Parliament to Legislate on Amaravati as Andhra Pradesh's Sole Capital

The Union government is introducing the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2026, to formally designate Amaravati as the sole capital. This move is a direct response to the previous state government's controversial 'three-capital' proposal, which created significant uncertainty and legal challenges. The current legislative action aims to resolve this ambiguity and facilitate the revival of Amaravati's development, which was the original plan before the change in government in 2019.

• •The Union government is introducing the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2026.
• •The bill aims to formally establish Amaravati as the sole capital of Andhra Pradesh.
• •This legislative action is a response to the previous 'three-capital' proposal.
• •The goal is to resolve uncertainty and revive Amaravati's development.

The Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, enacted after the state's bifurcation, designated Hyderabad as the temporary joint capital for both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana for up to 10 years. This proposed amendment bill seeks to formally designate Amaravati as the *sole* capital of Andhra Pradesh, thereby superseding any previous arrangements or proposals that suggested multiple capitals or a different capital structure.

• •The 2014 Act designated Hyderabad as a temporary joint capital for up to 10 years.
• •The proposed amendment aims to establish Amaravati as the *sole* capital.
• •This new legislation clarifies the capital status, resolving ambiguity from the 'three-capital' proposal.

UPSC might test the date on which the Andhra Pradesh Assembly passed the resolution that paved the way for this central legislation. The key fact is that the Andhra Pradesh Assembly passed a resolution on March 28, 2026, supporting Amaravati as the sole capital, which then prompted the Union government to introduce the amendment bill in Parliament.

• •The Andhra Pradesh Assembly passed a resolution on March 28, 2026.
• •This resolution supported Amaravati as the sole capital.
• •This state-level resolution was a precursor to the Union government's legislative action.

While the provided data doesn't detail the Supreme Court's final verdict, it mentions that the Andhra Pradesh High Court had directed the state to develop Amaravati and that the state government appealed this order. The Supreme Court's eventual decision would have significantly influenced the legal and constitutional validity of any capital structure. This new bill by the Union government aims to provide a definitive legislative solution, potentially bypassing or settling the issues that were being debated in the courts.

• •The Andhra Pradesh High Court had previously ordered the development of Amaravati.
• •The state government appealed this order to the Supreme Court.
• •The Union government's bill seeks to provide a legislative resolution to the capital issue.
• •This parliamentary action might preempt or settle ongoing judicial proceedings.

This development is significant for India as it pertains to federalism and governance structures within a state. It highlights the complexities of state reorganization and capital formation, a process that has historical precedents and potential future implications. The resolution of such internal state matters through parliamentary legislation demonstrates the Union government's role in ensuring stability and facilitating development, particularly in newly formed or reorganized states. It also touches upon the balance of power between the state legislature, the judiciary, and the central government.

• •It showcases the complexities of federalism and state governance in India.
• •It demonstrates the Union government's role in resolving inter-state and intra-state disputes.
• •The case involves the interplay between state legislature, judiciary, and Parliament.
• •It sets a precedent for how capital city disputes in other states might be handled.

A potential trap in a Prelims MCQ could be the duration for which Hyderabad was designated as the common capital under the 2014 Act. The Act specified 'up to 10 years'. An MCQ might offer options like 'exactly 10 years', 'for 5 years', or 'indefinitely', making 'up to 10 years' the correct, but easily confused, answer.

• •The Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, designated Hyderabad as a joint capital.
• •This designation was for a period 'up to 10 years'.
• •The exact duration was not fixed but had a maximum limit.