GUNTUR, May 3: The second batch of a free skill development and competitive examination training programme, conducted under the aegis of Krishna-Guntur Graduates' constituency MLC Alapati Rajendra Prasad, is set to commence on May 13 at the MLC office premises on Lakshmipuram Main Road, adjacent to HDFC Bank, in Guntur.

The initiative, aimed at improving employment prospects for unemployed graduates in the region, builds on the momentum of its first batch, whose participants successfully appeared in recruitment examinations conducted by prominent organisations. Results of those examinations are awaited.

Encouraged by the response to the first batch, Mr. Alapati announced the launch of the second batch to extend the opportunity to a larger number of aspirants.

Structured for competitive examinations

The training curriculum has been specifically designed to equip candidates to face recruitment examinations conducted by Central government departments and public sector undertakings. Candidates who have completed their Intermediate or degree-level education are eligible to apply at no cost.

Online registration will open on May 5, 2026, through a QR code. An online entrance examination will be held on May 10, following which selected candidates will be admitted to the training programme beginning May 13.

For further details, interested candidates may contact 73374 59888 or 95536 81118.

On the occasion, Mr. Alapati unveiled the programme poster in the presence of Kishore, director of Vijayasadhana Coaching Centre, and Pidikiti Tilak Babu, Executive Director of NRI Educational Institutions.

Addressing aspirants, the MLC appealed to unemployed youth to make productive use of the free training and secure a firm footing in their careers.

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.

Mega placement drive sees 43 students selected from ECE streams

GUNTUR: A mega placement drive conducted by TransEnergy Private Limited at NRI Engineering College, near Guntur, concluded successfully with 43 students securing job offers, reflecting the growing employment opportunities in the technical education sector.

Of the total selections, 37 students were from the B.Tech (Electronics and Communication Engineering) programme, while the remaining six were from the Diploma (ECE) stream. The selection process was overseen by the company's HR representatives, P. Jeeva and Chandru, who evaluated candidates on the basis of their technical proficiency and aptitude.

The event was attended by Principal Dola Sanjay, Vice-Principal Dr. Srihari, Executive Director Tilak Babu, Diploma Principal Ravi Kumar, Diploma Vice-Principal Manohar, and Deputy Training and Placement Officer P. Jeevana.

Speaking on the occasion, Principal Dola Sanjay emphasised that students who cultivate skills alongside academic knowledge stand a better chance in a competitive job market. He attributed the success to the sustained efforts of students and the mentorship provided by the faculty.

Vice-Principal Dr. Srihari noted that approximately 57 students had been placed in earlier drives, and the addition of 37 more this time indicated a positive trajectory in employment outcomes. He described mega placement drives as laying a strong foundation for students' professional futures.

Executive Director Tilak Babu reiterated the institution's commitment to providing not only quality education but also enhanced placement opportunities, asserting that NRI Institutions remained at the forefront in this regard.

Diploma Principal Ravi Kumar expressed pride in the performance of diploma students and urged all students to develop communication skills alongside technical competencies.

Deputy TPO P. Jeevana credited structured placement training and guidance for the results achieved, and affirmed the institution's resolve to attract more leading companies to the campus in the coming months.

The management and faculty congratulated the selected students and wished them success in their careers.

Amaravati Quantum Valley provides new direction to the nation in technology revolution : CM

Amaravati : Amaravati is going to emerge as India’s first Quantum Computer hub with the launching of first Open  Quantum computer on April 14, which is useful for students and researchers for testing purpose. With this Andhra Pradesh will become  a leader in next-generation technologies, observed Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu. He said   Amaravati Quantum Computing Valley will provide a new direction to the nation in technology revolution.
Addressing a roundtable conference on Quantum hardware manufacturing ecosystem held at  Secretariat today, the Chief Minister emphasised the need to develop a domestic quantum hardware manufacturing ecosystem within the next two years.
The Chief Minister reaffirmed that Andhra Pradesh is among the front-runners in implementing the National Quantum Mission, with Amaravati set to emerge as a future-ready, world-class innovation hub.He urged all stakeholders to collaborate in building a self-reliant quantum ecosystem, reducing dependence on imports and positioning India as a global leader in quantum technology.
The key stake holders including representatives from the National Quantum Mission, IBM, CDAC, CDOT, DRDO, Naval Science & Technological Laboratory, BARC along with industry players and academic experts from IIT Tirupati and IIT Madras (virtual participation) attended the meeting.
The Chief Minister outlined a comprehensive roadmap for development  of quantum computing hardware, components and algorithms within the state. He stressed on building 
a robust ecosystem covering cryogenics, photonics, and power electronics
Encourage startups, innovation and research collaborations to promote “Made in Amaravati” quantum products
with an aim to make AP  to become one of the top 5 global quantum hubs by 2030.
The proposed  Amaravati Quantum Valley will feature advanced infrastructure, including 8 towers dedicated to quantum computing, research, innovation and startups.He stated that skill development programs are being launched to train youth in quantum technologies.He said 
emerging services like AI Doctor, AI Tutor, and AI Agronomist will benefit citizens
The State Government has already signed MoUs with 15 companies and already 
7 companies commenced operations at Medha Towers, Vijayawada.The organisations also expressed readiness to contribute technologies such as
Quantum simulators,Biosensors and mineral sensors,Laser-based applications.
.............

Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh Health Minister Satyakumar Yadav on Monday sounded a sharp warning over the state's sharply declining fertility rate, calling it a new kind of population time bomb that could trigger severe economic and social consequences if left unaddressed. In a detailed statement released here, the Minister said the state's Total Fertility Rate — the average number of children a woman bears in her lifetime — had fallen to an alarming 1.50, well below the replacement level of 2.10 required for population stabilisation.

Announcing that the state government had formulated a new Population Stabilisation Policy Framework, the Minister said the document would be placed in the public domain shortly, on the directions of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, for wide consultation among citizens, media, and other stakeholders.

A Demographic Shift in the Making

Presenting a sobering statistical picture, the Minister said the state's population growth rate had declined from 7.10 per cent during 2011–15 to 1.70 per cent at present, and was projected to fall further to 0.30 per cent by 2035 if the current trend continued. The fertility rate, which stood at 1.68 not long ago, has already slipped to 1.50 and risks declining further without corrective intervention.

The Minister pointed to a widening generational imbalance. The median age of Andhra Pradesh's population currently stands at 32.50 years, compared to the national median of 28 years — a gap that he said illustrated how much faster the state's population was ageing relative to the rest of the country.

Projections underlying the new policy framework paint a stark picture: the share of children below 14 years in the state's population, which stood at 25 per cent in 2011, is expected to fall to 15 per cent by 2036. Simultaneously, the proportion of those above 60 years is projected to nearly double from 10 per cent to 19 per cent by 2036, and rise further to 23 per cent by 2047 — a trajectory that the Minister warned would seriously impede the state's Swarna Andhra development goals.

"If the present trend continues, the demographic dividend we currently enjoy will disappear by 2040, and we will instead be burdened with a rapidly ageing population," the Minister cautioned.

A New Policy Direction

Marking a significant departure from decades of population control policy, the new framework shifts its focus from limiting family size to creating conditions under which families voluntarily choose to have more children. The Minister said the earlier policy of state-directed family planning targets had run its course and that the time had come to build a supportive environment for larger families.

The framework is built around five pillars — Matrutva (maternal and child health), Sanjeevani (lifelong health monitoring through individual health records), Shakti (women's empowerment), Kshema (dignified and productive ageing), and Naipunya (skill development across life stages) — each designed to reinforce the other in a mutually supportive architecture.

Women's Empowerment at the Centre

The Minister underlined that women's empowerment was central to the success of the new policy. The framework aims to raise women's participation in the workforce from the current level to 60 per cent — an increase of over 25 percentage points — over the next decade, which the government estimates would contribute a 15 per cent increase in the state's Gross State Domestic Product.

The policy also proposes to bring down the proportion of women undergoing sterilisation from the current 70 per cent to 50 per cent within five years, and to extend free infertility treatment services to the estimated 12 lakh families in the state facing fertility-related challenges.

Chief Minister's Initiative

Attributing the policy initiative to Chief Minister Naidu's foresight in anticipating long-term demographic challenges, the Minister said the framework had emerged from the Chief Minister's thinking on proactively addressing problems before they reached a point of no return.

The Minister called on the public, media, and civil society to engage actively with the policy document once released, and to support the building of a broader social movement around population stabilisation. "The next ten years are critical. We must achieve a fertility rate of 2.10 by 2035 to lay the foundation for a stable and prosperous Andhra Pradesh," he said.