Andhra Pradesh Cabinet clears path for foreign university campuses in State

The Andhra Pradesh Cabinet has approved gratuity for eligible ASHA workers who die while in service, says I&PR Minister Kolusu Parthasarathy. | Photo Credit: File Photo The Andhra Pradesh Cabinet on Wednesday approved amendments to the Andhra Pradesh Education Act, 1982, and a new policy for 2026 to facilitate the establishment of campuses of foreign higher educational institutions and private universities in the State.The decisions were taken at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu. Briefing the media after the meeting, Information and Public Relations Minister Kolusu Parthasarathy said the new policy would provide a comprehensive framework for setting up campuses for foreign educational institutions and private universities, besides extending incentives and infrastructure facilities.The Cabinet approved 12 agenda items, including the establishment of a Horticulture Information and Management System (APHIMS), the upgradation of the Repalle Community Health Centre to a 100-bed area hospital, and guidelines for the 2026-27 Thalliki Vandanam scheme, the Minister said.The Cabinet gave the green signal to the APHIMS project at a cost of ₹20.62 crore to be implemented over 72 months. It also approved gratuity for eligible ASHA workers who die while in service. A gratuity of ₹5,000 for every year of service, subject to a maximum of ₹1.50 lakh, would be paid, he said.The 30-bed Community Health Centre at Repalle would be upgraded to a 100-bed area hospital at a cost of ₹58.42 crore, with 66 additional posts.The Cabinet also ratified the guidelines and administrative sanctions for the 2026-27 Thalliki Vandanam scheme and approved financial assistance for an additional 58,060 beneficiaries. With this, 68,57,880 beneficiaries would be covered under the scheme, Mr. Parthasarathy said.It also ratified orders increasing diet charges in welfare hostels and residential schools.The Cabinet approved a Centre of Excellence for tribal students at Marikavalasa in Visakhapatnam, offering intensive residential coaching for IIT-JEE and NEET examinations. It approved reclassification of 1.69 acres for a guesthouse for officials of the Kuppam Area Development Authority and ratified orders for regularisation of encroachments on unobjectionable government poramboke lands in NTR district.In YSR Kadapa district, 7.66-acre government land at Pathur was approved for transfer to the Endowments Department for temple development.The Cabinet also approved the reclassification of seven acres of land in Kondapi of Prakasam district for a boys’ residential school and hostel.The Minister said four Ministers were absent from the meeting with prior permission. Published - October 07, 2026 07:14 pm IST