The Andhra Pradesh government has launched an elaborate programme titled 'Yogaandhra-2026' to mark International Yoga Day on June 21, setting a target of engaging one crore citizens across the state in yoga activities, from village level to the state capital.

The flagship event will be held in Amaravati, where 25,000 participants are expected to gather for a state-level yoga session. In the fortnight leading up to the day, awareness drives, walkathons, social media campaigns, and demonstration events will be conducted under the Yogaandhra banner from June 7 to June 20.

District-wise thematic approach

In what officials describe as a distinctive feature of this year's observance, each of the state's 28 districts has been assigned a specific community or occupational group as its theme. NTR district will conduct sessions with police personnel, while East Godavari will involve prison inmates. Visakhapatnam's programme is themed around serving and retired defence personnel, and Alluri Sitarama Raju district will focus on tribal communities.

Other notable pairings include Kurnool with sanitation workers, Tirupati with celebrities, Anantapur with persons with disabilities, and YSR Kadapa with multi-generational family participation. Guntur district's sessions will centre on engineering students, while Prakasam will engage DWACRA women's groups. Each district headquarters is required to ensure a minimum of 1,000 participants.

Infrastructure and digital outreach

Competitions in yoga will be held at village, mandal, district, and state levels, with participation open to students, athletes, women's self-help groups, health workers, and industrial labourers, among others. Venues including schools, parks, community halls, stadiums, and gram sachivalayams will be equipped with drinking water, seating, and temporary shelters.

Oversight of the programme at the district level has been entrusted to the respective Collectors. The Tourism Department has been directed to organise special yoga demonstrations at more than 100 tourist sites across the state.

To streamline participation, the government plans to develop a dedicated web portal and an AI-based registration and verification application. Digital certificates will be issued to all participants upon completion.

AMARAVATI, May 6: The Andhra Pradesh government on Wednesday dismissed 51 doctors serving under the Director of Medical Education (DME) for remaining absent from duty without authorisation, Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav announced, warning that the state would brook no further negligence in public medical institutions.

The dismissed doctors include eight Associate Professors, 41 Assistant Professors, and two Tutors — several of whom had been absent from their posts for periods ranging from one year to as long as six years. The action was taken under Rule 3 of the Andhra Pradesh Civil Services (Conduct) Rules (Violation) — 1964, which empowers the government to treat prolonged unauthorised absence as deemed resignation.

"Show-cause notices were issued and adequate time was given to respond. Despite that, there was no response from these individuals," Satya Kumar Yadav said. "Those who are negligent in discharging their duties or who remain absent without authorisation will face strict action. There is absolutely no question of tolerating irresponsibility."

Absent for years, some since 2020

Among the Associate Professors dismissed, one attached to Andhra Medical College had been absent since February 7, 2020 — a period of over five years. Among the Assistant Professors, one had not reported for duty since August 22, 2022. The dismissed doctors belong to government medical colleges spread across the state, including those at Kadapa, Anantapur, Ongole, Tirupati, Vijayawada, Kakinada, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, Rajamahendravaram, Eluru, Nellore, and Markapur.

Of the two Tutors dismissed, one had been absent for seven years — among the longest periods of unauthorised absence recorded in the exercise.

Charge memos bring eleven back to duty

The crackdown has already produced results in some cases. Eleven doctors who had been absent for under a year returned to duty after the DME issued charge memoranda. However, 33 others — comprising two Associate Professors and 31 Assistant Professors — have yet to report despite receiving notices, and face dismissal if they fail to join within the stipulated deadline.

In the Professor category, three individuals who had been absent for extended periods are expected to face similar punitive action shortly. Of five Professors served notices, two have since returned to duty.

Impact on patient care cited as primary concern

Officials noted that the prolonged absence of faculty from teaching hospitals had a direct and measurable impact on the quality of medical services available to patients. Many of the absentees had reportedly pursued private engagements while remaining on government rolls — a practice that had gone largely unchecked during the previous administration.

Following directions issued by the Minister, DME officials compiled detailed lists of absentees from across all government medical colleges before initiating formal proceedings under the applicable service rules.

The government has simultaneously indicated that vacancies arising from these dismissals will be filled promptly under its Zero Vacancy Policy, ensuring that the affected institutions are not left short-staffed in the interim.

With 33 more doctors yet to report and action pending against three Professors, further dismissals in the coming weeks appear likely.

AMARAVATI, May 5: BJP Andhra Pradesh State president P.V.N. Madhav on Monday welcomed the Central Government's decision to establish a new railway zone — the South Coast Railway — describing it as a historic administrative reform that would significantly benefit the State.

Notified through an official gazette under the Railways Act, 1989, the new zone is set to come into effect from June 1, 2026. The decision to locate its headquarters in Visakhapatnam, Mr. Madhav said, accorded special prominence to Andhra Pradesh and laid the groundwork for the port city to emerge as a major railway hub.

Restructured from existing zones

The South Coast Railway will be carved out of select divisions of the existing East Coast Railway and South Central Railway zones. The Guntakal, Guntur, and Vijayawada divisions, presently under South Central Railway, will be merged into the new zone. Simultaneously, the Waltair Division under East Coast Railway will be bifurcated — one portion rechristened as the Visakhapatnam Division and absorbed into the South Coast Railway, while the remaining portion will continue under East Coast Railway as the newly designated Rayagada Division.

Mr. Madhav noted that the Rayagada Division would cover routes including Koraput–Singapore Road, Kottavalasa–Kirandul, Kuneru–Theruvali, and Gunupur–Paralakhemundi. The Visakhapatnam Division, on the other hand, would extend from Ichhapuram to Duvvada, along with associated branch lines, substantially expanding rail connectivity in the region.

Operational clarity and coordination

The transfer of the Palasa–Ichhapuram section, currently under the Khurda Road Division, to the Visakhapatnam Division was also cited as a step that would improve operational coordination. The realignment of boundaries among the Guntakal, Guntur, Vijayawada, and Secunderabad divisions would, he added, bring greater administrative clarity to railway operations across the region.

Mr. Madhav expressed confidence that the reorganisation would enhance the efficiency, speed, and quality of rail services, and open up new avenues of development for Andhra Pradesh.

Conveying his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for the decision, Mr. Madhav said it represented a significant milestone in fulfilling the aspirations of the people of the State.

AMARAVATI, APRIL 24: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu will receive the prestigious Business Reformer of the Year 2025 award announced by leading media organization The Economic Times at Mumbai today. 
As per schedule the Chief Minister will land at Mumbai airport at 2:40 p.m on Saturday. Later, he will proceed to the venue, Jio World Convention Centre at 5:25 p.m and participate in the awards ceremony hosted by The Economic Times. The award presentation ceremony will take place between 5:30 PM and 7:30 PM tomorrow evening. The Economic Times will present the honour to the Chief Minister in the presence of Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and leading industrialists.
Chandrababu Naidu has been selected for the award in recognition of implementing transformative initiatives such as Speed of Doing Business and Speed of Delivering Governance in Andhra Pradesh.
Eminent personalities such as Arun Jaitley, Piyush Goyal, Nitish Kumar, Ashwini Vaishnaw and S. Jaishankar have received the Business Reformer of the Year award in the past.
The jury of The Economic Times appreciated Chandrababu Naidu’s role in creating an investment-friendly ecosystem in Andhra Pradesh, introducing revolutionary industrial policies and driving investor confidence.
Within a short period after the coalition government assumed office, Andhra Pradesh has reportedly attracted investment commitments exceeding Rs 20 lakh crore. The Chief Minister has also been recognised for simplifying industrial approvals and pursuing reforms aimed at making Andhra Pradesh a leader in technology, innovation, IT, electronics and green energy sectors.
Drawing from his earlier experience of transforming Hyderabad into an IT hub during his tenure as Chief Minister of united Andhra Pradesh, Chandrababu Naidu is now playing a key role in developing Amaravati and Visakhapatnam into major economic centres.
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AMARAVATI, April 20: The Andhra Pradesh government has formulated a comprehensive skill development programme as part of a broader population management policy aimed at addressing the economic barriers to childbearing, Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav announced on Monday.

The skill development component forms one of the five pillars of the State's new population stabilisation policy, which was designed to encourage couples to voluntarily opt for higher fertility by creating an enabling socio-economic environment.

Fertility rate concern

Expressing concern over the State's current total fertility rate (TFR) of 1.50 — well below the replacement level of 2.10 required for a stable population balance between the young and the elderly — Mr. Satya Kumar Yadav said the government had drawn up a holistic policy to reverse the trend. The overarching goal of the programme is to achieve a $2.40 trillion State economy, which would be facilitated by a stabilised population structure, he said.

Targets set for 2035

Under the skill development plan, the government has set the following targets to be achieved by 2035: extending digital literacy to 95 per cent of the population; providing need-identified skill training to 75 per cent of the workforce; ensuring employment for over 80 per cent of trained persons; offering certificate courses to one lakh persons in childcare and elder-care services; and increasing women's participation in the labour force by 25 per cent.

Industry-aligned training

The Minister stated that training programmes would be tailored to the requirements of industries investing in the State, with a specific focus on information technology, green energy, electronics, and quantum computing. He noted that 610 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and related agreements signed at Visakhapatnam, entailing investments exceeding ₹13 lakh crore, would guide the identification of skill requirements. Industrialists and investors would be given due representation in the design of training curricula, he added.

Three-tier framework

The skill programmes would operate across three levels, Mr. Satya Kumar Yadav explained. Foundational courses would be introduced from Class VI, with the aim of building capabilities from a young age. Existing workers of varying age groups would receive training to enhance their productivity. Centres of Excellence would also be established to cater to higher-end skill requirements.

Emphasising that learning was not confined to those under 25, the Minister said older persons would also receive training in various domains so that all age groups could contribute to social and economic development.

The Minister appealed to citizens to make the most of the opportunities that would be created under the programme.

Visakhapatnam, April 20: Andhra Pradesh BJP State president P.V.N. Madhav, accompanied by his family, visited the ancient hill shrine of Sri Sri Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy at Simhachalam on Monday to offer special prayers on the occasion of the temple's annual Chandanotsavam.

On his arrival at the temple, Madhav was accorded a formal welcome by the temple authorities, who made special arrangements for his darshan.

Performing the special prayers, Mr. Madhav sought the blessings of the presiding deity for the welfare, peace and prosperity of the people of Andhra Pradesh. He expressed the hope that the grace of Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy would always remain upon the people, and that every household in the State be blessed with happiness, good health and abundance.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Madhav described the Chandanotsavam as a festival that stands as a symbol of devotion and faith. He extended his greetings to the people of the State on the auspicious occasion of the Chandanotsavam of Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy.

A large number of BJP leaders, party workers and devotees were present on the occasion.

VIJAYAWADA, April 15: Bharatiya Janata Party Andhra Pradesh State president P.V.N. Madhav on Wednesday released posters for the upcoming Samarasata Marathon — branded as the 3K Run — to be held in Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam, along with posters for kabaddi and volleyball competitions scheduled in Tirupati, at the State party office here.

The events are being organised under the aegis of the BJP's Scheduled Caste Morcha, and Madhav took the occasion to commend the Morcha's leadership for their sustained efforts across the State. He described the programmes as praiseworthy initiatives aimed at fostering the values of social harmony and nationalism in society.

Rallying public participation for the 3K Run, which carries the slogan "Samarasata in our breath, nationalism in our stride," Madhav urged citizens to turn out in large numbers. He elaborated that the marathon was being conducted with the resolve of "one step towards harmony, every step towards unity."

The organisers said the primary objective of the Samarasata Run is to affirm that all Indians are one, transcending distinctions of caste and religion. The sports competitions, they added, were being held with the aim of identifying and nurturing talent among the youth, with the belief that sports build physical strength and mental resilience.

The event was attended by Kisan Morcha State president Kumar Swamy, Minority Morcha State president Syed Bhasha, SC Morcha district president Sarvasiddhi Raju, and other senior party leaders.

VISAKHAPATNAM, April 14: The Bharatiya Janata Party marked the birth anniversary of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar in the city on Monday with a formal commemoration at Daaba Gardens, where BJP State president P.V.N. Madhav garlanded a portrait of the Constitution's chief architect and offered floral tributes.

Speaking to the media on the occasion, Mr. Madhav described Ambedkar as a towering figure who breathed life into the ideal of social equality. "The path he showed remains a guiding light for the nation," he said, adding that Ambedkar's vision of social justice and equal rights would continue to serve as an enduring source of inspiration for generations to come.

The BJP State president called upon every citizen to imbibe Ambedkar's principles in their daily lives and work actively towards the building of an egalitarian society. He reiterated that the BJP remained firmly committed to realising the ideals that Ambedkar had espoused.

Senior party functionaries and workers were present at the event.

AMARAVATI, April 14: A landmark research initiative to uncover the causes of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the Uddanam region of Srikakulam district has gathered momentum, with a dedicated team now collecting blood and urine samples from local residents and deploying biomarker testing — a method being used in the area for the first time — to detect early signs of renal deterioration.

The research team briefed State Health Minister Satyakumar Yadav on the progress at a review meeting here on Monday.

A specialised laboratory, equipped with centrifuges, deep freezers, sample storage systems, analytical instruments, and field sampling kits, has been set up at King George Hospital (KGH) in Visakhapatnam at a cost of approximately ₹80 lakh. Samples collected from residents are first stored at a kidney research centre in Palasa before being transferred to the KGH facility under controlled conditions.

So far, blood and urine samples have been collected from around 1,500 residents through a special multi-disciplinary team. A structured questionnaire is also being administered to gather information on family medical history and other epidemiological factors.

Early detection through biomarkers

The principal investigators — Dr. G. Prasad, Professor of Nephrology at Andhra Medical College, and his mentor, senior nephrologist Professor Tatapudi Raviraju — said that biomarker testing of urine samples would make it possible to identify individuals likely to develop kidney disease within three to four years, at a micro level, well before clinical symptoms manifest.

"Mass biomarker screening of this nature for CKD patients is being undertaken for the first time," Dr. Raviraju said. The results, he added, would enable patients to take precautionary measures and allow clinicians to initiate early intervention, thereby preventing deterioration of kidney function. Genetic testing using RNA sequencing (RNAseq) will also form part of the research.

ICMR grant, research background

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), under its Department of Health Research, approved a grant of ₹6.2 crore in November last year for a three-year study into the high prevalence of CKD in Uddanam. The approval followed sustained efforts by Health Minister Satyakumar Yadav to secure central support for the investigation.

The research was originally initiated during the previous Telugu Desam Party government (2014–19), when the George Institute for Global Health, Australia, was engaged as the research partner. However, the initiative was subsequently suspended during the YSRCP administration. The present alliance government revived the effort following its return to power.

The research team assured the Minister that the study is progressing according to a defined timeline and is expected to be completed within the stipulated three-year period.

Uddanam, a coastal belt spanning several mandals in Srikakulam district, has for decades reported disproportionately high rates of kidney failure, often affecting individuals in their productive years. The cause of the disease cluster has remained poorly understood, with hypotheses ranging from contaminated groundwater to pesticide exposure.

Amaravati, April 13: Andhra Pradesh State Health Minister Y. Satyakumar Yadav on Monday hailed the inauguration of two Quantum Reference Facilities in Amaravati as a historic milestone, describing Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu's initiative to establish the capital city as a Quantum Valley as a defining moment not only for Andhra Pradesh but for the country as a whole.

In a statement issued here, the Minister said the launch of two quantum beds by the Chief Minister on Tuesday would herald a new chapter in indigenous scientific capability and place Amaravati firmly on the global technology map. "The pace at which this has been achieved was beyond anyone's expectations," Mr. Satyakumar observed, commending the Chief Minister's resolve and unwavering commitment to the vision.

The Minister elaborated on the transformative potential of quantum computing across multiple sectors, with particular emphasis on healthcare. He noted that the technology would significantly advance medical research, enable deeper analysis of the origins and progression of diseases, and accelerate the discovery of new drugs. "This is a revolutionary development that will bring about far-reaching changes across several fields," he said.

Mr. Satyakumar credited the achievement entirely to the Chief Minister's vision and sustained effort, noting that Andhra Pradesh had become the first State in the country to reach this milestone. He also conveyed his gratitude to the Central Government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with various institutions and scientists, for their cooperation and support in realising this goal. "Tuesday is a day every Telugu person can take pride in," the Minister added.

Sharp attack on Jagan Reddy

Turning to the political situation in the State, Andhra Pradesh State Health Minister Satyakumar Yadav launched a sharp attack on former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, accusing him of pursuing a deliberate strategy to obstruct and undermine the progress of Amaravati's development.

The Minister recalled that Mr. Jagan Reddy had himself declared before the Assembly that Amaravati was the State capital, only to subsequently float the contentious three-capital proposal. He said the former Chief Minister's recent advocacy of a "Mavigan" formulation — referencing the cities of Machilipatnam, Vijayawada, and Guntur — was incoherent and reflected a disturbed political disposition. "Even as the public has rejected these arguments, the former Chief Minister shows no sign of introspection. This is a curse the State has had to endure," Mr. Satyakumar said.

The Minister questioned the relevance of Mr. Jagan Reddy's sudden discovery of the three cities twelve years after the State's formation, calling it farcical. He also took strong exception to the former Chief Minister raising questions about the cost of construction materials for Amaravati, while having spent Rs. 500 crore of public money to build a private residence in Visakhapatnam. "Such conduct is thoroughly unbecoming," he said.

A word of caution for the public

Concluding his statement, Mr. Satyakumar urged the people of the State to remain vigilant and carefully observe the unfolding developments. He called on them to recognise the stark contrast between the Chief Minister's constructive efforts toward the State's development and what he described as the former Chief Minister's relentless campaign of disruption, and to exercise discernment in assessing the two.

Visakhapatnam, April 12: State Health Minister Y. Satyakumar Yadav on Monday announced that the Centre is set to introduce the 'Nari Shakti Vandanam' legislation aimed at ensuring adequate representation for women in legislative bodies, with parliamentary debate on the Bill scheduled for the 17th and 18th of this month.

Addressing a press conference at the BJP district office, presided over by district president M.M.N. Parashurama Raju, the Minister underscored the stark disparity between women's share of the population and their presence in elected bodies. "Women constitute more than half the country's population, yet their representation in legislatures stands at a mere 13 per cent," he said.

Mr. Satyakumar pointed to the success of the 33 per cent reservation for women in local bodies as evidence of their capability and readiness for a larger political role. He also cited schemes such as Jan Dhan accounts, Startup India, and Stand Up India as instruments through which women had achieved greater economic self-reliance in recent years.

Reaffirming the NDA coalition's commitment to substantive rather than rhetorical women's empowerment, the Minister stated that the alliance had set itself the goal of implementing the women's reservation framework from the next elections onward.

Opposition in the crosshairs

Turning to political matters, Mr. Satyakumar trained his criticism on the opposition, expressing surprise that the Congress party, which he said had failed to cross even the 100-seat mark, continued to level charges against the government. He also took strong exception to remarks by YSRCP leaders regarding investments by global firms such as Google and ArcelorMittal in the State, calling their statements unwarranted.

On the Bhogapuram project, the Minister said it was untenable for those who had neglected the initiative for five years to now claim ownership of it.

Commenting on the broader national political landscape, Mr. Satyakumar asserted that a change in governance was needed in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, and added that senior coalition leaders would campaign in areas with a significant Telugu-speaking population wherever elections are under way.

The press conference was attended by BJP Legislature Party leader P. Vishnu Kumar Raju, TDP district president Ch. Pattabhi, BJP State secretary U. Sujatha Raj, and women leaders N. Jyothi and Ananthalakshmi, among others.

Amaravati : In a significant move aimed at enhancing transparency and expediting appointments, the Andhra Pradesh Medical, Health and Family Welfare Department has decided to entrust the Andhra Pradesh Medical Services Recruitment Board (APMSR B) with the end-to-end management of zonal-level staff recruitments, Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav announced on Wednesday.

The decision, which will come into effect for all future notifications, covers the entire recruitment cycle — from issuing notifications to finalising the selection list — for posts that were hitherto handled by the four zonal offices located at Visakhapatnam, Rajamahendravaram, Guntur, and Kadapa.

Why the Change Was Needed

Under the existing system, zonal offices independently managed recruitments for posts including Staff Nurses, Radiographers, Pharmacy Assistants, Malaria Officers, Statistical Officers, Deputy Statistical Officers, and Medical Record Technicians. The process — spanning receipt of applications, scrutiny, handling of objections, finalisation of selection lists, counselling, and posting orders — was handled entirely at the regional level.

The limitations of this arrangement came into sharp focus recently when the Rajamahendravaram zonal office issued a notification for around 310 nursing posts and received nearly 12,000 applications in response. Verifying qualifications, seniority, and other details took up to three months, with the office relying on temporary data entry operators and senior assistants to manage the workload. Each zonal office operates with an average staff strength of only about 15 personnel, from record assistants to superintendents.

The Minister said the centralisation of this process would relieve considerable administrative pressure on zonal offices, freeing their staff to focus on employee promotions, service matters, and other governance responsibilities.

Recruitment Board's Track Record

The APMSR B already handles State-level appointments, including Medical Officers, Assistant Professors, Psychiatrists, and other specialised posts, based on indents received from the Directorates of Medical Education, Public Health, Secondary Health, and AYUSH. Counselling and posting orders, however, continue to be issued by the respective Heads of Department.

The Board's established processes were recently applied to the appointment of 482 doctors under the Directorate of Public Health, and the same framework will now be extended to zonal-level posts.

Since June 2024, the APMSR B has completed 2,310 recruitments up to March 31, 2026. The Minister also announced that the Board would shortly take up the filling of 317 Assistant Professor posts in teaching hospitals.

Mr. Satya Kumar Yadav said the new arrangement, combined with the State government's ongoing commitment to zero-vacancy recruitment, would ensure that appointments are completed more swiftly and with greater accountability.