AP CURRENT AFFAIRS 05-09-2025

India’s Longest Glass Skywalk – Kailasagiri, Visakhapatnam

Key Facts for Prelims

  • Location: Kailasagiri Hills, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.
  • Length: 55 metres → India’s longest glass skywalk (earlier record: Vagamon, Kerala – 38 metres).
  • Built by: Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region Development Authority (VMRDA).
  • Cost: ₹7 crore.
  • Scenic Views: Bay of Bengal + Eastern Ghats.
  • Tourism Role: Adventure + coastal tourism promotion.
  • Global Link: Aims to position Visakhapatnam on the world adventure tourism map.

 

Cabinet Sub-Panel Orders Busting of Drug Networks

Context:

  • The Andhra Pradesh Cabinet sub-committee on control of ganja cultivation and drug menace has directed officials to dismantle narcotics supply networks through coordinated crackdowns.

Key Highlights:

  • Meeting: Held at Education Minister Nara Lokesh’s residence, chaired by Home Minister Anitha Vangalapudi.
  • Participants: Ministers Kollu Ravindra, Satyanarayana Murthy, Gummidi Sandhya Rani, DGP Harish Kumar Gupta, Intelligence Chief A.K. Ravikrishna.
  • Decisions:
    • Status report on decline in ganja cultivation in AP.
    • Use of drones, AI-based analytics, satellite imagery to identify cultivation and smuggling.
    • Strengthened measures at borders to prevent transport.
    • Consolidation of intelligence, surveillance, and progress of cases via digital dashboard (RTGS system).
    • Awareness campaigns through Eagle Clubs in schools/colleges on drug abuse.
    • Weekly anti-drug sessions on Saturdays.

Significance:

  • Reflects state’s proactive approach to tackle narcotics.
  • Integration of technology (AI, drones, satellite) in monitoring.
  • Focus on both supply-side control (crackdown, border vigilance) and demand-side reduction (awareness in educational institutions).

Universities from Andhra Pradesh shine in NIRF Rankings 2025

Context:

  • Ministry of Education released the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2025.
  • Several universities from Andhra Pradesh secured top positions across categories.

Key Highlights:

  • Andhra University (AU), Visakhapatnam
    • Overall rank: 23rd (up from 25th last year).
    • 4th among State Public Universities (Top in AP).
  • KL University (Koneru Lakshmaiah Education Foundation), Vaddeswaram
    • Overall rank: 26th.
    • 35th in Engineering, 16th in Management.
  • Vignan’s University, Guntur
    • Rank: 70th
    • 80th in Engineering.
  • Acharya Nagarjuna University, Guntur
    • Rank: 84th
  • Gitam University, Visakhapatnam
    • Rank: 88th

Special Mentions:

  • Law Category: B.R. Ambedkar College of Law (AU) ranked 18th, Gitam Law secured 38th.
  • Architecture Category: School of Planning and Architecture, Vijayawada ranked 19th.
  • Pharmacy Category:
    • AU College of Pharmaceutical Sciences – 31st.
    • Gitam – 33rd.
    • Agriculture and Allied Sciences – Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University (ANGRAU), Guntur (31st), Dr. YSR Horticultural University (35th).

Significance:

  • Reflects Andhra Pradesh’s rising profile in higher education.
  • AU’s improvement from 25th to 23rd highlights academic and research growth.
  • Recognition in specialized fields (law, management, engineering, agriculture, pharmacy) strengthens AP’s presence in national education rankings.

Dr. Prasad Patibandla receives Most Innovative Project Award

Context:

  • Prasad Patibandla, hailing from Andhra Pradesh, received international recognition for his contributions in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Key Highlights:

  • Awarded the Most Innovative Project Award at the AI World Congress – 2025 held in Hyderabad.
  • Prasad is the Director of Data Science and AI Research, International Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), Hyderabad.
  • Recognition was given for his innovative AI-based project aimed at improving public services, health, and education sectors.
  • His project uses AI algorithms to:
    • Enhance cybersecurity
    • Support predictive analytics in healthcare.
    • Provide data-driven solutions for governance.
  • Selected from among 250 projects presented by researchers across 25 countries.

Significance:

  • Highlights India’s growing contribution to AI innovation and research.
  • Boosts Hyderabad’s position as a global hub for AI and technology.
  • Encourages further industry-academia collaboration in AI applications for public welfare.

 

 

New committee was formed by the government for implementing the ‘Naksha’ program:

A new committee was formed by the government for implementing the ‘Naksha’ program at the state and city levels.

The state-level committee is chaired by the Secretary of Urban Administration and Development.

The city-level committee is chaired by the Collector and the Municipal Commissioner is the convenor.

Seven other government officials were appointed as members of both committees. Reflects balanced development approach: housing, health, education, and industry.

NAtional geospatial Knowledge-based land Survey of urban Habitations:

It’s a pilot program launched by the Department of Land Resources under the Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme (DILRMP).

The initiative aims to use geospatial technology and aerial surveys to modernize and create accurate, digital land records for urban areas in India.

 

 

Governor’s Approval for NALA Act Repeal:

Andhra Pradesh Governor S. Abdul Nazeer has approved an ordinance to repeal the Non-Agricultural Lands Assessment (NALA) Act of 2006. The repeal is intended to reduce the bureaucratic burden and financial costs for citizens and businesses by replacing the complex approval process with an automatic conversion upon payment of a fee.

The term “NALA Act” in Andhra Pradesh generally refers to the Andhra Pradesh Agricultural Land (Conversion for Non-Agricultural Purposes) Act, 2006. This legislation was designed to regulate and formalize the process of converting agricultural land for non-agricultural uses, such as for residential, commercial, or industrial development.

Purpose: The main objective of the NALA Act was to ensure that a conversion fee, or “conversion tax,” was paid to the government whenever agricultural land was repurposed for other uses. This was intended to generate revenue for the state and provide a legal framework for land-use changes.

  • Conversion Fee: The act mandated that landowners pay a conversion tax, which was a percentage of the land’s basic value, to change its official use.
  • Bureaucracy and Challenges: Over time, the NALA Act became associated with administrative hurdles and delays. Critics argued that the process was cumbersome, required visiting multiple offices, and led to a rise in unauthorized land layouts.
  • Repeal of the Act: The current Andhra Pradesh government has announced its decision to repeal the NALA Act. This move, spearheaded by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, is aimed at simplifying the land conversion process, reducing bureaucratic red tape, and facilitating a more streamlined approach to urban and industrial development.
  • New Framework: The proposed new system is intended to be more user-friendly, allowing for a more automated process where land use can be converted upon payment of a fee, thereby eliminating the need for complex and time-consuming permissions.