which mainly featured courtyard structure to support joint family system and simple round houses is giving way to modern apartments.<ref>{{Cite news |title=The 'manduva logili' homes of Andhra Pradesh |url=https://www.thehindu.com/real-estate/the-manduva-logili-homes-of-andhra-pradesh/article19682124.ece |access-date=11 August 2024 |date=17 September 2017 |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref>

=== Arts ===
{{Main|Music of Andhra Pradesh|Telugu theatre|Carnatic music}}

{{See also|Tholu bommalata}}

[[File:Kondapalli toys at a house in Vijayawada.jpg|thumb|[[Kondapalli Toys]] at a house in Vijayawada]]
[[File:Prathiksha Kashi.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Kuchipudi]] dance]]
[[Kondapalli Toys]], the soft limestone idol carvings of [[Durgi]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://guntur.nic.in/durgi_stonecraft.html|title=Durgi stone craft|publisher=Cesdeva|access-date=20 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131204034111/http://guntur.nic.in/durgi_stonecraft.html|archive-date=4 December 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> and [[Etikoppaka]] lacquered wooden toys are few handicrafts with GI status.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://lepakshihandicrafts.gov.in/etikoppaka-toys.html |title=Lacquer ware toys |access-date=30 May 2023 |website=Lepakshi handicrafts |archive-date=30 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230530055241/https://lepakshihandicrafts.gov.in/etikoppaka-toys.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="GIlist"/> [[Kuchipudi]], the cultural dance recognised as the official dance form of the state of Andhra Pradesh, originated in the village of [[Kuchipudi, Krishna district|Kuchipudi]] in Krishna district.{{Sfn|Ragini Devi|1990|page=67}} Several renowned composers of [[Carnatic music]] like [[Annamacharya]], [[Kshetrayya]], [[Tyagaraja]], and [[Bhadrachala Ramadasu|Bhadrachala Ramadas]] hailed from the state.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Bhajana tradition in South India |last1=Kuppuswami |first1=Gowri |publisher=Sangeet Natak Academy |year=1982 |location=New Delhi |url=https://archive.org/details/dli.ministry.10217/page/36/mode/1up |last2=Hariharan |first2=M.}}</ref>{{Sfn|Ragini Devi|1990|page=75}} ''Sannai'' and ''Dolu'' are common musical instruments of marriages, household, and temple functions in the state.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=D. |first1=Surendra Kumar |title=22-year-old keeps her father's legacy alive through Sannai |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/andhra-pradesh/2022/Sep/11/22-year-old-keeps-her-fathers-legacy-alive-through-sannai-2497014.html |access-date=11 August 2024 |work=[[The New Indian Express]] |date=11 September 2022}}</ref> ''Harikathaa Kalakshepam (or [[Harikatha]])'' involves the narration of a story, intermingled with various songs relating to the story.<ref>{{Cite book|author=Thoomati Donappa|title=Telugu harikatha sarvasvam|oclc=13505520}}</ref> ''Burra katha'' is an [[oral storytelling]] technique in which the topic is either a Hindu mythological story or a contemporary social issue.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Burrakatha |url=http://shilparamam.ap.gov.in/burrakatha-inner.html |publisher=The Andhra Pradesh Shilparamam Arts, Crafts & Cultural Society |access-date=19 August 2024}}</ref> ''Drama'' is an [[Theatre of India|Indian theatre]] art form that is still popular.<ref>{{Cite news |title='Nandi Natakotsavam' begins with exciting plays in Andhra Pradesh |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/andhra-pradesh/2023/Dec/24/nandi-natakotsavam-begins-with-exciting-plays-in-andhra-pradesh-2644479.html |date=24 December 2023 |access-date=8 May 2024 |work=[[The New Indian Express]] |archive-date=9 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240809113513/https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/andhra-pradesh/2023/Dec/24/nandi-natakotsavam-begins-with-exciting-plays-in-andhra-pradesh-2644479.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Gurajada Apparao wrote the play [[Kanyasulkam]] in spoken dialect for the first time. It was first presented in 1892.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Gurujada |first1=Venkata Apparao |title=Girls for Sale: A Play from Colonial India |date=2007 |publisher=Indiana University Press |isbn=978-0-253-34899-9 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pC8XkT8pGtAC |access-date=21 August 2024|translator-last1=Velcheru|translator-first1=Narayana Rao }}</ref> It is considered the greatest play in the Telugu language.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/theatre/remembering-the-immortal-satirist/article3938721.ece|title=Remembering the immortal satirist|first=Srihari|last=Gudipoodi|date=27 September 2012|work=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=16 June 2022|archive-date=17 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210817061308/https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/theatre/remembering-the-immortal-satirist/article3938721.ece|url-status=live|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

The Telugu film industry (known as "[[Telugu cinema|Tollywood]]") is primarily based in Hyderabad, though several films are shot in Vizag, Tirupati, Rajamahendravaram. About 300 films are produced annually,<ref>{{Cite news |title=Is Telugu cinema set for a change of scene? |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/is-telugu-cinema-set-for-a-change-of-scene-from-hyderabad-to-visakhapatnam/article65191021.ece |last=Reddem |first=Appaji |date=5 March 2022 |access-date=23 June 2023 |work=[[The Hindu]] |archive-date=23 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230623100438/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/is-telugu-cinema-set-for-a-change-of-scene-from-hyderabad-to-visakhapatnam/article65191021.ece |url-access=subscription|url-status=live }}</ref> [[C. Pullaiah]] is cited as the father of the Telugu cinema.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-cinemaplus/SATI-SAVITHRI-1933/article15677207.ece|title=Sati Savithri (1933)|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=7 November 2010|last=M. L.|first=Narasimham|access-date=8 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101113225918/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-cinemaplus/article871376.ece|archive-date=13 November 2010|url-access=subscription|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="SoManyCinemas">{{Cite book|title=So many cinemas: the motion picture in India|author=Bhagwan Das Garg|publisher=Eminence Designs|year=1996|isbn=978-81-900602-1-9|page=86|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wXRZAAAAMAAJ&q=%22East+India+Film+Company%22+-inpublisher:icon|access-date=17 February 2017}}{{Cbignore}}</ref> Film producer [[D. Ramanaidu]] holds a [[Guinness World Records|Guinness record]] for the most films produced by a person.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ramakrishnan |first=Sathyalaya |url=http://www.asiantribune.com/news/2010/09/11/prestigious-phalke-award-conferred-veteran-film-producer-d-rama-naidu |title=Prestigious 'Phalke" award conferred to veteran film producer D Rama Naidu |work=Asian Tribune |date=11 September 2010 |access-date=8 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120523215222/http://www.asiantribune.com/news/2010/09/11/prestigious-phalke-award-conferred-veteran-film-producer-d-rama-naidu |archive-date=23 May 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> Music composers and playback singers of the state include [[Ghantasala (musician)|Ghantasala]], [[S. P. Balasubrahmanyam]], [[P. Susheela]], [[S. Janaki]], and [[P. B. Sreenivas]].<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Gopinath |first1=Rajendran |title=A voice to remember |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2022/Aug/24/a-voice-to-remember-2490667.html |access-date=19 August 2024 |work=[[The New Indian Express]] |date=24 August 2022}}</ref> "Naatu Naatu" from the film [[RRR (film)|''RRR'']] became the first song from an Asian film to win the [[Academy Award for Best Original Song]] in 2023.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/telugu/rrr-oscars-2023-naatu-naatu-wins-best-original-song-ss-rajamouli-8487068/ |title=Oscars 2023: RRR's 'Naatu Naatu' wins best original song at the 95th Academy Awards, MM Keeravani sings ode to India on stage |work=[[The Indian Express]] |date=13 March 2023 |access-date=13 March 2023 |archive-date=13 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230313050942/https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/telugu/rrr-oscars-2023-naatu-naatu-wins-best-original-song-ss-rajamouli-8487068/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=13 March 2023 |title=Oscars 2023: RRR's Naatu Naatu wins best original song|publisher=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-64935389 |access-date=13 March 2023 |archive-date=13 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230313112208/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-64935389 |url-status=live }}</ref> Efforts are on to make Vizag as the hub of film industry by offering incentives.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehansindia.com/news/cities/visakhapatnam/film-hub-focus-on-vizag-again-729641 |title=Film hub: Focus on Vizag again |date=17 February 2022 |access-date=30 May 2023 |work=[[The Hans India]] |archive-date=30 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230530052913/https://www.thehansindia.com/news/cities/visakhapatnam/film-hub-focus-on-vizag-again-729641 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Festivals===

''[[Makar Sankranti|Sankranti]]'' is the major harvest festival celebrated across the state.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/food/festive-flavours-of-sankranti-in-andhra-pradesh/article66368521.ece |title=Festive flavours of Sankranti in Andhra Pradesh |date=12 January 2023 |access-date=2 June 2023 |website=[[The Hindu]] |last=Ganguli |first=Nivedita |archive-date=2 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230602115642/https://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/food/festive-flavours-of-sankranti-in-andhra-pradesh/article66368521.ece |url-access=subscription|url-status=live }}</ref> It is celebrated for four days in the second week of January. The first day of the Telugu new year ''[[Ugadi]]'' which occurs during March/April is also a special festival with the preparation and sharing of pickles (''pachhadi'') made from raw mangoes, neem flowers, pepper powder, jaggery and tamarind. Tasting this pickle which is a mix of different tastes teaches the importance of taking positive/negative life experiences in one's stride. Celebrations end with the recitation of the coming year's astrological predictions called ''Panchanga sravanam''. [[Vijayadashami|Vijaya Dasami]] known commonly as Dussera and [[Diwali|Deepavali]], the festival of lights are other major Hindu festivals.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://aptourism.gov.in/articles/3/festivals-fairs-of-andhra-pradesh |title=Festivals and fairs of Andhra Pradesh |access-date=5 October 2023 |website=AP Tourism |archive-date=7 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220707162638/https://aptourism.gov.in/articles/3/festivals-fairs-of-andhra-pradesh |url-status=live }}</ref> Shivaratri is celebrated at [[Kotappakonda]], with people from nearby villages preparing 80–100&nbsp;ft height frames called ''prabhalu'' and taking it in a procession to the shine. [[Eid al-Fitr|Eid]] is celebrated with special prayers.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/Special-prayers-mark-Ramzan/article14477505.ece |title=Special prayers mark Ramzan |date=8 July 2016 |access-date=2 June 2023 |website=[[The Hindu]] |archive-date=2 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230602115641/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/Special-prayers-mark-Ramzan/article14477505.ece |url-access=subscription|url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[Rottela Panduga]]'' is celebrated at [[Bara Shaheed Dargah]] in [[Nellore]] with participation across religious lines.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/cities/regions/nellore/stage-set-rottela-panduga-640 |access-date=6 December 2011 |title=Stage set for Rottela panduga |website=[[Deccan Chronicle]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111206091559/http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/cities/regions/nellore/stage-set-rottela-panduga-640 |archive-date=6 December 2011}}</ref> Christians celebrate their religious festivals Good Friday, Easter and Christmas with processions and prayers.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Good Friday observed across the State |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/good-friday-observed-across-the-state/article8397137.ece |date=26 March 2016 |access-date=7 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160325205746/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/good-friday-observed-across-the-state/article8397137.ece|archive-date=25 March 2016|work=[[The Hindu]]|url-access=subscription|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Easter celebrated with fervour and gaiety |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/in-other-news/100423/easter-celebrated-with-fervour-and-gaiety.html |date=10 April 2023 |access-date=7 May 2024 |work=[[Deccan Chronicle]] |archive-date=7 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240507091522/https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/in-other-news/100423/easter-celebrated-with-fervour-and-gaiety.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Grandeur marks Christmas celebrations |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/grandeur-marks-christmas-celebrations/article6725551.ece |date=26 December 2014 |access-date=7 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240507092835/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/grandeur-marks-christmas-celebrations/article6725551.ece|archive-date=7 May 2024 |work=[[The Hindu]]|url-access=subscription|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Government and administration ==
{{Main|Government of Andhra Pradesh|Politics of Andhra Pradesh|Andhra Pradesh Legislature|List of districts in Andhra Pradesh}}

[[File:Secretariat14.jpg|thumbnail|Secretariat buildings hosting legislative assembly and council, Amaravati]]
[[File:Ap-districts.svg|thumb|Andhra Pradesh districts]]
There are a total of 175 [[List of constituencies of the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly|assembly constituencies]] in the state legislative assembly.<ref name="constitutiencies">{{Cite web|title=Delimitation of parliamentary and assembly constituencies order, 2008|url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/CurrentElections/CONSOLIDATED_ORDER%20_ECI%20.pdf|publisher=Election Commission of India|access-date=11 October 2014|pages=16–28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101005180821/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/CurrentElections/CONSOLIDATED_ORDER%20_ECI%20.pdf|archive-date=5 October 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council|legislative council]] is the upper house with 58 members.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Overview|url=http://www.aplegislature.org/web/legislative-council/overview|website=AP Legislature|publisher=Government of Andhra Pradesh|access-date=23 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150519055636/http://www.aplegislature.org/web/legislative-council/overview|archive-date=19 May 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> In the [[Parliament of India|Indian parliament]], the state has 25 seats in the ''[[Lok Sabha]]'' and 11 seats in the ''[[Rajya Sabha]]''.<ref name="constitutiencies"/> In accordance with the [[Constitution of India]], the [[Governor of Andhra Pradesh|governor]] is a state's ''[[de jure]]'' head and appoints the [[Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh|chief minister]] who has the ''[[de facto]]'' executive authority.<ref>{{Cite report|url=https://interstatecouncil.gov.in/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/CHAPTERI.pdf|title=Chapter I, Constitution of India|date=June 2015| publisher=[[Government of India]]|access-date=1 May 2024|page=5}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|author=[[Durga Das Basu]]|title=Introduction to the Constitution of India|year=2011|edition=22|pages=241, 245|publisher=[[University of Michigan]]|isbn=978-81-8038-559-9}}</ref>

Reddy, Kamma and Kapu communities cornered a share of 66% of seats in the 2019 election results. In the [[2024 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|2024 assembly elections]], Reddy, Kamma and Kapu communities among the forward classes got more allocation than OBC in the unreserved category by major political parties or alliances.<ref>{{Cite news |title=A.P. elections {{!}} Politically influential castes get a lion's share in unreserved seats |url=https://www.thehindu.com/elections/andhra-pradesh-assembly/ap-elections-politically-influential-castes-get-a-lions-share-in-unreserved-seats/article68025222.ece |access-date=25 August 2024 |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=4 April 2024}}</ref> TDP-led [[National Democratic Alliance]] with [[Janasena Party]] and [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] emerged victorious defeating the incumbent [[YSR Congress Party|YSRCP]] led by [[Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy|Jagan Mohan Reddy]]. It won 164 seats, while YSRCP got 11, a big drop from 151 it held. N. Chandrababu Naidu became the chief minister of the state for the fourth time.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Chandrababu Naidu sworn in as Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/chandrababu-naidu-sworn-in-as-andhra-pradesh-chief-minister/article68280396.ece |last=G.V.R. |first=Subba Rao |date=12 June 2024 |access-date=15 July 2024 |work=[[The Hindu]] |archive-date=15 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240715012042/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/chandrababu-naidu-sworn-in-as-andhra-pradesh-chief-minister/article68280396.ece |url-status=live }}</ref> According to an opinion by Ayesha Minhaz in The Hindu daily, several factors including the prevailing [[anti-incumbency]] against the previous government and the alliance's promise of "Welfare with wealth generation" contributed to the success of TDP-led alliance.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Minhaz |first=Ayesha |date=11 June 2024 |title=TDP-JSP-BJP juggernaut heralds a major shift in Andhra Pradesh's politics |url=https://frontline.thehindu.com/election-2024/andhra-pradesh-lok-sabha-election-chandrababu-naidy-jagan-mohan-reddy-anti-incumbency/article68266643.ece |access-date=15 June 2024 |website=Frontline|archive-date=9 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240809110052/https://frontline.thehindu.com/election-2024/andhra-pradesh-lok-sabha-election-chandrababu-naidy-jagan-mohan-reddy-anti-incumbency/article68266643.ece |url-status=live }}</ref>

Andhra Pradesh police are structured in district, subdivision, circle, and police station hierarchy.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Police GIS |url=https://apsac.ap.gov.in/dashboard-staging/ap-police-gis/ |website=Andhra Pradesh Space Applications Centre |access-date=24 August 2024}}</ref> In 2022, crimes against women and children saw a rise of 43.66% with a case count of 25,503 cases in Andhra Pradesh as per the National crime records bureau (NCRB) data. The state stood fifth in the country with 2,341 cybercrime cases.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Gilai |first1=Harish |title=Crimes against women and children rise in Andhra Pradesh in 2022, says NCRB data |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/crimes-against-women-and-children-rise-in-andhra-pradesh-in-2022-says-ncrb-data/article67607773.ece |access-date=24 August 2024 |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=5 December 2023}}</ref> [[Andhra Pradesh High Court]] at [[Amaravati]] is headed by Chief justice with 37 judges. District judiciary is organised in a three-tier system with district courts at the top, civil (senior) and assistant sessions courts in the middle and civil (junior) and judicial first-class magistrate courts at the lower level. Apart from these, there are special courts such as family, CBI, ACB, Land reforms appellate tribunals, and industrial tribunals.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Obligatiions of public authorities – Manual of judicial department |url=https://aphc.gov.in/docs/MANUAL_OF_JUDICIAL_DEPARTMENT.pdf |publisher=Andhra Pradesh High Court |access-date=24 August 2024 |date=1 November 2023}}</ref>

Andhra Pradesh comprises two regions, namely [[Coastal Andhra]] and [[Rayalaseema]] from a historical perspective.<ref>{{Cite news |title=The birth of Rayalaseema |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/the-birth-of-rayalaseema/article5948111.ece |access-date=24 August 2024 |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=21 May 2016}}</ref> The northern part of Coastal Andhra is sometimes mentioned separately as [[North Andhra]], to raise voice against underdevelopment.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Visakhapatnam/andhra-pradesh-development-eludes-north-andhra-region-despite-rich-in-natural-resources-say-leaders-of-various-political-parties/article66350378.ece |title=Andhra Pradesh: development eludes North Andhra region despite rich in natural resources, say leaders of various political parties |date=7 January 2023 |access-date=16 June 2023 |website=[[The Hindu]] |archive-date=13 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230113051040/https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Visakhapatnam/andhra-pradesh-development-eludes-north-andhra-region-despite-rich-in-natural-resources-say-leaders-of-various-political-parties/article66350378.ece |url-access=subscription|url-status=live }}</ref> The state is further divided into 26 districts.<ref name="apreorg-2022"/> These districts are made up of 76 [[revenue division]]s,{{Sfn|DOP|2023|p=431}} 679 [[Tehsil|mandals]]{{Sfn|DOP|2023|p=431}} and 13,324 village panchayats as part of the administrative organisation.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Monthly bulletin |publisher=Ministry of Panchayat raj, Government of India |year=2022 |pages=3 |url=https://egramswaraj.gov.in/FileRedirect.jsp?FD=Bulletin&name=MonthlyBulletin_July_v01.pdf |access-date=3 June 2023 |archive-date=3 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230603070851/https://egramswaraj.gov.in/FileRedirect.jsp?FD=Bulletin&name=MonthlyBulletin_July_v01.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Administrative divisions ===
{{Main|List of districts of Andhra Pradesh|List of revenue divisions in Andhra Pradesh|List of mandals of Andhra Pradesh}}

Andhra Pradesh is divided into 26 districts for administrative purposes. These districts are further grouped into 77 revenue divisions and subdivided into 685 mandals. Each district is administered by a [[District magistrate|District Collector]], who oversees land revenue administration, law and order, elections, and developmental activities. Revenue divisions are headed by [[Sub-divisional magistrate|Revenue Divisional Officers]] (RDOs), who may be Sub-Collectors (IAS officers) or Deputy Collectors. [[Tehsil|Mandals]], the key sub-district units, consist of multiple villages and are managed by [[Tehsildar|Mandal Revenue Officers]] (MROs), serving as the primary link between the district administration and village-level governance.

=== Local government ===
{{See also|List of urban local bodies in Andhra Pradesh}}
Local government in Andhra Pradesh functions through a three-tier [[Panchayati raj|Panchayati Raj system]] in rural areas and [[Municipal governance in India|urban local bodies]] in towns and cities. Rural governance includes [[Gram panchayat|Gram Panchayats]], [[Panchayat samiti|Mandal Parishads]], and [[District council (India)|Zilla Parishads]], while urban areas are managed by Nagar Panchayats, [[Municipal council (India)|Municipalities]] and [[Municipal corporation (India)|Municipal Corporations]]. These bodies are responsible for local administration, development works, and delivery of basic services.

There are 17 municipal corporations, 77 municipalities, and 29 Nagar Panchayats for urban governance in Andhra Pradesh. Rural governance is managed by 13,234 Gram Panchayats at the village level, 676 Mandal Parishads at the mandal level, and 26 Zilla Parishads at the district level. Each of these bodies has elected councils and members.

=== Cities and towns ===
There are 123 [[List of urban agglomerations in Andhra Pradesh|urban local bodies]], comprising 17 [[List of municipal corporations in India|municipal corporations]], 79 [[List of cities in Andhra Pradesh|municipalities]], and 27 nagar panchayats, in the state. The urban population is 14.9 million (1.49 crores) as per the 2011 census.{{Sfn|DOP|2023|p=18}} There are two cities with [[List of cities in India by population|more than one million]] inhabitants, namely [[Visakhapatnam]] and [[Vijayawada]].<ref name="top cities">{{Cite web |title=Andhra Pradesh (India): State, major agglomerations & cities – Population statistics, maps, charts, weather and web information |url=http://www.citypopulation.de/India-AndhraPradesh.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181021060205/http://www.citypopulation.de/India-AndhraPradesh.html |archive-date=21 October 2018 |website=Citypopulation.de |access-date=7 September 2020}}</ref>

{{Static row numbers}}
{| class="wikitable sortable static-row-numbers"
|+Cities with the highest population in Andhra Pradesh, as per the [[List of cities in Andhra Pradesh|2011 Census]]<ref name="top cities" />
|-
!scope=col|City/Town
!scope=col| District(s)
!scope=col| Population (2011)
|-
!scope=row| [[Visakhapatnam]]
| Visakhapatnam, Anakapalli<ref>{{Cite news |title=Merger of Anakapalli and Bheemili municipalities|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Visakhapatnam/gvmc-wards-up-from-72-to-81/article19505492.ece|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=17 August 2017|access-date=17 August 2017|url-access=subscription}}</ref>
| 1,728,128
|-
!scope=row| [[Vijayawada]]
| NTR
| 1,476,931
|-
!scope=row| [[Guntur]]
| Guntur
| 743,354
|-
!scope=row| [[Nellore]]
| Nellore
| 558,548
|-
!scope=row| [[Kurnool]]
| Kurnool
| 484,327
|-
!scope=row| [[Rajahmundry]]
| East Godavari
| 476,873
|-
!scope=row| [[Tirupati]]
| Tirupati
| 461,900
|-
!scope=row| [[Kakinada]]
| Kakinada
| 443,028
|-
!scope=row| [[Kadapa]]
| YSR Kadapa
| 344,893
|-
!scope=row| [[Anantapur]]
| Anantapur
| 340,613
|}

=== Government revenue and expenditure ===
For 2021–22, total receipts of the Andhra Pradesh government were {{INRConvert|2.05|lc}}, inclusive of {{INRConvert|53284|c}} of loans. States' tax revenue was {{INRConvert|70979|c}}. The top three sources of tax revenue are statedcrores goods and services tax (GST) (₹23,809 crore), sales tax/value added tax (VAT) (₹20,808 crores), and state excise (₹14,703 crores).<ref name="prsindia2023">{{Cite web |url=https://prsindia.org/budgets/states/andhra-pradesh-budget-analysis-2023-24 |title=Andhra Pradesh budget analysis 2023–24 |access-date=28 May 2023 |website=PRSINDIA |archive-date=28 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230528001217/https://prsindia.org/budgets/states/andhra-pradesh-budget-analysis-2023-24 |url-status=live }}</ref> The government earned a revenue of ₹7,345 crore from 2.574 million transactions for registration services. Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Guntur, and Tirupati are the top contributors to the revenue.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/andhra-pradesh-witnesses-an-upswing-in-revenue-earned-through-registration-and-stamps-department/article66215408.ece |title=Andhra Pradesh witnesses an upswing in revenue earned through registration and stamps department |date=2 December 2022 |access-date=26 May 2023 |website=[[The Hindu]] |archive-date=26 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230526093314/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/andhra-pradesh-witnesses-an-upswing-in-revenue-earned-through-registration-and-stamps-department/article66215408.ece |url-access=subscription|url-status=live }}</ref>

The government's total expenditure was ₹1,91,594 crore, which includes debt repayment of ₹13,920 crore. The fiscal deficit was 2.1% of the GSDP. Outstanding debt was ₹3.89 lakh crore, an increase of almost ₹40,000 crore compared to the previous year. This accounts for 32.4 per cent of the GSDP, which is more than the usual limit of 25% as per the Fiscal Responsibility Budget Management Actthe and Budget Management ActActstated crores.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/ap-govts-debt-mounts-to-389-lakh-crore-in-fy22/article65221649.ece |title=AP Govt's debt mounts to ₹3.89 lakh crore in FY22 |date=13 March 2022 |access-date=28 May 2023 |website=Business Line|location=Chennai |archive-date=28 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230528011200/https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/ap-govts-debt-mounts-to-389-lakh-crore-in-fy22/article65221649.ece |url-access=subscription|url-status=live }}</ref> The outstanding guarantee estimate was ₹1,38,875 crore, of which power sector accounts for ₹38,473 crore equal to 12% of GDP.<ref name="prsindia2023"/> Out of the audited total expenditure of ₹1,77,674 crore of the state in 2021–22, social services accounted for 42.65% and capital expenditure 9.21%. When compared to 2020–21, the capital expenditure decreased by 14 per cent. Of the total expenditure, major components of the social services breakdown are as follows. The social welfare category accounted for 16%, education, sport, arts and culture had a share of 15% and health and family welfare had a share of 6.3%. Comptroller and Auditor general in its 2023 report warned that the trend of increasing levels of revenue expenditure coupled with a low level of capital spend will adversely impact infrastructure development, development, aggregate demand, employment generation, and revenue generation in the long run.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Report of Comptroller and Auditor General of India – State finances audit report for the year ended 31 March 2022 |last=Comptroller and Auditor General |year=2023 |pages=33}}</ref>

== Economy ==
{{Main|Economy of Andhra Pradesh}}

[[Gross state product|Gross state domestic product]] (GSDP/GDP) at current prices for the year 2022–23 is estimated at {{INRConvert|1317728|c|abbr=on|year=2023}} (advanced estimates). The share of agriculture's contribution to the GSDP is at 36.19%, while industry is at 23.36%, and services are at 40.45%. The state posted a record growth of 7.02% at constant prices (2011–12) against the country's growth of 7%. GDP per capita is estimated at {{INRConvert|219518|abbr=on}}. The sectoral growth rates at constant 2011–12 prices were for agriculture at 4.54%; industry at 5.66 and services at 10.05%.{{Sfn|DOP|2023|p=3}}<ref name="SES 2022-23 news">{{Cite news |last=M |first=Sambasiva Rao |date=16 March 2023 |title=Andhra Pradesh posts a growth of 16.22% over the previous year |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/andhra-pradesh-posts-a-growth-of-1622-over-the-previous-year/article66623793.ece |access-date=25 March 2023 |archive-date=25 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230325001840/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/andhra-pradesh-posts-a-growth-of-1622-over-the-previous-year/article66623793.ece |url-status=live|url-access=subscription}}</ref> Poverty rate is reduced to 4.2% in 2023 from 11.77% in 2015–16 as per ''Niti Ayog'' report. The methodology, based on the global multidimensional poverty index uses 10 indicators, covering three areas health, education, and standard of living and additionally maternal health and bank accounts.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Multidimensional poverty in India since 2005–06 |url=https://www.niti.gov.in/sites/default/files/2024-01/MPI-22_NITI-Aayog20254.pdf |publisher=Niti Ayog |access-date=19 August 2024}}</ref> Unemployment rate of people with graduation in Andhra Pradesh is estimated at 24% as per periodic labour force survey of July 2022 to June 2023, the third highest in the country. The number for the whole of India is at 13.4%.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Unemployment rate among graduates declines to 13.4% between July 2022 and June 2023 |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/unemployment-rate-among-graduates-declines-to-134-between-july-2022-and-june-2023/article67647219.ece |date=17 December 2023 |access-date=19 July 2024 |work=[[The Hindu]] |archive-date=19 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240719015035/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/unemployment-rate-among-graduates-declines-to-134-between-july-2022-and-june-2023/article67647219.ece |url-status=live }}</ref>

According to the ''Economic Survey of India 2024–25'', Andhra Pradesh was identified as the "leading performer" in the agriculture and allied sectors (excluding forestry and logging), recording a Compounded Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 8.80%. It was followed by Madhya Pradesh with 6.30% and Tamil Nadu with 4.80%. Andhra Pradesh also ranked 10th in Gross State Value Added (GSVA) in the services sector.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Raghavendra |first=V. |date=2025-01-31 |title=Economic Survey: Andhra Pradesh 'leading performer' with 8.80% CAGR in agriculture and allied sectors |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/economic-survey-andhra-pradesh-leading-performer-with-880-cagr-in-agriculture-and-allied-sectors/article69164646.ece |access-date=2025-08-21 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

=== Agriculture ===
[[File:Konaseema greenery 1.JPG|thumb|alt=|Lush green farms in [[Konaseema district|Konaseema]]]]
The agricultural economy comprises agriculture, livestock, poultry farming, and fisheries.{{Sfn|DES|2021|p=31}} Four important rivers in India, the Godavari, Krishna, Penna, and [[Tungabhadra River|Tungabhadra]], flow through the state and provide irrigation.<ref name="wrd-aboutus"/> The population engaged in agriculture and related activities as per 2020–21 fiscal data is 62.17%.{{Sfn|DES|2021|p=vii (Executive summary)}} [[Rice]] is the state's major food crop and staple food.{{Sfn|DES|2021|p=9}} Besides rice, farmers grow [[Sorghum bicolor|jowar]], [[Pearl millet|bajra]], [[maize]], many varieties of [[Legume|pulses]], [[sugarcane]], [[cotton]], [[tobacco]], fruits, and vegetables.{{Sfn|DES|2021|p=110-113}} The state contributed to 30% of fish production of India and it had a share of 35% in total sea food exports of India in 2022–23.{{Sfn|DES|2021|p=6}} The state has three agricultural export zones: the undivided Chittoor district for mango pulp and vegetables, the undivided Krishna district for mangoes, and the undivided Guntur district for [[Chili pepper|chillies]].<ref>{{Cite news|title=United AP stood second in agri exports|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Vijayawada/united-ap-stood-second-in-agri-exports/article8116244.ece|access-date=17 January 2016|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=17 January 2016|location=Vijayawada|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160117011133/http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Vijayawada/united-ap-stood-second-in-agri-exports/article8116244.ece|archive-date=17 January 2016|url-access=subscription|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Banganapalle (mango)|Banaganapalle mangoes]] produced in the state were accorded GI status in 2017.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Banaganapalle mangoes finally get GI tag|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/040517/banaganapalle-mangoes-finally-get-gi-tag.html|access-date=13 May 2017|work=[[Deccan Chronicle]]|date=4 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170505001210/http://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/040517/banaganapalle-mangoes-finally-get-gi-tag.html|archive-date=5 May 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="GIlist"/>

''Rythu Seva Kendras'' (RSK) or farmer facilitation centres are initiated by the government in 2020 to serve as a hassle-free, one-stop solution for the requirements of farmers from seed-to-sale.<ref>{{Cite news |title=195 Rythu Bharosa Kendras getting ready in the first phase |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Visakhapatnam/195-rythu-bharosa-kendras-getting-ready-in-the-first-phase/article30952002.ece |date=19 February 2020 |access-date=6 May 2024 |work=[[The Hindu]]|url-access=subscription|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200301152031/https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Visakhapatnam/195-rythu-bharosa-kendras-getting-ready-in-the-first-phase/article30952002.ece|archive-date=1 March 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Deekshitula |first1=Subrahmanyam |title=RBKs renamed as Rythu Seva Kendras |url=https://www.thehansindia.com/andhra-pradesh/rbks-renamed-as-rythu-seva-kendras-888407 |access-date=12 August 2024 |work=[[The Hans India]] |date=1 July 2024}}</ref> Banking services through banking correspondent are also integrated. {{As of |2023|post=,}} 10,778 RSKs are functioning.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Rythu Bharosa Kendras a big success, says A.P. Agriculture Minister |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/rythu-bharosa-kendras-a-big-success-says-ap-agriculture-minister/article66556800.ece |date=26 February 2023 |access-date=6 May 2024 |work=[[The Hindu]]|url-access=subscription|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230228040257/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/rythu-bharosa-kendras-a-big-success-says-ap-agriculture-minister/article66556800.ece|archive-date=28 February 2023}}</ref> AP land titling act 2023 was brought in to change from presumptive land ownership system based on possession, registration or inheritance documents to conclusive land ownership system, with government standing as surety for the ownership. Lands in 6000 villages were surveyed with drones and land title certificates were issued to owners, with [[georeferencing]] of their land parcels. The benefits of the act include a reduction in land disputes and easier acquisition of lands for public requirements.<ref>{{Cite news |title=The Hindu Explains {{!}} Why does India need conclusive land titling? |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/the-hindu-explains-why-does-india-need-conclusive-land-titling/article33891718.ece |last=Jebaraj |first=Priscilla |date=21 February 2021 |access-date=6 May 2024 |work=[[The Hindu]]|url-access=subscription|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210221022017/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/the-hindu-explains-why-does-india-need-conclusive-land-titling/article33891718.ece|archive-date=21 February 2021}}</ref> The newly formed TDP led NDA alliance government decided to repeal the act citing the scope for misuse of authority and deviation from the centre's draft bill.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Cabinet gives its nod for repeal of AP Land Titling Act, ratifies new free sand policy |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/cabinet-gives-its-nod-for-repeal-of-ap-land-titling-act-ratifies-new-free-sand-policy/article68410871.ece |access-date=22 August 2024 |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=16 July 2024}}</ref>

The Commission on Inclusive and Sustainable Agricultural Development of Andhra Pradesh, chaired by Prof. R. Radhakrishna, estimated the number of tenant farmers at 24.25 lakh in 2014. This consists of 6.29 lakh landless tenants and the rest owning some land. Out of 60.73 lakh hectares under cultivation, 27.15 lakh hectares or 44% was cultivated by tenants. Departmental estimates for 2021 put the number of tenant farmers at about 16 lakh. To identify and serve the needs of tenants, the Crop Cultivator Rights Act (CCRA) of 2019 was brought out. Only 26% of tenants obtained the CCRA or loan eligibility cards as per 2022 data.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Tenant Farmers Study Report 2022 Andhra Pradesh |publisher=Rythy Swarajya Vedika |year=2022 |url=https://www.im4change.org/upload/files/Report-AP-TenantFarmersStudy-English-Final%281%29.pdf |access-date=19 July 2024 |archive-date=29 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220329075909/https://im4change.org/upload/files/Report-AP-TenantFarmersStudy-English-Final(1).pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Industries ===
[[File:Isuzu manufacturing plant India.jpg|thumb|[[Isuzu Motors India]] manufacturing plant aerial view, [[Sri City]]]]
[[File:LVM3 M4, Chandrayaan-3 - Launch vehicle lifting off from the Second Launch Pad (SLP) of SDSC-SHAR, Sriharikota 03.webp|thumb|upright| Chandrayaan-3 – Launch vehicle lifting off from the second launch pad of [[Satish Dhawan Space Centre|SDSC]]-SHAR, Sriharikota]]
As per the annual survey of industries 2019–20, the number of factories was 12,582 with 681,224 employees. The top four employment providers are food products (25.48%), non-metallic minerals (11.26%), textiles (9.35%), and pharmaceuticals (8.68%). Gross value added (GVA) contributed by the industrial sector is {{INRConvert|55035|c}}, of which food products (18.95%), pharmaceuticals (17.01%), and non-metallic minerals (16.25%) are the top three contributors. From a district perspective, the top three districts were Visakhapatnam, Tirupati and undivided Krishna.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Annual survey of industries |publisher=DES, GOAP |year=2020 |url=https://des.ap.gov.in/jsp/social/ASI2019-20.pdf |access-date=26 May 2023 }}{{cbignore}}</ref>

The defence administered Hindustan Shipyard Limited built the first ship in [[India]] in 1948.<ref name=hsl>{{Cite news |last1=Bhattacharjee |first1=Sumit |title=Sailing through the 75-year history of shipbuilding in India |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Visakhapatnam/sailing-through-the-75-year-history-of-shipbuilding-in-india/article66614566.ece |access-date=22 August 2024 |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=14 March 2023|url-access=subscription}}</ref> The state has 36 big auto players, such as [[Ashok Leyland]], [[Hero Motors]], [[Isuzu Motors India]], and [[Kia Motors India|Kia Motors]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://apedb.gov.in/automobile-industry.html |title=Auto, automobiles & EV |access-date=26 May 2023 |website=APEDB |archive-date=26 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230526050349/https://apedb.gov.in/automobile-industry.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> The mining sector contributed {{INRConvert|3390|c}} in revenue to the state during 2021–22.{{Sfn|DOP|2023|p=9}} Nearly 225 million barrels of crude oil was produced from [[Ravva oil field|Ravva block]], in the shallow offshore area of the Krishna Godavari basin during 1994–2011.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ravva Oil and Gas Field |url=https://www.offshore-technology.com/projects/ravva-field/?cf-view |website=Offshore technology |access-date=22 August 2024 |date=18 August 2011}}</ref> The state accounted for 0.6% of had  and codensate production, and 2.9% of natural gas production of India in 2020–21.{{Sfn|MOPNG|2023|p=30-33}}

{{As of|2023|06|20|post=,}} there are 190 science and technology organisations in Andhra Pradesh, including 12 central labs and research institutions.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.indiascienceandtechnology.gov.in/organisations/state-st-organisations/all-st-institution?field_institute_state_tid=4449 |title=List of S&T organisations |access-date=20 June 2023 |website=India science, technology and innovation |publisher=Vigyan Prasar, Department of science and technology, Government of India |archive-date=20 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230620044153/https://www.indiascienceandtechnology.gov.in/organisations/state-st-organisations/all-st-institution?field_institute_state_tid=4449 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Satish Dhawan Space Centre]] (SDSC), known as Sriharikota range (SHAR), on the barrier island of [[Sriharikota]] in [[Tirupati district]], is the primary satellite launching station operated by the [[Indian Space Research Organisation]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.isro.gov.in/SDSC.html |title=SHAR |access-date=15 May 2024 |archive-date=9 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240809113906/https://www.isro.gov.in/SDSC.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Services ===
Trade, hotels & restaurants registered the highest growth rate of 16.64%, while public administration, the lowest growth rate of 4.24% for the year 2022–23 at constant 2011–12 prices among the services category.{{Sfn|DOP|2023|p=29}} The state is ranked third in domestic tourist footfalls for the year 2021, with 93.2 million domestic tourists, which amounts to 13.8% of all domestic tourists in India. A major share of the tourists visit temples in Tirupati, Vijayawada, and Srisailam.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/lifestyle/travel/051222/ap-ranked-3rd-telangana-6th-in-domestic-tourist-footfalls.html |title=AP ranked 3rd, Telangana 6th in domestic tourist footfalls |date=5 December 2022 |access-date=26 May 2023 |website=Deccan Chronicle |archive-date=26 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230526090559/https://www.deccanchronicle.com/lifestyle/travel/051222/ap-ranked-3rd-telangana-6th-in-domestic-tourist-footfalls.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The value of [[Information technology in India|information technology]] exports from the state in 2021–22 was {{INRConvert|926|c}}, which is 0.14% of the IT exports from India. Exports have remained below 0.2% in the past five years.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/andhra-pradeshs-share-in-it-exports-is-below-02-says-union-minister/article66702647.ece |title=Andhra Pradesh's share in IT exports is below 0.2%, says union minister |date=5 April 2023 |access-date=24 May 2023 |work=[[The Hindu]] |archive-date=24 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230524120917/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/andhra-pradeshs-share-in-it-exports-is-below-02-says-union-minister/article66702647.ece |url-access=subscription|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Infrastructure ==
=== Transport ===
{{Main|Transport in Andhra Pradesh}}

==== Roads ====
[[File:Crowd at PNBS, Vijayawada 01.jpg| thumb|Passengers at [[Pandit Nehru Bus Station]], Vijayawada]]
{{As of|2023|post=,}} the state has a total major road network of {{Convert|47244.83|km|mi|abbr=on}}. This comprises {{Convert|8163.72|km|mi|abbr=on}} of [[National highways of India|national highways]], {{Convert|12595.60|km|mi|abbr=on}} of [[State highways in India|state highways]], and {{convert|26485.51|km|mi|abbr=on}} of major district roads.{{Sfn|DOP|2023|p=168}} In the category of national highways, [[National Highway 16 (India)|NH 16]], with a highway network of around {{convert|1000|km|mi|abbr=on}} in the state, is a part of the [[Golden Quadrilateral|Golden Quadrilateral project]]. Vehicles on the register consist of 1.828 million transport vehicles and 13.7 million non-transport vehicles. In the transport category, goods carriages constitute 53.61%, auto rickshaws 36.21%, and stage carriages 1.14% constitute the top 3 categories. In the non-transport category, motorcycles constitute 89.5%, four-wheelers 7.29%, and cabs 5.96% occupy the top 3 ranks.{{Sfn|DOP|2023|p=173}} The state government-owned [[Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation|Andhra Pradesh state road transport organisation]] is the public bus transport provider. It is split into 129 depots across four zones. It has a fleet strength of 11,098 buses and a staff count of 49,544. It operates 1.11 billion kilometres and serves 3.68 million passengers daily as per the socio-economic survey of 2023.{{Sfn|DOP|2023|p=176}} {{As of|2023|post=,}}

==== Railways ====
Renigunta was the first among major stations to appear on the railway map of Andhra Pradesh when Madras railway connected it to Madras in 1862.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Goyal |first1=Shikha |title=History of Indian railways from 1853 to present |url=https://www.jagranjosh.com/general-knowledge/history-of-indian-railways-1644394598-1 |website=Jagranjosh |access-date=22 August 2024 |date=10 February 2022}}</ref> Rajahmundry-Vijag and Viajayawad-Kovvur sections were opened in 1893. Vijayawada-Madras section was started in 1899. It was extended to Howrah in 1900.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Vijayawada – Historical Background |url=https://digitalscr.in/books/4.pdf |website=Digitalscr |access-date=22 August 2024}}</ref> {{As of|2022|post=,}} The state has a total [[broad-gauge railway]] route of {{cvt|3969|km}} with rail density at 24.36&nbsp;km per 1000&nbsp;square kilometres.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Indian railways year book 2021–22 |publisher=Indian Railways |year=2022 |pages=62 |url=https://indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/uploads/directorate/stat_econ/2023/PDF%20Year%20Book%202021-22-English.pdf |access-date=19 May 2023 |archive-date=18 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230418130808/https://indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/uploads/directorate/stat_econ/2023/PDF%20Year%20Book%202021-22-English.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://indianrailways.gov.in/index/index.html |title=Indian Railway map (searchable) |access-date=30 April 2024 |website=[[Indian Railway]] |archive-date=30 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240430005043/https://indianrailways.gov.in/index/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The railway network in Andhra Pradesh is under the [[South Central Railway zone|South Central railway]],<ref name="scr">{{Cite web|url=http://www.scr.indianrailways.gov.in/view_section.jsp?lang=0&id=0,1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170507070031/https://scr.indianrailways.gov.in/view_section.jsp?lang=0&id=0,1|url-status=live|archive-date=7 May 2017|title=State-wise route kilometerage|website=South Central Railway|access-date=23 April 2017}}</ref> [[East Coast Railway zone|East Coast railway]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://eastcoastrail.indianrailways.gov.in/view_section.jsp?fontColor=black&backgroundColor=LIGHTSTEELBLUE&lang=0&id=0,1,1290 |title=East coast railway divisions |access-date=24 April 2023 |website=East coast railway |archive-date=28 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240328171216/https://eastcoastrail.indianrailways.gov.in/view_section.jsp?fontColor=black&backgroundColor=LIGHTSTEELBLUE&lang=0&id=0,1,1290 |url-status=live }}</ref> and [[South Western Railway zone|South Western railway]] zones.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://swr.indianrailways.gov.in/view_section.jsp?fontColor=black&backgroundColor=LIGHTSTEELBLUE&lang=0&id=0,1,261 |title=South Western Railway – divisions |access-date=24 April 2023 |website=South Western railway |archive-date=24 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230424131825/https://swr.indianrailways.gov.in/view_section.jsp?fontColor=black&backgroundColor=LIGHTSTEELBLUE&lang=0&id=0,1,261 |url-status=live }}</ref> During 2014–2022, 350&nbsp;km of new lines were constructed at a rate of 44&nbsp;km per year in Andhra Pradesh under the South Central railway division. The rate of construction was only 2&nbsp;km per year in the preceding five years.{{Sfn|IR|2022|p=5}} The [[Nadikudi–Srikalahasti section|Nadikudi–Srikalahasti line]] of 308.70&nbsp;km sanctioned at a budget of {{INRConvert|22.89|b}} in 2011–12 as a joint project of the centre and state is progressing slowly, with only phase one of 46&nbsp;km between New Piduguralla station and Savalyapuram completed in 2021–22.{{Sfn|IR|2022|p=29}} There are three A1 and 23 A-category railway stations in the state, as per the assessment in 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Statement showing category-wise no. of stations|url=http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/StationRedevelopment/AI&ACategoryStns.pdf|website=South Central Railway|access-date=23 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160128044328/http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/StationRedevelopment/AI%26ACategoryStns.pdf|archive-date=28 January 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> {{Stnlnk|Visakhapatnam}} was declared [[List of cleanest railway stations in India|the cleanest railway station]] in the country, as per the assessment in 2018.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Visakhapatnam/vizag-billed-the-cleanest-rail-station/article18478254.ece|title=Vizag billed the cleanest rail station|date=18 May 2017|work=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=4 January 2018|issn=0971-751X|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180104133007/http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Visakhapatnam/vizag-billed-the-cleanest-rail-station/article18478254.ece|archive-date=4 January 2018|url-access=subscription|url-status=live}}</ref> The railway station in [[Shimiliguda]] is the second broad gauge railway station at high altitude in the country next to Qazigund in Jammu and Kashmir.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Bhattacharjee|first1=Sumit|title=Hidden 100 – 58 tunnels. 84 bridges. Welcome to Araku Valley|url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/hidden-100-58-tunnels-84-bridges-welcome-to-araku-valley/article2594651.ece|access-date=23 April 2017|work=[[The Hindu]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170609115011/http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/hidden-100-58-tunnels-84-bridges-welcome-to-araku-valley/article2594651.ece|archive-date=9 June 2017|url-access=subscription|url-status=live}}</ref> A new railway zone [[South Coast Railway zone|South Coast railway]] (SCoR), with headquarters in Visakhapatnam, was announced in 2019, but is yet to be implemented.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=189105|title=Cabinet approves South Coast railway zone|website=Press Information Bureau|access-date=12 February 2022|archive-date=2 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402144738/http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=189105|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Delays dog new railway zone |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/delays-dog-new-railway-zone/article38051643.ece |last=B |first=Madhu Gopal |date=28 December 2021 |access-date=30 April 2024|url-access=subscription|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211228045510/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/delays-dog-new-railway-zone/article38051643.ece |archive-date=28 December 2021}}</ref>

==== Airports ====
{{See also|List of airports in Andhra Pradesh}}
{{Map/Airports in Andhra Pradesh}}
[[Tirupati Airport]] was established in 1976.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tirupati International Airport |url=https://www.tudaap.in/activity.php?category=Tirupati%20International%20Airport |website=Tirupati urban development authority |access-date=22 August 2024}}</ref> [[Visakhapatnam Airport|Visakhapatnam]] became a part of civil aviation in 1981.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Visakhapatnam Airport Advertising |url=https://www.gingermediagroup.com/visakhapatnam-airport-advertising/ |website=Gingermediagroup |date=22 May 2024 |access-date=22 August 2024}}</ref> Daily flights to [[Vijayawada Airport|Vijayawada]] were started in 2003.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Air Deccan takes off finally |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/air-deccan-takes-off-finally/articleshow/227312.cms |access-date=22 August 2024 |work=[[The Times of India]] |date=11 October 2003}}</ref> Apart from these three which are international airports, the state has three [[domestic airport]]s, namely [[Rajahmundry Airport|Rajahmundry]], [[Kadapa Airport|Kadapa]], and [[Kurnool Airport|Kurnool]].{{Sfn|DOP|2023|p=180-183}} A privately owned airport for emergency flights and chartered flights is at [[Sri Sathya Sai Airport|Puttaparthi]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=Puttaparthi airport to facilitate emergency landings; security to be beefed up |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/in-other-news/250721/puttaparthi-airport-to-facilitate-emergency-landings-security-to-be-b.html |access-date=10 August 2021 |work=Deccan Chronicle |date=25 July 2021 |archive-date=10 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210810133924/https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/in-other-news/250721/puttaparthi-airport-to-facilitate-emergency-landings-security-to-be-b.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Bhogapuram international airport is being constructed with a budget of ₹4,750 crore on an area of 2,300 acres near Visakhapatnam. It is expected to be completed by 2025.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Bhogapuram international airport will be ready by 2025, says Andhra Pradesh Industries Minister Gudivada Amarnath |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/bhogapuram-international-airport-will-be-ready-by-2025-says-andhra-pradesh-industries-minister-gudivada-amarnath/article67645263.ece |date=16 December 2023 |access-date=6 May 2024 |work=[[The Hindu]]|url-access=subscription|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231217015305/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/bhogapuram-international-airport-will-be-ready-by-2025-says-andhra-pradesh-industries-minister-gudivada-amarnath/article67645263.ece|archive-date=17 December 2023}}</ref> Andhra Pradesh saw a 60% increase in domestic air passenger traffic, with 24.74 lakh visitors at its five airports during the 2021–22 fiscal year (up to January 2022), compared to 15.48 lakh in the same period the previous fiscal year.<ref>{{Cite news |title=A.P. airports see 60% jump in domestic passenger footfall |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/ap-airports-see-60-jump-in-domestic-passenger-footfall/article65246193.ece |last=Boda |first=Tarun |date=21 March 2022 |access-date=16 July 2024 |work=[[The Hindu]]|url-access=subscription|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220401101206/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/ap-airports-see-60-jump-in-domestic-passenger-footfall/article65246193.ece|archive-date=1 April 2022}}</ref>

==== Sea ports ====
{{See also|List of ports and harbours of Andhra Pradesh}}
{{Map/Seaports in Andhra Pradesh}}[[File:Vizag seaport.jpg|thumb|Vizag seaport]]
The state has one major port at [[Visakhapatnam Port|Visakhapatnam]] under the administrative control of the central government and 15 notified ports, including three captive ports, under the control of the state government.{{Sfn|DOP|2023|page=183}} Visakhapatnam port was the earliest port to be commissioned in 1933.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Visakhapatnam Port turning 90 on October 7 |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Visakhapatnam/visakhapatnam-port-turning-90-on-october-7/article67388936.ece |access-date=22 August 2024 |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=6 October 2023}}</ref> Gangavaram port is a deep seaport that can accommodate ocean liners up to 200,000–250,000 [[Deadweight tonnage|DWT]].<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Patnaik |first1=Santosh |title=Gangavaram port to double capacity soon |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Visakhapatnam/gangavaram-port-to-double-capacity-soon/article7242475.ece |access-date=22 August 2024 |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=25 May 2015}}</ref> Cargo of 189.21 million tonnes was handled by Gangavaram, Kakinada deepwater, Krishnapatnam, Ravva, Kakinada anchorage, and Visakhapatnam during 2023–34, with a growth of 7.9% over the previous year.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Andhra Pradesh invests in port-led growth |url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/logistics/andhra-pradesh-invests-in-port-led-growth/article68115119.ece |last=G |first=Naga Sreedhar |date=28 April 2024 |access-date=16 July 2024 |work=[[Business Line]]|url-access=subscription|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240429054625/https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/logistics/andhra-pradesh-invests-in-port-led-growth/article68115119.ece|archive-date=29 April 2024}}</ref> New sea ports are under construction at Ramayapatnam, Machilipatnam, Mulapeta, and Kakinada.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Works apace at seaports and fishing harbours being constructed in Andhra Pradesh |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/works-apace-at-seaports-and-fishing-harbours-being-constructed-in-andhra-pradesh/article67205843.ece |last=V. |first=Raghavendra |date=17 August 2023 |access-date=6 May 2024|url-access=subscription|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230824042832/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/works-apace-at-seaports-and-fishing-harbours-being-constructed-in-andhra-pradesh/article67205843.ece|archive-date=24 August 2023}}</ref>

===Communication===
As per socio-economic survey released in January 2023, Andhra Pradesh has {{formatnum:10605}} post offices.{{Sfn|DOP|2023|p=189}} Bharat sanchar nigam limited (BSNL) operates {{formatnum:1310}} telephone exchanges with 20.6 million landline connections and also has 5.4 million wireless subscribers.{{Sfn|DOP|2023|p=186}} Airtel, Jio, Vodaphone Idea, and BSNL provide mobile services in the state.<ref name="trai-54/2024"/> {{As of |2023|post=,}} the number of mobile phone users reached 82 million, while the number of internet subscribers reached 67.1 million in Andhra Pradesh. Mobile network services are available in 15,322 out of 17,328 villages. 5G network connectivity is provided by 16,714 base transfer stations.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mobile towers in Andhra Pradesh |url=https://www.rsdebate.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/746437/1/PQ_262_08122023_U704_p275_p276.pdf |publisher=Rajya Sabha |access-date=19 August 2024 |date=8 December 2023}}</ref> Several providers including state government owned [[Andhra Pradesh State FiberNet Limited|Andhra Pradesh state fibre net limited]] operate wireline services supporting internet connectivity, telephony, and [[Internet Protocol television]].<ref name="trai-54/2024">{{Cite book |title=Press Release No.54/2024 |date=20 August 2024 |publisher=Telecom regulatory authority of India |location=New Delhi |pages=16–17 |url=https://trai.gov.in/sites/default/files/PR_No.54of2024_0.pdf |access-date=21 August 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Andhra Pradesh state fiberNet limited is poised for growth, says Goutham Reddy |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Visakhapatnam/andhra-pradesh-state-fibernet-limited-is-poised-for-growth-says-goutham-reddy/article65381371.ece |access-date=20 August 2024 |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=4 May 2022}}</ref> The AP statewide area network connects 2,164 offices of state administration at 668 locations down to the level of mandal headquarters.{{Sfn|DOP|2023|p=204}} The network supports both data and video communications. BSNL and the National Knowledge Network multi-purposeCricket link district headquarters with state headquarters with a bandwidth of 34 Mbit/s. Mandal headquarters are connected with a bandwidth of 8 Mbit/s.{{Sfn|DOP|2023|p=195}}

=== Water ===
The state has 40 major and medium rivers and 40,000 minor irrigation sources. Godavari, Krishna, and Penna are major rivers. The total cultivable area is 19.904 million acres.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://irrigationap.cgg.gov.in/wrd/home |title=Home page |access-date=19 July 2024 |website=Water resources department, Government of Andhra Pradesh}}</ref> Major, medium, and minor irrigation projects irrigate 10.172 million acres or 51.1% {{As of |2015|lc=y}}.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://irrigationap.cgg.gov.in/wrd/projects |title=Andhra Pradesh projects information |access-date=19 July 2024 |website=Water resources department, Government of Andhra Pradesh |archive-date=23 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240223203420/https://irrigationap.cgg.gov.in/wrd/projects |url-status=live }}</ref>{{cbignore}} Several water projects in the state are facing issues. The [[Polavaram Project]] is a multi purpose terminal reservoir project located 42&nbsp;km upstream of Davaleswaram barrage. It is a national project as per the AP Reorganisation Act of 2014. It has a reservoir capacity of 194.6 TMC and is expected to utilise 322.73 TMC of water in a year.{{Sfn|DOP|2023|p=136}}<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://irrigationap.cgg.gov.in/wrd/static/approjects/polavaramnew.html |title=Polavaram Project |access-date=19 July 2024 |website=Water resources department, Government of Andhra Pradesh |archive-date=5 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220705102504/https://irrigationap.cgg.gov.in/wrd/static/approjects/polavaramnew.html |url-status=live }}</ref>{{cbignore}} The under-construction project suffered setbacks with damage to its diaphragm wall during the 2022 floods.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/dam-design-review-panel-approves-repairs-to-polavaram-diaphragm-wall-damaged-in-godavari-floods/article66584237.ece |title=Dam design review panel approves repairs to Polavaram diaphragm wall damaged in Godavari floods |date=5 March 2023 |access-date=30 May 2023 |website=[[The Hindu]] |archive-date=30 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230530065426/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/dam-design-review-panel-approves-repairs-to-polavaram-diaphragm-wall-damaged-in-godavari-floods/article66584237.ece |url-access=subscription|url-status=live }}</ref> The [[Veligonda Project]], taken up to serve needs of Prakasam, Nellore, and Madala districts is progressing slowly.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Excavation works of Poola Subbaiah Veligonda Project's tunnel two completed in Andhra Pradesh, says official |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/excavation-works-of-poola-subbaiah-veligonda-projects-tunnel-two-completed-in-andhra-pradesh-says-official/article67772746.ece |date=24 January 2024 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=26 March 2024 |archive-date=26 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240326065108/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/excavation-works-of-poola-subbaiah-veligonda-projects-tunnel-two-completed-in-andhra-pradesh-says-official/article67772746.ece |url-access=subscription|url-status=live }}</ref> The Annamayya project, washed away in the 2021 floods, is set to be redesigned for 787 crores.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=S. |first1=Nagaraja Rao |title=Andhra Pradesh: Two years on, Annamayya project still awaits design approval |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/andhra-pradesh/2023/Nov/19/andhra-pradesh-two-yearson-annamayya-project-still-awaits-design-approval-2634294.html |work=[[The New Indian Express]] |access-date=19 August 2024 |date=19 November 2023}}</ref> Following the bifurcation, [[Disputes between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana|disputes with Telangana regarding the allocation of Krishna and Godavari]] waters continue to dog the state.<ref name="water-sharing">{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/explained-the-telangana-andhra-pradesh-water-dispute/article66880971.ece |title=Explained : The Telangana- Andhra Pradesh water dispute |date=23 May 2023 |access-date=29 May 2023 |website=[[The Hindu]] |archive-date=29 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230529045556/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/explained-the-telangana-andhra-pradesh-water-dispute/article66880971.ece |url-access=subscription|url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Power ===
{{Main|Power sector of Andhra Pradesh}}

[[File:Rayalaseema Thermal Power Station.jpg|thumb|right|[[Rayalaseema Thermal Power Station]]]]

[[Thermal power station|Thermal]], [[Hydroelectricity|hydel]] and [[Renewable energy|renewable]] power plants supply power to the state. The installed capacity share of the state in the public sector generating stations was 7,245 MW. The private sector installed capacity was 9,370 MW, which includes an independent power producer capacity of 1,961 MW. The total installed capacity was 16,615 MW. Peak power demand for the state in 2021–22 was 12,032 MW and per capita consumption was 1,285 kilowatt hours. The energy consumed was 68,972 million units.<ref name="appower">{{Cite book |title=Power development in Andhra Pradesh (Statistics) 2021–22 |year=2022 |url=https://aptransco.co.in/pds-fy2021-22-final.pdf |access-date=29 April 2024 |pages=1–2 }}{{cbignore}}</ref> Energy consumption increased from 54,555 MU in 2018–19 to 69,113 MU in 2023–24, at a growth rate of 4.8% which is among the lowest in the country. The per capita electricity consumption of AP. Increased by only 123 kWh in the same period when there was an increase of 146 kWh at the national level. The reasons were because of steep tariff increases and re-imposing power cuts as there was a delay in commissioning of the Polavaram hydro-electric power project (960 MW), Sri Damodaram Sanjeevaiah thermal power station (Krishnapatnam) stage-II unit-3 (800 MW) and Dr. Narla Tata Rao thermal power station stage-V unit-8 (800 MW) stations.<ref>{{Cite news |title=White Paper on A.P. power sector reveals ₹1.29 lakh crore burden on govt. |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/white-paper-on-ap-power-sector-reveals-129-lakh-crore-burden-on-govt/article68385541.ece |last=M. |first=Sambasiva Rao |date=9 July 2024 |access-date=18 July 2024 |work=[[The Hindu]]|url-access=subscription|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240711015712/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/white-paper-on-ap-power-sector-reveals-129-lakh-crore-burden-on-govt/article68385541.ece|archive-date=11 July 2024}}</ref>

=== Healthcare ===
The health infrastructure consists of 13 district hospitals, 28 sub-district hospitals, and {{formatnum:6049}} urban and rural health centres as of 2019–20. Doorstep healthcare support services are provided through {{formatnum:42060}} Accredited social health activist(ASHA) workers as of July 2019.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Health dossier 2021 : Reflections on key health indicators – Andhra Pradesh |date=2021 |publisher=National health systems resource centre |location=New Delhi |pages=6–13 |url=https://nhsrcindia.org/sites/default/files/practice_image/HealthDossier2021/Andhra%20Pradesh.pdf}}</ref> The 108 service provides fast emergency management services by shifting patients to a nearby healthcare facility. The 104 service provides health care services at the doorstep of villages through mobile medical units that visit at least once a month.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehansindia.com/hans/opinion/news-analysis/108-104-totally-dissimilar-services-751732 |title=108 & 104 totally dissimilar services |date=4 July 2022 |access-date=2 June 2023 |work=[[The Hans India]] |last=Vanam |first=Jwala Narasimha Rao |archive-date=2 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230602063749/https://www.thehansindia.com/hans/opinion/news-analysis/108-104-totally-dissimilar-services-751732 |url-status=live }}</ref> All the poor families are covered by the free state health insurance scheme up to a limit of {{INRConvert|2500000}}. The scheme serves 42.5 million people.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sridhar |first=G. Naga |date=18 December 2023 |title=AP increases YSR Aarogyasri free treatment limit to ₹25 lakh |url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/national/ap-increases-ysr-aarogyasri-free-treatment-limit-to-25-lakh/article67649885.ece |work=Business Line|location=Chennai |access-date=30 April 2024|url-access=subscription|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231219012519/https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/national/ap-increases-ysr-aarogyasri-free-treatment-limit-to-25-lakh/article67649885.ece|archive-date=19 December 2023}}</ref> The services are provided in government and private hospitals under the network. During 2014–2018, though the nominal mean claim amount of beneficiaries went up significantly, it decreased after accounting for inflation. Mortality rates have significantly decreased, which indicates better outcomes are being achieved at a lower cost.<ref>{{Cite journal |title=Utilization trends of a government-sponsored health insurance program in South India: 2014 to 2018 |journal=Value in Health Regional Issues |year=2022 |volume=27 |pages=82–89 |doi=10.1016/j.vhri.2021.02.007 |pmid=34844063 |last1=Singh |first1=P. |last2=Powell |first2=A. C. |s2cid=244706313 |doi-access=free }}</ref> Out of 2,700 private hospitals registered under the state health insurance scheme, 540 (20%) are speciality hospitals. The number of patients treated under the state health insurance scheme increased from 1.2 million in 2022–23 to 1.39 million in 2023–24. whereas the budget remained constant at ₹3,350 crore.<ref>{{Cite news |title=No free treatment for Arogyasari patients in Andhra |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/no-free-treatment-for-arogyasari-patients-in-andhra-101716321391891.html |last=Apparasu |first=Srinivasa Rao |date=22 May 2024 |work=[[Hindustan Times]] |access-date=18 July 2024 |archive-date=9 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240809114023/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/no-free-treatment-for-arogyasari-patients-in-andhra-101716321391891.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The National family health survey-5 conducted in 2019–21 data provided an insight into the economic and health status of households. Housing, electricity, clean fuel, access to toilets, mobile phone usage, and bank account access were available for more than 85% of households. Piped water facilities were available for only 22% of households. The state health insurance scheme, the employee health scheme, the ''Rashtriya swasthya bima yojana'', the Employees' state insurance scheme, and the Central government health scheme covered 70% of households with at least one member covered.<ref>{{Cite book |title=National family health survey (NFHS-5), India, 2019–21: Andhra Pradesh |last=International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS) and ICF |publisher=IIPS |year=2021 |location=Mumbai|url=http://rchiips.org/nfhs/NFHS-5Reports/Andhra_Pradesh.pdf |access-date=2 June 2023 |archive-date=2 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230602012114/http://rchiips.org/nfhs/NFHS-5Reports/Andhra_Pradesh.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

=== Banking ===
{{As of |2023|03|31|post=,}} there are 33 private sector banks, 12 public sector banks, three rural banks, three small finance banks, three payment banks, one cooperative bank, and one state financial corporation operating in the state. The total number of branches is 7,881.<ref>{{Cite book |title=SLBC meeting 223 Data Sheets |year=2023 |url=https://www.slbcap.nic.in/pages/SLBC%20Meetings/Data%20Sheets_223.pdf}}</ref> {{As of |2022|09|post=,}} Banks have deposits amounting to {{INRConvert|435183.49|c}} and extended credit amounting to {{INRConvert|628134.9|c}}, with credit deposit ratio of 144% against Reserve Bank of India norm of 60%. Primary sector advances amounted to 60.13% of total bank credit.{{Sfn|DOP|2023|p=189}} Till March 2011, the microfinance industry flourished in united Andhra Pradesh with a share of 65% of pan India gross loans. Due to state regulation enacted in 2010, the loan portfolio shrank to 0.8% in Andhra Pradesh as of 31 March 2023. With the court deciding against state regulation, the industry is likely to pick up again.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Will the Telangana HC ruling change fortunes for Andhra microfinance sector? |url=https://bfsi.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/financial-services/will-the-telangana-hc-ruling-change-fortunes-for-andhra-microfinance-sector/104838751 |date=31 October 2023 |access-date=18 July 2024 |work=The Economic Times |archive-date=18 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240718145531/https://bfsi.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/financial-services/will-the-telangana-hc-ruling-change-fortunes-for-andhra-microfinance-sector/104838751 |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Education==
{{Main|Education in Andhra Pradesh|List of institutions of higher education in Andhra Pradesh}}

[[File:Andhra University Visakhapatnam.jpg|thumb|[[Andhra University|Andhra University, Visakhapatnam]]]]
Primary and secondary school education is imparted by government and private schools, regulated by the school education department of the state.<ref>{{Cite web |title=School education department |url=http://rmsaap.nic.in/Notification_TSG_2015.pdf |website=Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan |publisher=School Education Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh |access-date=6 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160319051231/http://rmsaap.nic.in/Notification_TSG_2015.pdf |archive-date=19 March 2016 |location=Hyderabad |date=26 March 2015}}</ref> The government decided to stop financial aid to aided schools with history dating to 1870s, forcing them to handover the schools with the aided staff to government or become private in 2021.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Nandam |first=Naresh |date=28 September 2021 |title=Ongole : Future of poor students hangs in balance as govt absorbs aided staff |url=https://www.thehansindia.com/andhra-pradesh/ongole-future-of-poor-students-hangs-in-balance-as-govt-absorbs-aided-staff-708426 |work=[[The Hans India]] |access-date=22 March 2024 |archive-date=9 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240309091245/https://www.thehansindia.com/andhra-pradesh/ongole-future-of-poor-students-hangs-in-balance-as-govt-absorbs-aided-staff-708426 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Yallampalli |first1=Vaikuntham |title=Education and social change in South India: Andhra, 1880–1920 |date=1982 |publisher=New era publications |location=Madras |page=14 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=P_U5AAAAMAAJ&q=%22aided+schools%22 |access-date=26 August 2024}}</ref> As per Unified district information system for education plus (UDISE+) report of 2021–22, there were a total of {{formatnum:8244647}} students enrolled in {{formatnum:61948}} schools.<ref>{{Cite web |title=UDISE plus dashboard |url=https://src.udiseplus.gov.in/School/DataDashboard |website=Department of School education and literacy |access-date=9 August 2024}}{{Cbignore}}</ref> Performance of rural students on reading, arithmetic skills in grades 1–8 declined during 2018–2022 partly attributed to Covid outbreak. As an example, for the reading assessment in Class VIII students, it nosedived 67% in 2022 from over 78% in 2018. However, the student enrolment at government schools improved from 63.2% to 71%.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rao |first1=Umamaheswar |title=63% class V pupils can't read class II text in AP: ASER 2022 |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/visakhapatnam/63-class-v-pupils-cant-read-class-ii-text-in-ap-aser-2022/articleshow/102121592.cms |access-date=26 August 2024 |work=[[The Times of India]] |date=26 July 2023}}</ref> In the March 2024 secondary school certificate (SSC) exam {{Nowrap|616,615}} students appeared in the regular stream. Parvathipuram-Manyam district achieved the highest pass percentage of 96.37 among districts. The overall pass percentage was 86.69%, an increase of 14.43% over the previous year, with 100% in 2,803 schools.<ref name="ssc2024" >{{Cite news |title=86.69% students pass SSC examinations in Andhra Pradesh, 2,803 schools record 100% results |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/8669-of-students-pass-ssc-examinations-in-andhra-pradesh-2803-schools-record-100-results/article68094695.ece |last=Rajulapudi |first=Sreenivas |date=22 April 2024 |access-date=3 May 2024 |work=[[The Hindu]] |url-access=subscription |archive-date=9 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240809114016/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/8669-of-students-pass-ssc-examinations-in-andhra-pradesh-2803-schools-record-100-results/article68094695.ece |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="ssc2023">{{Cite news |title=Girls outperform boys by over 6% in SSC exams in Andhra Pradesh|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/girls-outperform-boys-by-over-6-in-ssc-exams-in-andhra-pradesh/article66819882.ece |access-date=17 June 2023 |date=6 May 2023 |archive-date=19 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230519233319/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/girls-outperform-boys-by-over-6-in-ssc-exams-in-andhra-pradesh/article66819882.ece |url-access=subscription|url-status=live }}</ref> 
In intermediate (higher secondary) examinations held in March 2024, 393,757 students appeared. The pass percentage was 78%, which is an increase of 7% over the previous year.<ref name="inter2024">{{Cite news |title=Girls outperform boys in Intermediate Public Examination in Andhra Pradesh |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/girls-outperform-boys-in-intermediate-public-examination-in-andhra-pradesh/article68057354.ece |last=P. |first=Sujatha Verma |date=12 April 2024 |access-date=3 May 2024 |work=[[The Hindu]] |url-access=subscription |archive-date=3 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240503061122/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/girls-outperform-boys-in-intermediate-public-examination-in-andhra-pradesh/article68057354.ece |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="inter2023">{{Cite news |title=Girls dominate boys in AP Intermediate 1 & 2 results |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/education/260423/girls-dominate-boys-in-ap-intermediate-1-2-results.html |date=27 April 2023 |access-date=17 June 2023 |work=Deccan Chronicle |archive-date=9 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230509233151/https://www.deccanchronicle.com/education/260423/girls-dominate-boys-in-ap-intermediate-1-2-results.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

The state initiated education reforms in 2020 by creating six types of schools: satellite foundation schools (pre-primary), foundational schools (pre-primary – class II), foundational school plus (pre-primary – class V), pre-high school (class III – class VII/VIII), high school (class III – class X), and high school plus (class III – class XII).{{Sfn|DOP|2023|p=12}} The transition to English-medium education in all government schools was started in the academic year 2020–2021. It is expected to reach completion by 2024–25. Affiliation of 1,000 government schools to the [[Central Board of Secondary Education]] in 2022–23 was done as an initial step.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=P. |first1=Sujatha Varma |title=New pattern of exam awaits students of CBSE-affiliated government schools in A.P. |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/new-pattern-of-exam-awaits-students-of-cbse-affiliated-government-schools-in-ap/article67379529.ece |access-date=19 August 2024 |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=4 October 2023}}</ref> The state government went ahead with the English medium based on the parents survey despite protests and court cases.<ref name="english-medium-roots">{{Cite news |url=https://thefederal.com/states/south/andhra-pradesh/english-medium-schools-andhra-pradesh/ |title=Andhra schools' transition from Telugu to English medium has roots in the far past |date=19 May 2022 |access-date=25 April 2023 |website=The federal |archive-date=25 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230425120649/https://thefederal.com/states/south/andhra-pradesh/english-medium-schools-andhra-pradesh/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The state initiative is being funded in part by a loan from the World Bank to the tune of $250 million over 2021–2026 through the "Supporting Andhra's learning transformation" project to improve the learning outcomes of children up to class II level.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Program appriasal document -SALT |publisher=World Bank |url=https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/149391624240914510/pdf/India-Supporting-Andhras-Learning-Transformation-Operation-Program-for-Results-Project.pdf |date=20 May 2021 |access-date=25 April 2023 |archive-date=25 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230425120651/https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/149391624240914510/pdf/India-Supporting-Andhras-Learning-Transformation-Operation-Program-for-Results-Project.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

{{As of|2023|post=,}} there are 169 government-aided degree colleges and 55 private-aided degree colleges in the state. National assessment and accreditation council grades were awarded to 66 government colleges and 48 private-aided colleges. There are 85 government-aided and 175 private polytechnic colleges with a sanctioned strength of 75,906 students.{{Sfn|DOP|2023|p=13-14}} In the category of technical education, there are 685 institutions offering diploma, undergraduate, and postgraduate Visakhapatnamthe courses, with an intake of 299,608.<ref>{{cite book |title=Annual report 2021-22 |date=2022 |publisher=AICTE |location=New Delhi |page=121 |url=https://www.aicte-india.org/sites/default/files/AR/AICTE_Annual%20Report_2022_English.pdf |access-date=26 August 2024}}</ref> The AP state council of higher education organises various entrance tests for different streams and conducts counselling for admissions.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Andhra Pradesh state council of higher education releases schedule of common entrance tests |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/andhra-pradesh-state-council-of-higher-education-releases-schedule-of-common-entrance-tests/article68128933.ece |access-date=22 August 2024 |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=1 May 2024}}</ref> The AP state skill development corporation is set up to support skill development and placement for the educated.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Laxmi |first1=Pranathi |title=APSSDC empowers 1.35 lakh youth through skill training |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/241223/apssdc-empowers-135-lakh-youth-through-skill-training.html |access-date=22 August 2024 |work=[[Deccan Chronicle]] |date=23 December 2023}}</ref> {{As of|2021|post=,}} there are a total of 36 universities: three central universities, 23 state public universities, six state private universities, and four deemed universities.{{Sfn|UGC|2021|p=100}} [[Andhra University]] is the oldest of the universities in the state, established in 1926.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Old-timers recollect glorious days of AU|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/au-old-timers-recollect-glorious-days/article18237557.ece|access-date=2 May 2017|work=[[The Hindu]]|archive-date=14 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210214134019/https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/au-old-timers-recollect-glorious-days/article18237557.ece|url-access=subscription|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Statistical profile of universities in Andhra Pradesh|url=http://www.apsche.org/apsche/PDF/STATISTICAL%20PROFILE%20OF%20THE%20UNIVERSITIES.pdf|website=Andhra Pradesh State Council of Higher Education|access-date=13 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222052107/http://www.apsche.org/apsche/PDF/STATISTICAL%20PROFILE%20OF%20THE%20UNIVERSITIES.pdf|archive-date=22 December 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> The government established [[Rajiv Gandhi University of Knowledge Technologies, Nuzvid|Rajiv Gandhi university of knowledge technologies]] in 2008 to cater to the education needs of the rural youth of the state.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rgukt.in/home-aboutrgukt.html |title=Rajiv Gandhi University of Knowledge Technologies |publisher=Rgukt.in |access-date=8 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111007142943/http://www.rgukt.in/home-aboutrgukt.html |archive-date=7 October 2011 }}</ref> NTR University of health sciences oversees medical education in 348 affiliated colleges spanning the entire range from traditional medicine to modern medicine.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://hmfw.ap.gov.in/nuhs-org.aspx |title=Dr. N.T.R University of Health Sciences (NUHS) |access-date=9 August 2024 |website=Department of health, medical and family welfare, Government of Andhra Pradesh |archive-date=27 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200227135857/http://hmfw.ap.gov.in/nuhs-org.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref> The public universities, including the legacy universities such as Andhra, Sri Venkateswara, and Nagarjuna, are suffering from a severe fund crunch and staff shortage, managing with only 20% of sanctioned full-time staff.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Visakhapatnam/state-run-varsities-slow-descent-into-oblivion/article66917267.ece |title=A.P. Spotlight {{!}} The slow descent of state-run varsities into oblivion in Andhra Pradesh |date=2 June 2023 |access-date=2 June 2023 |website=[[The Hindu]] |last=Bhattacharjee |first=Sumit |archive-date=2 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230602032058/https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Visakhapatnam/state-run-varsities-slow-descent-into-oblivion/article66917267.ece |url-access=subscription|url-status=live }}</ref> [[Koneru Lakshmaiah College of Engineering|KL University]] bagged the 50th rank, while Andhra university bagged the 76th rank in the overall category of India rankings for 2023 as per the national institute ranking framework of the union ministry of education in which 2,478 institutions, including 242 institutions from the state, participated.<ref>{{Cite news |title=NIRF Rankings: only two institutions from Andhra Pradesh figure in top 100 educational institutions |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/nirf-rankings-only-two-institutions-from-andhra-pradesh-figure-in-top-100-educational-institutions/article66934394.ece |date=5 June 2023 |access-date=17 June 2023 |work=[[The Hindu]] |archive-date=12 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230612055947/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/nirf-rankings-only-two-institutions-from-andhra-pradesh-figure-in-top-100-educational-institutions/article66934394.ece |url-access=subscription|url-status=live }}</ref> The gross enrolment ratio (GER) in higher education for the age group 18–23 for the state was at 35.2% for the year 2019–20, which comparing favourably with the GER for all of India at 27.1%. With a female GER of 35.3 and a male GER of 38.2, the [[Gender Parity Index]] was 0.84. The corresponding ratio for India was 1.01.{{Sfn|UGC|2021|p=93}}

There were 510 industrial training institutes (ITI) in 2020–21 in Andhra Pradesh, with 82 under government management and 417 under private management. The total available seats in 2021 were 93,280, out of which 48.90% were filled. In 2020, 10,053 students completed ITI.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Transforming industrial training institutes |publisher=Niti Ayog |year=2023 |pages=30|url=https://www.niti.gov.in/sites/default/files/2023-02/ITI_Report_02022023.pdf |access-date=17 June 2023 |archive-date=20 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230420214506/https://www.niti.gov.in/sites/default/files/2023-02/ITI_Report_02022023.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> The state has 2,510 public libraries, including four regional libraries and 13 district central libraries under government management.<ref>{{Cite journal |title=Public library system in Andhra Pradesh: An overview |journal=Library Philosophy and Practice |url=https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=11045&context=libphilprac |last=B |first=Deenadhayalu |date=5 June 2021 |publisher=University of Nebraska – Lincoln |access-date=19 June 2023 |archive-date=5 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230805082011/https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=11045&context=libphilprac |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Saraswata Niketanam]] at [[Vetapalem]] in [[Bapatla district]], one of the oldest libraries established under private management in 1918, is losing its attraction as the Internet spreads.<ref>{{Cite news |title=This 100-year-old library loses its patrons as Internet spreads reach |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/vijayawada/2018/dec/31/this-100-year-old-library-loses-its-patrons-as-internet-spreads-reach-1918656.html |date=31 December 2018 |access-date=19 June 2023 |work=[[The New Indian Express]] |archive-date=19 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230619055648/https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/vijayawada/2018/dec/31/this-100-year-old-library-loses-its-patrons-as-internet-spreads-reach-1918656.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The government is planning to develop digital libraries at the village panchayat level.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Digital libraries yet to materialise despite funding |url=https://www.thehansindia.com/andhra-pradesh/digital-libraries-yet-to-materialise-despite-funding-769781 |date=19 November 2022 |access-date=19 June 2023 |work=[[The Hans India]] |archive-date=19 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230619053620/https://www.thehansindia.com/andhra-pradesh/digital-libraries-yet-to-materialise-despite-funding-769781 |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Media ==

The total number of registered newspapers and periodicals in the state for the years 2020–21 was 5,798. There were 1,645 dailies, 817 weeklies, 2,431 monthlies, and 623 fortnightlies. Telugu dailies number 787 with a circulation of 9,911,005, while English dailies account for 103 with a circulation of 1,646,453.<ref name="pin202021-ch9">{{Cite book |title=Press in India 2020–21 Chapter 9: Press in states and union territories |publisher=RNI |year=2021 |url=https://rni.nic.in/pdf_file/pin2020_21/pin2020_21_eng/Chapter%209.pdf |access-date=27 May 2023 |archive-date=28 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230528012037/https://rni.nic.in/pdf_file/pin2020_21/pin2020_21_eng/Chapter%209.pdf |url-status=live |page=524 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |title=Telugu newspapers and periodicals in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana states: A study |journal=International Journal of Library and Information Studies |url=https://www.ijlis.org/articles/telugu-newspapers-and-periodicals-in-andhra-pradesh-and-telangana-states-a-study.pdf |last1=Dudekula |first1=Dastagiri |last2=KVN |first2=Rajeswara Rao |last3=Kopparthi |first3=Adisesu |issue=4 |volume=8 |year=2018 |issn=2231-4911 |access-date=19 June 2023 |archive-date=19 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230619041411/https://www.ijlis.org/articles/telugu-newspapers-and-periodicals-in-andhra-pradesh-and-telangana-states-a-study.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[Eenadu]]'', ''[[Sakshi (newspaper)|Sakshi]]'', and ''[[Andhra Jyothi]]'' are the top three Telugu daily newspapers in terms of circulation in India and are also the top three Telugu news sites.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Highest circulated dailies, weeklies & magazines amongst member publications (across languages) |url=http://www.auditbureau.org/files/JJ%202022%20Highest%20Circulated%20%28across%20languages%29.pdf?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=te&_x_tr_hl=te&_x_tr_pto=tc&_x_tr_sch=http |access-date=8 March 2023 |website=Auditbureau |archive-date=8 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230408045534/http://www.auditbureau.org/files/JJ%202022%20Highest%20Circulated%20(across%20languages).pdf?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=te&_x_tr_hl=te&_x_tr_pto=tc&_x_tr_sch=http |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |title=Webometric analysis of Telugu news paper websites: An evaluative study using Alexa Internet |journal=International Journal of Digital Library Services |last1=KT |first1=Naheem |last2=M |first2=Saraswati Rao |issue=2 |volume=7 |year=2017 |issn=2250-1142}}</ref> BBC Telugu news was launched on 2 October 2017.<ref>{{Cite news |title=BBC to launch Telugu news website |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Visakhapatnam/BBC-to-launch-Telugu-news-website/article16863732.ece |date=10 December 2016 |access-date=19 June 2023 |work=[[The Hindu]] |archive-date=19 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230619043902/https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Visakhapatnam/BBC-to-launch-Telugu-news-website/article16863732.ece |url-access=subscription|url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/telugu/india-45719172 |title=BBC News తెలుగు: ఒక ఏడాది.. కొన్ని అనుభవాలు |date=2 October 2018 |access-date=19 June 2023 |publisher=BBC |language=te |archive-date=19 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230619043902/https://www.bbc.com/telugu/india-45719172 |url-status=live }}</ref> Several privately owned news media outlets are considered biased towards specific political parties in the state.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/tussle-between-media-houses-turns-into-political-battle-in-andhra-pradesh-ahead-of-assembly-elections-jagan-govt-orders-probe-into-margadarsi-chit-fund-irregularities-targeting-eenadu-media-baron-ramoji-rao-101682535932951.html |title=Andhra Pradesh: Tussle between media houses takes political colour |date=27 April 2023 |access-date=27 May 2023 |work=Hindustan Times |archive-date=27 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230527113836/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/tussle-between-media-houses-turns-into-political-battle-in-andhra-pradesh-ahead-of-assembly-elections-jagan-govt-orders-probe-into-margadarsi-chit-fund-irregularities-targeting-eenadu-media-baron-ramoji-rao-101682535932951.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/warning-to-media-by-andhra-pradesh-government-is-it-a-caste-rivalry/cid/1713295 |title=Warning to media by Andhra Pradesh government: Is it a caste rivalry? |date=21 October 2019 |access-date=27 May 2023 |website=The Telegraph |archive-date=27 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230527113836/https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/warning-to-media-by-andhra-pradesh-government-is-it-a-caste-rivalry/cid/1713295 |url-status=live }}</ref>

There were 23 news channels, 10 general entertainment channels, two health channels, six religious channels, two other channels, and two cable distribution channels, for a total of 45 channels empanelled by the Andhra Pradesh information and public relations department.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://ipr.ap.nic.in/tv-rates.html |title=I & PR approved rates towards telecast of TV spots and Scrolls|access-date=27 May 2023 |website=IPR, AP Government |archive-date=26 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326000645/https://ipr.ap.nic.in/tv-rates.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> {{As of |2019|post=,}} [[All India Radio|Akashvani]] previously known as All India Radio, operates 3 MW, 17 FM transmitters from 14 locations in the state. It reaches 99% of the area and 99.5% of the population. Akashvani's FM coverage alone reaches 36% of the area and 45% of the population.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://akashvani.gov.in/air/custom-includes/stations.pdf |title=Existing AIR stations |date=1 April 2019 |access-date=4 May 2024 |website=[[All India Radio]] |archive-date=22 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240222105423/https://akashvani.gov.in/air/custom-includes/stations.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> Five private operators run 13 FM stations, with [[Red FM 93.5|Red FM]] operating from five locations.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://mib.gov.in/sites/default/files/388%20operational%20channels.pdf |title=Details of operational private FM radio stations as on 15.08.2022 |date=15 August 2022 |access-date=4 May 2024 |website=Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India |archive-date=16 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240616065842/https://mib.gov.in/sites/default/files/388%20operational%20channels.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Sports ==
{{Main|Sports in Andhra Pradesh}}

[[File:ACA-VDCA stadium at Madhurawada 02.jpg|thumb|[[ACA–VDCA Cricket Stadium]] in Visakhapatnam]]
[[Traditional games of Andhra Pradesh|Traditional games]] played during childhood include ''Dagudu Mootalu'' (Hide and seek), ''[[Tokkudu Billa]]'', ''[[Seven stones|Yedu Penkulata]]'', [[Pallanguzhi|''Vamanaguntalu'']], ''Chadarangam'' ([[Chess]]), ''[[Puli Joodam]]'', [[Ashta Chamma – Board Game|''Ashta Chamma'']], ''Vaikuntapali'' ([[Snakes and ladders]]), [[Nalugu Stambhalata (game)|''Nalugu Stambalata'']], and [[Nalugu Rallu Aata – Game of 4 stones|''Nalugu ralla aata'']].<ref>{{Cite web |last=India |first=The Hans |date=2 July 2018 |title=Meet on traditional games concludes |url=https://www.thehansindia.com/posts/index/Andhra-Pradesh/2018-07-01/Meet-on-traditional-games-concludes/394219 |access-date=7 August 2023 |work=[[The Hans India]]|archive-date=9 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240809111049/https://www.thehansindia.com/news/national/null |url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[Karra Samu|Karra samu]]'' (stick fight) is a traditional martial art form of the state. It is a form of self-defence to prevent thefts and robbery in villages. It is a discipline in the national sports, though it is not recognised for the sports quota category of reservations in Andhra Pradesh.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Reviving tradition: Karrasamu returns to Andhra Pradesh's martial arts scene |url=https://www.thehindu.com/sport/reviving-tradition-karrasamu-returns-to-andhra-pradeshs-martial-arts-scene/article68104887.ece |last=Ganguly |first=Nivedita |date=26 April 2024 |access-date=17 July 2024 |work=[[The Hindu]]|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh is the governing body that looks after the infrastructure development, coaching, and administration of sports promotion schemes.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Boda |first1=Tharun |title=Aim is to make defunct sports arenas available for the public |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/aim-is-to-make-defunct-sports-arenas-available-for-the-public/article66171450.ece |access-date=21 August 2024 |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=25 November 2022}}</ref> Sports authority of India (SAI) operates three SAI Training centres in Andhra Pradesh {{as of| 2022|lc=y}}.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Annual report and audited accounts – SAI |date=2022 |publisher=Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India |page=93 |url=https://sportsauthorityofindia.nic.in/sai/public/assets/pdfs/annualreports/2021-22/SAI_AR_English_2021-22.pdf |access-date=21 August 2024}}</ref> Dr. YSR Sports School, Putlampalli, Kadapa district was selected for upgradation as ''Khelo'' India centre of excellence in 2021.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Khelo India may upgrade the facilities in Kadapa's YSR Sports School |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/sports/in-other-news/280621/khelo-india-may-upgrade-the-facilities-in-kadapas-ysr-sports-school.html |access-date=21 August 2024 |work=[[Deccan Chronicle]] |date=28 June 2021}}</ref> [[Dr. Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA–VDCA Cricket Stadium|Andhra Cricket Visakhapatnam District Association cricket Association (ACA-VDCA) stadium]] in Visakhapatnam is known for hosting international cricket matches.<ref>{{cite news |title=ACA-VDCA Stadium bolsters its reputation as a batters' paradise |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Visakhapatnam/aca-vdca-stadium-bolsters-its-reputation-as-a-batters-paradise/article68025850.ece |access-date=25 August 2024 |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=4 April 2024}}</ref>

[[Pullela Gopichand]] is a former Indian [[badminton]] player. He won the [[All England Open Badminton Championships]] in 2001, becoming the second Indian to win after [[Prakash Padukone]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=75 years of independence, 75 iconic moments from Indian sports: No 29 – March 11, 2001: Pullela Gopichand wins All-England Championships |url=https://sportstar.thehindu.com/badminton/75-years-independence-iconic-moments-indian-sports-pullela-gopichand-wins-all-england-championships-march-11-2001/article38506915.ece |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=19 August 2024 |date=29 June 2022}}</ref> [[P. V. Sindhu]] is one of India's most successful athletes, having won medals in major tournaments like the [[Olympic Games|Olympics]] and the [[BWF World Tour|BWF circuit]], including a gold at the [[2019 BWF World Championships|2019 World Championships]]. She is the first Indian to become a badminton world champion and only the second to win two consecutive Olympic medals.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1 August 2021 |title=PV Sindhu joins select group of repeat medalists with Tokyo 2020 bronze |url=https://olympics.com/en/featured-news/pv-sindhu-joins-select-group-of-repeat-medalists-with-tokyo-2020-bronze |access-date=1 August 2021 |publisher=International Olympic Committee |archive-date=1 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210801170847/https://olympics.com/en/featured-news/pv-sindhu-joins-select-group-of-repeat-medalists-with-tokyo-2020-bronze |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Karnam Malleswari]] is the first female Indian to win an [[Olympic medal]]. She won bronze medal in 69&nbsp;kg weightlifting event at 2000 Olympics games.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Ganguly|first=Meenakshi|date=27 December 2000 |url=http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0%2C8599%2C2054437%2C00.html |access-date=5 January 2013|title= Conversations: 'I did what I could for my country'|magazine= Time|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130105183659/http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0%2C8599%2C2054437%2C00.html |archive-date=5 January 2013 }}</ref> Srikanth Kidambi, a badminton player, is the first Indian to reach the world championships final in 2021 in the men's singles and win a silver medal.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Srikanth Kidambi |url=https://olympics.com/en/athletes/srikanth-kidambi |publisher=International Olympic Committee |access-date=28 October 2022 |archive-date=28 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221028095843/https://olympics.com/en/athletes/srikanth-kidambi |url-status=live }}</ref> The state secured 16 medals at the 36th national games held in 2022. It was ranked 21st in the competition.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/national-games-ap-settles-with-16-medals-21st-rank/article66002671.ece |title=National games: AP settles with 16 medals, 21st rank |date=12 October 2022 |access-date=28 May 2023 |website=[[The Hindu]] |archive-date=28 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230528061533/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/national-games-ap-settles-with-16-medals-21st-rank/article66002671.ece |url-access=subscription|url-status=live}}</ref> The state sportpersons won 11 medals in Tennis, Archery, Badminton, Athletics, Chess and Cricket disciplines in the 19th Asian games held in China in 2022.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Asian Games medallists from Andhra Pradesh call on Chief Minister Jagan |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/asian-games-medalists-from-andhra-pradesh-call-on-chief-minister-jagan/article67442583.ece |last=GVR |first=Subba Rao |date=20 October 2023 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=16 July 2024 |archive-date=16 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240716102442/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/asian-games-medalists-from-andhra-pradesh-call-on-chief-minister-jagan/article67442583.ece |url-status=live }}</ref> The state was ranked at 13th spot in the sixth edition of Khelo India youth games-2023, by winning 27 medals.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Sportspersons from Andhra Pradesh win 27 medals, including 7 gold, in Khelo India Youth Games |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/sportspersons-from-andhra-pradesh-win-27-medals-including-7-gold-in-khelo-india-youth-games/article67797042.ece |date=31 January 2024 |access-date=16 July 2024 |work=[[The Hindu]] |archive-date=16 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240716102441/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/sportspersons-from-andhra-pradesh-win-27-medals-including-7-gold-in-khelo-india-youth-games/article67797042.ece |url-status=live }}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Outline of Andhra Pradesh]]
* [[Disputes between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana]]

{{Clear}}

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

===Bibliography===
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{{Refend}}

== External links ==
{{Sister project links}}

===Government===
* {{Official website}}

===General information===
* {{OSM relation|2022095}}

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