Amaravati, April 23: Andhra Pradesh's pioneering experiment of deploying artificial intelligence-based medical services through startups across 18 government hospitals has yielded encouraging results, with the State Health and Medical Department set to felicitate the best-performing startups with cash incentives and a work order worth one crore rupees, Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav announced on Thursday.

In what is being described as a first of its kind initiative in the country, 18 startups were simultaneously deployed across government hospitals in the State under the 'AP MedTech Innovation Challenge', a policy framework introduced by the Health Department. The Minister attributed the success of the initiative to Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu's vision for technology-driven governance.

Out of 297 applications received from startups, 18 were shortlisted through a three-tier evaluation process to operate across four categories — Diagnostic Tools, Portable Point of Care, Smart Monitoring and Wearables, and Remote Care Telemedicine. Over a 37-day period from February to end of March, the startups collectively served 12,677 patients under medical supervision.

Notable Outcomes

The results have been significant across multiple health parameters. One startup, after screening 7,433 patients, detected early-stage tuberculosis in 15 to 25 per cent of those examined. Another screened 1,200 patients and identified 34 requiring cataract surgery and 10 with glaucoma. A cervical cancer screening drive flagged suspected symptoms in 15 individuals. In Parvathipuram Manyam district, respiratory problems were detected in 30 newborns, while cardiac screening of 323 patients in Kurnool district revealed heart-related anomalies in 2.17 per cent of cases. Notably, the deployment of AI scribe technology in consultations with 2,100 patients resulted in a time saving of up to 70 per cent compared to conventional methods.

The startups demonstrated their innovations at hospitals including GGH Kakinada, Vijayawada, Anantapur, Tirupati Ruia, Visakha Victoria, and several primary and sub-health centres across the State.

Evaluation and Incentives

The performance of these startups will be assessed by the Committee for Applied Technologies in Health (CATH), which includes representatives from the Indian Institute of Science, ICMR, AIG Hospitals Hyderabad, and other leading institutions. Startups ranked first, second, and third across four categories — totalling 12 organisations — will receive cash incentives of Rs. 5 lakh, Rs. 3 lakh, and Rs. 2 lakh respectively, amounting to a total outlay of Rs. 40 lakh. The top-performing startup overall will additionally receive a work order valued at Rs. one crore. These measures are being taken in accordance with GO No. 33 issued by the IT Department in August 2025.

A special conference is to be convened shortly in Amaravati to disseminate the findings to all departments within the Health Ministry, with government medical officers from all districts, medical students, faculty, and representatives from national bodies including the National Health Authority, e-Health Startup India, India AI Mission, and IIT Kanpur, among others, expected to participate.

The government is also considering continuing the AP MedTech Innovation Challenge framework as a sustained policy to progressively expand AI-based services across government hospitals in the State.

Vijayawada, April 17: The Central government is taking concrete steps towards the liberation and social development of Denotified Tribes (DNTs), with a firm commitment to erasing the colonial-era criminal stigma attached to these communities and mainstreaming them into society, said DNT Board members Praveen Guge and Bharat Bhai Patni on Friday.

Addressing a press conference at the BJP State office here, they said the SEED scheme would play a pivotal role in the development of approximately 80 lakh DNT community members in Andhra Pradesh. They expressed concern over the inordinate delays in the issuance of DNT certificates in the State.

The DNT Board members suggested that the Gujarat model be replicated in Andhra Pradesh, with the process of issuing certificates being expedited through District Collectors. They demanded that welfare schemes be extended to all communities identified by the Idate Commission and called for the immediate constitution of a dedicated DNT Development Board in the State.

They also urged the State government to go beyond issuing house pattas on paper and ensure that land is physically handed over to beneficiaries without further delay. They indicated that these issues would be taken up directly with Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and the State Chief Secretary.

The BJP leaders announced that a special event, 'Vimukta Dinotsavam', would be organised exclusively for DNT communities. They assured that the BJP OBC Morcha would stand firmly behind these communities at the district level in safeguarding their rights.

Among those present at the event were OBC Morcha State president Rongala Gopi Srinivas, former NTDNTDT convener Arabolu Chandrashekhar, leaders Annapureddy Venkat and Gorantla Srinivas, BJP State media in-charge Kilaru Dilip, OBC Coastal Andhra zonal in-charge Tullimilli Ramakrishna Yadav, and OBC State secretary Shivalalitha.

AMARAVATI, April 15: A significant meeting of National Democratic Alliance (NDA) partner parties was held at the residence of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu here on Wednesday, where the alliance partners resolved to extend unified support to the Women's Reservation Bill and the Delimitation Bill currently being taken up in Parliament, hailing Prime Minister Narendra Modi for what they described as landmark legislative initiatives.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, BJP State president P.V.N. Madhav, and TDP State president Palla Srinivasarao, among other senior leaders. The discussions, which lasted nearly two and a half hours, centred on the latest developments unfolding in New Delhi, particularly concerning constituency delimitation and the Women's Reservation Bill.

The leaders decided that all MLAs and MLCs of the alliance parties would gather at a common venue in Amaravati on April 17 to watch the passage of the Women's Reservation Bill live. It was also resolved to extend invitations to all political parties in the State, including the YSR Congress Party, as well as prominent women leaders, to participate in the event.

A programme expressing support for the Bill is to be organised immediately upon its passage in the Lok Sabha.

Addressing concerns over delimitation, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu said that he had sought and received clarification from the Central leadership, particularly Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, regarding apprehensions that southern States would not receive a proportionate increase in parliamentary seats. The Centre had categorically assured that seat allocation would follow the pro-rata method and that southern States would suffer no disadvantage, he said.

Chief Minister Naidu, Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, and BJP State president P.V.N. Madhav expressed satisfaction over the clarifications received. The leaders condemned what they described as a disinformation campaign surrounding the seat-sharing formula and resolved to politically welcome both Bills.

It was further decided to organise extensive programmes at the district and constituency levels in support of the Women's Reservation Bill, and to ensure that women across the State express their gratitude to Prime Minister Modi for the historic legislation. Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu directed that live streaming of the Bill's introduction in Parliament be arranged across all constituencies in the State.

Chief Minister Naidu Inaugurates Open-Access Quantum Reference Facilities at Amaravati and Gannavaram

Amaravati, April 14: Andhra Pradesh took a significant stride in India's quantum technology ambitions on Monday as Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu inaugurated the country's first open-access quantum reference facility at SRM University in Amaravati, while virtually launching a second facility — Amaravati Quantum Reference Facility-2 — at Medha Towers in Gannavaram. The twin inaugurations, held on the occasion of World Quantum Day and the birth anniversary of B.R. Ambedkar, mark the state's emergence as India's first quantum technology hub.

The two systems — Amaravati 1S, housed at SRM University, and Amaravati 1Q, located at Medha Towers — are fully functional hardware test beds designed to enable validation, benchmarking, and certification of quantum systems under real operating conditions. Mr. Naidu described the facilities as platforms that would allow India not merely to study quantum technology, but to build, test, refine and trust it.

"For too long, India missed major global breakthroughs in hardware and products. Quantum gives India a once-in-a-generation opportunity to develop hardware," the Chief Minister said, adding that the state government remained committed to producing an indigenous quantum computer from Amaravati in the near future. "There is no dearth of funds for innovation," he asserted.

Underlining the broader social potential of the technology, Mr. Naidu said that when quantum computing accelerates drug discovery, citizens would have access to better medicines, and when it improves optimisation, farmers would be able to enhance productivity. "Technology should empower every citizen," he said, calling for innovation to spread across society rather than remain confined to a few institutions. He also urged public universities to compete with private institutions in fostering innovation and start-up ecosystems.

A notable highlight of the project is that, for the first time in India, a quantum system has been assembled using a predominantly domestic supply chain, marking a milestone in the country's scientific self-reliance. The effort drew on contributions from several premier institutions: the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Mumbai, supplied superconducting qubit processors and Josephson parametric amplifiers; the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, contributed device design and characterisation; and the Defence Research and Development Agency's DYSL unit in Pune provided quantum control electronics. Private entities including Amber Enterprises, Qbit Force, Qute Electronics, and Dimira contributed dilution refrigerator systems, precision current and voltage sources, and cryogenic wiring and interconnects respectively.

Mr. Naidu noted that his vision for a quantum facility was realised within eight months, crediting the collaborative effort of quantum scientists, hardware experts, and multiple institutions working under a unified national mission. He said the twin facilities would create opportunities not only for scientists but also for hardware engineers, cryogenic specialists, control system designers, fabrication experts, and software developers.

The event was also addressed by Abhay Karandikar, Secretary, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India; AP State Quantum Mission Director C.V. Sridhar; Qbit Force founder L. Venkata Subramaniam; Qubitec founder Prudhvi Pinnaka; DRDO NHTL Director General R.V. Haraprasad; and SRM University Vice-Chancellor Ch. Satishkumar, among others.

Amaravati, April 13: The Andhra Pradesh Secretariat Association has welcomed the State government’s decision to clear employee arrears and urged expeditious action on long-pending promotions.

Association President G. Rama Krishna met Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Monday and conveyed the employee community’s appreciation for declaring Amaravati as the permanent capital of Andhra Pradesh. He also expressed gratitude for the release of ₹7,358 crore towards clearing arrear bills of serving and retired employees.

Speaking to the media after the meeting, Rama Krishna said the government had cleared nearly ₹21,000 crore out of the total pending liability of ₹30,000 crore that existed when the current administration assumed office in June 2024. “In just 21 months, the government has shown a strong commitment to fulfilling its obligations to employees,” he noted.

He further appreciated the personal initiative taken by Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, IT and Education Minister Nara Lokesh, and Finance Minister P. Kesav in addressing employee welfare issues. “We are thankful to the leadership for prioritising these long-pending dues,” he added.

Push for Promotions

During the meeting, the Association also urged the Chief Minister to direct officials to expedite promotions in key departments, including the General Administration, Finance, and the Legislative Assembly Secretariat.

Rama Krishna pointed out that promotions in these departments have been pending for a long time and stressed the need for early resolution to boost employee morale and improve administrative efficiency.

The Association expressed confidence that the government would continue to address the remaining arrears and service-related issues with the same urgency shown so far.

Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh BJP president P.V.N. Madhav called on Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu in Amaravati on Wednesday and submitted a memorandum highlighting the problems faced by coastal fishermen and Home Guards in the State.

Tamil Nadu Fishermen Encroaching AP Waters

Raising the issue of illegal intrusions along the coastline, Mr. Madhav told the Chief Minister that fishermen from Tamil Nadu were regularly entering the territorial waters off Nellore, Ongole, and Bapatla, causing considerable distress to local fishing communities.

He said the intruders were arriving in speedboats, plundering marine resources, destroying the nets and boats of local fishermen, and in several instances, physically attacking them. These incidents, he warned, were creating an atmosphere of fear and insecurity among coastal communities and posed a serious threat to law and order in the region.

Mr. Madhav drew particular attention to a recent incident in the Juvvaladinna area of Nellore district, where local fishermen apprehended illegal boats but the concerned authorities released them without taking stringent action. He said such inaction was fuelling suspicion and demoralising those who sought to protect their livelihoods.

The BJP leader urged the government to respond without delay, take firm action against vessels entering AP waters illegally, and strengthen coastal security infrastructure along vulnerable stretches of the coastline.

Home Guards Seek Transfer Relief

Mr. Madhav also brought to the Chief Minister's attention the plight of approximately 400 Home Guards who have been posted far from their native places following the bifurcation of the State and are facing significant personal and logistical hardships as a result.

He requested the Chief Minister to initiate mutual transfer arrangements between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana to enable these personnel to serve closer to their homes, and called for an early resolution to what he described as a long-pending humanitarian concern.

The Chief Minister is learnt to have received the memorandum and assured Mr. Madhav that the matters would be examined.

AMARAVATI: Andhra Pradesh Bharatiya Janata Party State President PVN Madhav on Tuesday expressed gratitude to Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, and Minister Nara Lokesh for extending greetings on the occasion of the BJP's Foundation Day.

A statement issued from the BJP State office said Mr. Madhav acknowledged the wishes conveyed by the coalition leadership and reiterated the party's commitment to the State's development.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Madhav said the coalition government in Andhra Pradesh was taking decisive steps towards development and that the decisions being undertaken by the administration were yielding tangible benefits for the people of the State.

He expressed satisfaction over the gazette notification issued by President Droupadi Murmu conferring permanent recognition on Amaravati as the State capital, describing the development as a significant milestone that would contribute to the long-term growth and stability of Andhra Pradesh.

Mr. Madhav expressed confidence that the coalition government would continue to move forward in alignment with the aspirations of the people of the State and that several developmental programmes would be undertaken in the coming months.

The BJP was founded on April 6, 1980. The Foundation Day is observed annually across the country with party functions and programmes at various levels.

Clear bills of small contractors : CM

Amaravati : Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu directed officials of Finance department to  clear pending bills inherited from the previous government. During the meeting, the Chief Minister enquired about the status of pending payments to serving and retired government employees and issued directives  for clearing these dues.
As per the directions of the Chief Minister, steps have been initiated to release pending bills amounting to Rs 7,358 crore, providing significant relief to employees.

Officials informed that Rs 1,848 crore towards Provident Fund dues has  been credited directly into employees’ accounts and Rs 76 crore has been disbursed under Group Life Insurance covering 4,793 beneficiaries.The other 
payments in progress include Rs 3,411 crore towards gratuity dues,  Rs 1,800 crore towards leave encashment for retired employees and  Rs 223 crore towards additional surrendered leave dues for police personnel.
These payments are expected to be completed within the next two days.
The Chief Minister directed that all pending dues, including employee-related and other bills, should be cleared systematically based on fund availability.

During the review, past issues related to employee funds under the previous regime were also discussed. It was noted that diversion of employee funds had caused hardships, and even those who raised concerns reportedly faced legal harassment.
The Chief Minister also reviewed pending payments to contractors and material suppliers. Officials stated that Rs 614 crore has already been paid to small contractors for works executed and materials supplied.
The Chief Minister emphasized that priority must be given to small contractors in clearing pending bills going forward.

Amaravati receives legal status now, irreversable: CM

Amaravati capital: A symbol of Telugu pride and self-respect : CM

Amaravati : Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu stated that Amaravati has now received irreversible legal status as the capital of Andhra Pradesh through an Act passed in Parliament, calling it a historic moment  honoring the will of the people.
Expressing happiness over the passage of the Amaravati Bill in Parliament, the Chief Minister participated in 
Deepa Harathi ceremony along with his wife Bhuvaneswari  and farmers at Uddandarayunipalem, the site where the foundation stone for the capital was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 
Later addressing the gathering the Chief Minister said "The success of Amaravati will be written in golden letters in the history of India.”The sacrifices of farmers who gave their land will remain eternal.
“After facing numerous conspiracies, we have reclaimed our capital.”Amaravati now has permanent legal backing—an identity for the state that was missing until now.
He also recalled the support extended by leaders like Pawan Kalyan during the agitation.
The Chief Minister expressed gratitude to
Prime Minister Narendra Modi,
Union Home Minister Amit Shah and leaders of all political parties that supported the bill.
The Chief Minister said Amaravati is not just a capital, it is a symbol of Telugu pride and self-respect.He added that the Prime Minister is expected to visit again to inaugurate projects once construction is completed.
Strongly criticising  the opposition, particularly YSR Congress Party, the Chief Minister said they walked out during crucial discussions on the capital and  failed to support resolutions even in the Assembly.
The Chief Minister inspected the foundation plaque performed Puja.
He offered prayers and performed Deepa Harathi with devotion.
The event was attended by ministers, public representatives and Amaravati farmers.
............

Minister Gottipati Ravi Kumar Commends Engineers for Achieving 99.58% PLF

Amaravati: AP GENCO has scripted a new chapter in the history of Andhra Pradesh’s power sector by achieving record-breaking electricity production. Under the visionary leadership and guidance of Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu, the Rayalaseema Thermal Power Plant (RTPP) has reached its highest-ever generation levels. Against its total installed capacity of 1,650 MW, the RTPP successfully generated 1,643 MW on Wednesday. This remarkable feat was marked by a record Plant Loading Factor (PLF) of 99.58%, the highest ever recorded in the history of the plant.

Minister for Energy, Gottipati Ravi Kumar, expressed great pride in this achievement and extended his heartfelt congratulations to the engineers and staff of RTPP. He stated that this milestone is a direct result of the dedication and tireless efforts of the GENCO team, who are working in alignment with the Chief Minister’s vision to ensure energy security for the state.

"The commitment shown by the RTPP engineers is exemplary. I hope they continue this momentum to achieve more such milestones in the future," the Minister said.

Furthermore, Minister Ravi Kumar called for a collective effort from DISCOMs and TRANSCO engineers. He emphasized that while achieving record production is vital, the ultimate goal remains to provide quality and reliable power to consumers at an affordable cost. He urged all departments to work in synergy to strengthen the state’s power infrastructure and serve the public effectively.

BJP state president PVN Madhav hails the development as a historic milestone; Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu reaffirms commitment to world-class capital

AMARAVATI, APRIL 2: The passage of the Amaravati Capital Bill in both Houses of Parliament has set off widespread celebrations across Andhra Pradesh, with political leaders and farmers gathering at Uddandarayunipalem to mark what many are calling a defining moment in the state's post-bifurcation journey.

Addressing the gathering, BJP state president PVN Madhav said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's pivotal role in steering the legislation through Parliament had earned him a permanent place in the hearts of the people of Andhra Pradesh. He also paid tribute to Union Home Minister Amit Shah for his sustained support, describing it as something that "history will remember."

Mr. Madhav characterised the conferment of legal status upon Amaravati as a landmark achievement, noting that it had been realised only after prolonged struggle and perseverance. He attributed the success to a combination of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu's resolve and the sustained backing of the Central government. The contributions of BJP's elected representatives and Members of Parliament from the state also received special mention.

Reflecting on the sacrifices made by farmers who had surrendered their lands for the capital's development, Mr. Madhav said the hardships they endured between 2019 and 2024 could not be forgotten. He observed that the bill had secured the support of nearly all major political parties in the country — a rare show of cross-party consensus.

Mr. Madhav expressed confidence that Amaravati would grow into far more than an administrative capital — envisioning it as a hub for industry, tourism, and welfare initiatives. He recalled with pride his own role as a member of the Capital Selection Committee during his tenure as MLC, when he had submitted reports to the Central government on the matter. The symbolic gesture of bringing soil and water from sacred sites across the country to Amaravati, he said, had forged a deep national connection with the new capital.

Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, speaking at the event, reiterated the government's firm commitment to developing Amaravati into a world-class capital city.

Among those present were BJP leaders Panatala Suresh, Syed Basha, and several others. The mood among attendees was one of relief and optimism, with leaders expressing that the long-cherished aspirations of the people of Andhra Pradesh had at last been fulfilled

Vijayawada, April 2: The Andhra Pradesh NGGO Association has described the passage of the Bill in Parliament granting statutory recognition to Amaravati as the permanent capital of the State as a moment of pride for all Telugu people.

Addressing a press conference at the NGGO Home in Gandhinagar here on Thursday, association president A. Vidyasagar said the approval of the Bill by both Houses of Parliament marked a significant step in providing stability and direction to the State, which had been without a clearly established capital after bifurcation.

He expressed gratitude, on behalf of government employees, to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Cabinet members, and national-level leaders who supported the move to accord legal status to Amaravati.

Welcoming the State government’s decision to clear pending dues, Mr. Vidyasagar said Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s approval for releasing over ₹7,000 crore towards employee-related arrears was a positive and reassuring step. He noted that while dues were being cleared in phases, employees expected an accelerated pace of disbursement.

According to him, the government had recently approved the release of ₹7,059 crore towards pending payments to serving and retired employees. The amount includes ₹1,847.83 crore under General Provident Fund (GPF), ₹3,411.03 crore towards gratuity arrears, ₹1,800 crore for leave encashment of retired employees, and ₹223.47 crore towards additional surrendered leave payments for police personnel.

He added that payments amounting to ₹1,847.83 crore under GPF and ₹76 crore each under Group Insurance and GLI had already been cleared.

Mr. Vidyasagar said the government’s responsiveness to employee concerns and its willingness to address pending financial issues were commendable. He attributed the progress to sustained efforts by the AP NGGO Association and the positive approach of the State government.

He reiterated that the association would continue to work for the protection of employees’ rights and welfare.

Later, leaders of various employee unions met the Chief Minister and conveyed their appreciation for the passage of the Amaravati Bill and the decision to release arrears. They also urged the government to take steps on the appointment of a PRC committee and expedite settlement of pending bills, including those related to surrendered leave.