Minister Nara Lokesh Welcomes Andhra Pradesh Budget

Andhra Pradesh's state government recently presented the budget for the 2025-26 financial year, amounting to ₹3.22 lakh crore. Reacting to this, the state's Minister for Education and Information Technology, Nara Lokesh, expressed his appreciation, stating that the budget has been designed to support all sections of society.

He praised Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu's leadership, emphasizing that the government is strategically working towards making Andhra Pradesh's school education system the best in the country. As part of this initiative, the decision to provide free electricity to all government schools in the state was described by Lokesh as a revolutionary step. He noted that this move would not only reduce the financial burden on local institutions but also alleviate pressure on teachers and students.

Lokesh highlighted that, in line with the "Super Six" promises, the government has allocated ₹9,407 crore in the budget to implement the "Talliki Vandanam" scheme from the 2025-26 financial year. This scheme will be applicable to all students studying from grades 1 to 12 across the state.

For the education sector, the budget has earmarked ₹31,805 crore for school education and ₹2,506 crore for higher education, totaling ₹34,311 crore—an increase of ₹2,076 crore compared to the previous year. Lokesh stated that this allocation reflects the government's commitment to strengthening the public education system. He further asserted that the newly allocated funds would support his vision of establishing a model education system in Andhra Pradesh over the next five years.

Additionally, Lokesh welcomed the decision to set up the Ratan Tata Innovation Hub in Amaravati to promote technological advancements in the state. He remarked that this initiative would create international opportunities for Andhra Pradesh's youth, enhancing their global prospects.