AP CURRENT AFFAIRS 12-10-2025

Agri Boost for Four Andhra Pradesh Districts under PM-Dhankrishi Yojana

Context

• Four districts of Andhra Pradesh — Annamayya, Sri Sathya Sai, Anantapur, and Alluri Sitarama Raju — have been selected under the Pradhan Mantri Dhan Dhanaya Krishi Yojana (PM-DDKY).

• The scheme was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as part of the “Aspirational Agricultural Districts Programme” (AADP), aiming to enhance agricultural productivity, irrigation, and farmers’ income in low-performing districts.

Key Highlights

Objectives of PM-DDKY

• Enhance Agricultural Productivity:
  Focus on irrigation, crop diversification, and adoption of modern agricultural practices.

• Integrate Schemes from Multiple Ministries:
  Aligns 36 Central schemes across 11 Ministries (e.g., Agriculture, Water Resources, Rural Development).

• Ensure Credit and Market Access:
  Improves access to agricultural finance, storage, and market linkages.

• Promote Climate-Resilient Farming:
  Addresses low productivity in drought-prone and backward regions like Anantapur and Alluri Sitarama Raju.

Why Andhra Pradesh Districts Were Selected

• Unfavourable climatic conditions and rural backwardness in Rayalaseema and tribal belts.

• Historically low agricultural yields and limited irrigation coverage.

• Strategic focus on integrated farming systems and climate-smart agriculture.

Implementation Framework

1. Target Group:

   • 100 low-performing agricultural districts across India.

   • 4 selected districts from Andhra Pradesh.

2. Coordination:

   • District-level committees to plan interventions.

   • State governments to integrate Central and State schemes.

   • National-level monitoring by NITI Aayog and PMO.

3. Performance Indicators (73 in total):

   • 46 measurable outcome indicators across productivity, income, irrigation, diversification, and sustainability.

Expected Outcomes

• Boost in agricultural productivity and income levels.

• Improved irrigation efficiency through micro-irrigation and watershed management.

• Crop diversification from cereals to high-value crops.

• Better post-harvest infrastructure (storage, processing, transport).

• Employment generation through agri-allied activities.

AI Edge Data Centre Launched in Visakhapatnam

Context

• Andhra Pradesh IT and Industries Minister Nara Lokesh will lay the foundation stone for Sify’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) Edge Data Centre and open cable landing station in Visakhapatnam.

• The initiative aligns with the state’s goal of transforming Visakhapatnam into a global digital and AI hub, complementing Meta’s undersea cable project.

Key Highlights

1. Investment and Scale:

   • The project is being developed by Sify Infinit Spaces Limited with an investment of ₹1,500 crore.

   • It will be implemented in two phases.

2. Location and Land Allocation:

   • The state government has allotted 3.6 acres of land for the facility in Visakhapatnam.

3. Employment Potential:

   • Expected to create direct and indirect employment for about 1,000 people in the region.

4. Digital Connectivity Advantage:

   • The data centre will enable high-speed AI-based data processing with seamless interconnectivity among Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, and Australia.

   • Will serve as an AI Edge node connecting to Meta’s 50,000 km undersea cable network.

5. Strategic Context:

   • Proposal for the data centre was made by Raiden Infotech India Limited to the Andhra Pradesh State Investment Promotion Board (SIPB) chaired by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.

Significance

1. Digital Infrastructure Boost:

   • Marks the first AI-integrated data centre in Andhra Pradesh, supporting cloud computing, machine learning, and data analytics.

2. AI and Industry 4.0 Integration:

   • Supports industries with edge computing, reducing latency and enabling real-time AI-driven decision-making.

3. Economic Impact:

   • Expected to generate skilled employment and tech-based entrepreneurship in the Visakhapatnam–Anakapalli–Kakinada industrial corridor.

4. Strategic Synergy:

   • Complements the Meta undersea cable landing project, together positioning Visakhapatnam as “Eastern India’s Digital Capital.”

Broader Context

• Andhra Pradesh’s “Digital Infrastructure Vision 2030” focuses on:

  • Data centres,

  • AI-driven governance,

  • Green energy integration,

  • Coastal digital industrial corridors.

• The initiative supports India’s Digital India 2.0, AI Mission, and National Data Centre Policy.

Meta’s Undersea Cable to Make Vizag a Global Internet Hub

Context

• In a landmark development for Andhra Pradesh’s digital infrastructure, Meta’s 50,000 km undersea cable system — connecting the United States, Brazil, South Africa, and India — is set to make Visakhapatnam a major global internet gateway.

• The cable, expected to arrive by 2030, will transform Vizag into a digital capital of Eastern India, positioning it as one of the world’s fastest data transmission hubs.

Key Highlights

1. Project Overview:

   • The undersea cable will offer ultra-fast, low-latency connectivity, redefining digital communication in India.

   • With data transfer speeds measured in terabits per second (Tbps), the cable is part of Meta’s global high-speed network infrastructure.

2. Strategic Importance for Vizag:

   • Positions Visakhapatnam as the first-mover in digital infrastructure across Eastern India.

   • Strengthens Andhra Pradesh’s role as a regional technology and data centre hub.

3. Economic & Technological Impact:

   • The project is expected to catalyse:

     • Data centre investments worth several billion rupees.

     • Technology startups and digital infrastructure expansion.

     • Job creation in the IT and telecom sectors.

4. Corporate Involvement:

   • Tata Consultancy Services (TCS): Proposed ₹1 lakh crore investment to build a 1,000 MW data centre in Vizag.

   • Google: Secured Cabinet approval for a data centre worth ₹8,750 crore.

   • Raiden Infotech and Sify Technologies: Announced digital campuses and data hubs worth ₹16,000 crore.

5. Broader Connectivity Benefits:

   • Enhanced real-time traffic control, e-governance, digital education, and telemedicine.

   • Boosts ports and industrial connectivity — critical for Industry 4.0 applications, logistics, and marine operations.

Why It Matters

• Strategic Location:
  Vizag’s coastal geography gives it a natural advantage for undersea cable landings and data flow from transoceanic networks.

• Digital Transformation:
  The project will enable Andhra Pradesh to become a digital economy hub, supporting smart city development, cloud computing, and AI-driven industries.

• National Significance:
  Enhances India’s share in the global internet traffic grid, reducing dependency on existing routes through Mumbai and Chennai.

Andhra Pradesh’s 100-Day Coastal Pollution Action Plan

Context

• Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan, who also holds the Environment portfolio, has launched a 100-day coastal action plan in Kakinada district to tackle marine, coastal, and industrial pollution.

• The initiative aims to address growing concerns over untreated industrial effluents being released into the sea, affecting marine life, coastal livelihoods, and ecosystem balance.

Key Highlights

1. Objective:

   • To curb coastal and industrial pollution in Andhra Pradesh, particularly along the Uppada coastline in Kakinada district.

2. Implementation Mechanism:

   • Directed the Pollution Control Board (PCB) officials to prepare a comprehensive action plan for 100 days.

   • Ordered an industrial pollution audit of factories operating along the coastal belt.

3. Public Involvement:

   • Emphasized community participation — especially fisherfolk — in monitoring pollution sources.

   • Focus on transparency in waste monitoring and periodic pollution reporting by industries.

4. Technological Intervention:

   • Industries instructed to modernize treatment plants, adopt advanced waste processing technologies, and ensure real-time pollution monitoring.

5. Policy Focus:

   • The plan includes reviewing air and water contamination levels, regulating industrial effluent discharge, and promoting accountability in coastal industries.

Background

• Coastal Andhra Pradesh, particularly Kakinada and Uppada, faces significant marine pollution from industrial effluents, oil discharge, and urban sewage.

• The problem affects fishing communities and coastal biodiversity, including mangroves and marine fauna.

• The issue also raises concerns about non-compliance with Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) norms.

Broader Implications

1. Environmental Governance:

   • Strengthens state-level coastal regulation frameworks and aligns with the National Coastal Mission under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).

2. Livelihood Security:

   • Protects the livelihoods of fisherfolk dependent on clean marine ecosystems.

3. Industrial Accountability:

   • Encourages sustainable industrial practices and ensures corporate environmental responsibility (CER) compliance.

4. Data-Driven Decision Making:

   • The audit and comprehensive report will improve pollution data transparency for better coastal management.

Andhra Pradesh CM Launches State’s First Smart Street Bazaar

Context

• Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu inaugurated Andhra Pradesh’s first Smart Street Vending Market at Maidpadu Gate, Nellore, under the “One Family, One Entrepreneur” initiative.

• The project aims to formalize and modernize street vending by turning street vendors into entrepreneurs, providing them with permanent, well-equipped shops and social security.

• The CM also announced the expansion of Smart Markets across districts to promote inclusive growth and urban self-employment.

Key Features of the Smart Street Bazaar

Objectives and Significance

1. Economic Empowerment:

   • Aims to transform informal street vending into a formalized economic activity.

   • Encourages self-employment, income stability, and micro-enterprise development.

2. Urban Livelihood Support:

   • Provides safe, hygienic, and organized vending zones in urban areas.

   • Reduces eviction-related vulnerabilities faced by informal vendors.

3. Gender Inclusion:

   • Women vendors expressed gratitude, noting that permanent shops enhance financial stability, social status, and dignity.

4. Sustainability:

   • Solar-powered lighting, rooftop seating, and modular design ensure eco-friendly and cost-efficient operation.

Associated Social Welfare Components

• CM reaffirmed his government’s focus on healthcare and education through:

  • Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model in new medical colleges to provide free, high-quality medical services for the underprivileged.

  • Creation of 110 new medical seats for poor students.

• The “Smart Market” initiative thus aligns with broader welfare efforts — livelihood, health, and education forming a holistic development triad.

Broader Implications

• Urban Transformation: Marks a shift from traditional vending to digitally-enabled, planned urban markets.

• Economic Formalization: Helps integrate street vendors into formal financial systems, promoting access to credit, insurance, and digital payments.

• Entrepreneurial Ecosystem: Complements initiatives like PM SVANidhi by enhancing long-term vendor sustainability through infrastructure support.