The Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act, 2014, is the legislation passed by the Indian Parliament that resulted in the bifurcation of the state of Andhra Pradesh and the creation of a new state, Telangana. This Act was a significant political development and shaped the administrative boundaries of the two states.

Key Provisions of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act, 2014:

  1. Formation of Telangana:

    • The Act provided for the formation of the State of Telangana with 10 districts, which were part of the erstwhile Andhra Pradesh. Telangana officially came into existence on June 2, 2014.
    • Hyderabad was designated as the common capital for both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana for a period of 10 years, after which it would solely become the capital of Telangana.

  2. Territorial Boundaries:

    • Telangana was carved out from the northwestern part of Andhra Pradesh, with districts like Hyderabad, Warangal, Nalgonda, Karimnagar, and Medak forming part of the new state.
    • The remaining parts of Andhra Pradesh, comprising 13 districts, continued to form the residual state of Andhra Pradesh.

  3. Common Capital and Administration:

    • Hyderabad would remain the shared capital for both states for up to 10 years, while Andhra Pradesh would work on establishing a new capital city during this time.
    • During this period, certain parts of Hyderabad that were important for governance were designated as the common administrative area, under the control of the Governor.

  4. Division of Assets and Liabilities:

    • The Act outlined the division of assets, liabilities, and resources between the two states. This included government employees, infrastructure, government buildings, and institutions.
    • The central government was responsible for overseeing the fair distribution of assets such as water resources, power, and revenue.

  5. Water Resources:

    • Provisions were made for the sharing of major rivers, including the Krishna and Godavari, which flow through both states. River Water Boards were established to ensure the fair distribution of water resources between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

  6. Revenue and Finance:

    • The Act dealt with the division of public debt, and liabilities of the existing state were split between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
    • It also addressed the financial arrangements between the two states, including tax revenue sharing and grants from the central government.

  7. Developmental Support to Andhra Pradesh:

    • Special provisions were made to support the residual state of Andhra Pradesh, which lacked a capital city after the bifurcation.
    • The central government promised to provide financial assistance for the establishment of a new capital and special economic measures to promote industrialization and development in the region.

  8. Educational and Other Institutions:

    • The Act provided for the division of educational and other institutions between the two states. It also ensured that students from both states could continue their education without disruptions.
    • Central universities, institutions, and research centers were to be equitably distributed.

  9. Law and Order:

    • The Act gave special powers to the Governor of Telangana, especially regarding law and order in Hyderabad, during the period in which the city served as the common capital.

  10. Political and Legislative Representation:

    • The Act laid down rules for the reorganization of legislative constituencies, as well as representation in the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha (upper and lower houses of Parliament, respectively).
    • The members of the legislative assemblies of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh were allocated based on the territories of the two new states.

  11. Official Language:

    • Telugu was retained as the official language of both states, while Urdu continued to have a significant presence in Telangana due to the cultural and historical legacy of Hyderabad.

Implementation and Aftermath:

  • June 2, 2014: Telangana was officially formed, with K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) becoming its first Chief Minister.
  • Andhra Pradesh began the process of building a new capital, and Amaravati was proposed as the future capital city. However, there were significant delays and challenges in this process.

The Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act, 2014, marked the culmination of a long-standing demand for statehood for Telangana and led to a historic reshaping of India's political map.