Gazette makes it official: Amaravati gets legal status as Andhra Pradesh’s sole capital

The Amaravati Stupa, a prominent landmark in the region now confirmed as Andhra Pradesh’s capital. (Photo: incredibleindia.gov.in)


Amaravati has been formally confirmed as the sole capital of Andhra Pradesh after the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Act, 2026, was notified in the Gazette following the President’s assent.

The development brings legal clarity to a long-pending issue over the state’s capital, nearly a decade after Andhra Pradesh was reorganised following the creation of Telangana.

Sharing the Gazette notification, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said on X, “The capital of Andhra Pradesh is Amaravati.”

He expressed gratitude to Droupadi Murmu for granting assent to the legislation and thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Members of Parliament, and the people of the state. Naidu called it a major moment, particularly for farmers in the Amaravati region.

The amendment inserts a clear provision into the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, stating that “Amaravati shall be the new capital.”

Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan said that “April 6th will be etched in history as the day Amaravati was officially recognized as the capital of Andhra Pradesh”.

What changes with the amendment to the 2014 law

After Telangana was carved out in 2014, Hyderabad was designated as the common capital of both states for up to ten years. The law also required Andhra Pradesh to identify a new capital thereafter.

The amendment settles the long-standing confusion by clearly stating that Amaravati will be the capital.

 

The Gazette of India publishes the amendment stating Amaravati shall be the capital of Andhra Pradesh.

The push had already begun at the state level, with the Andhra Pradesh Assembly passing a resolution on March 28 backing Amaravati as the single capital. The proposal then went to Parliament, where it got the Lok Sabha’s nod on April 1, followed by approval in the Rajya Sabha the next day.

However, the move saw opposition from the YSR Congress Party, whose MPs staged a walkout. Party MP Golla Babu Rao termed the legislation “a drama” and questioned its justification, saying any decision on the capital should ensure fairness to all regions.

With the Gazette notification now issued, Amaravati’s status as the capital stands formalised in law.