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esigns for the memorial centre for Dr B R Ambedkar which is coming up Ambedkar in Amarvati capital city are in the final stage. The State Government released two designs for the proposed Dr B R Ambedkar Smruti Vanam, and Smruthi completed an online poll to select the best design. A 20 acre site was identi - fied on ceremonial axis of Amaravati capital city. The Smruthi Vanam consists Vanam of a Memoral Centre of international standards, celebrating the achieve - ments of Dr B R Ambedkar. The two designs, Icon and Park, offer a breath - taking view of the memorial. The park is shaped as a ceremonial axis on the Dlines of Rajpath Memorial in New Delhi. The project has two components, the Memorial Programme and the Convention Programme. The Ambedkar Smriti Vanam, coming up with an outlay of Rs 97.28 crore, would be a new landmark destination in the capital city of Amaravati. AP Eng Jan 2018 30th_Layout 1 12/30/2017 3:09 PM Page 3 Downloaded from http://SmartPrep.in C O N T E N T S

Shaking hands with 10 Telugu Films South Korea To Watch Out For 28 In 2018 6 The visit to South Korea is one more step in CM Chandrababu Naidu's efforts to bolster the manufacturing sector in AP to generate incomes and increase the economic profile of the state. 5 High growth rate in agri 16 and allied sectors CM’s 24 Social Network

Happening Andhra CM's family declares assets Various developments across the 32 state of Andhra Pradesh. Bonanza for Pension scheme for 18 Visakhapatnam transgenders 11 city 30 Godavari-Pennar link - Wireless Internet Tech - 12 age is next 20 Amazing nology to Andhra Andhra Pradesh Guidelines for 13 AP Pioneers Digital Direct Selling in AP 18 Connectivity of India

New Assembly will have 14 a tower design 34 Kapu quota Bill passed by Assembly

Literary reminiscences Of Gurazada Apparao Pantulu 26 Downloaded from http://SmartPrep.in

EDITORIAL ANDHRA PRADESH Published Monthly In English & Telugu Volume:13 January 2018 Issue:8 Salivahana Era 1939 Tech-tonic Shift everaging technology for socio‐economic uplift of the fledgling Commissioner state of Andhra Pradesh has been the focus of the Government led S Venkateswar IIS Lby Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu. The launch of the Real Time Governance State Center recently at the Andhra Pradesh Secretariat in Editor a bid to provide ‘seamless and frictionless’ real time governance is the Ramesh Kandula culmination of these efforts. Executive Editor Described as a fully‐functional and highly evolved ecosystem of tech‐ Naresh Nunna nology and skill, the Centre operates with data input from people hub ‐ Cover Page which hosts the data of all the households in the state. The info Real Time Governance contained in the system is in turn linked with various Government departments . Second Cover Ambedkar Smruthi Vanam The initiative to make all the data and information accessible from the Third Cover respective digital portals even as the Government aims to go paperless Month in pics by 31st March is part of the same mission. The process of data integration by various departments has begun in right earnest, which when com‐ Fourth Cover APIIC Advt on Sunrise State pleted can empower the Government to target schemes more scientifi‐ cally and with optimal benefit to the population. Published by: The ambitious AP Fiber Grid, launched by the President of India Ram Nath Information & Public Relations Kovind, is expected to bring about a bandwidth revolution in the state, Department leading to rapid connectivity. About 1.3 crore households, 50,000 Government of Andhra Pradesh schools, 10,000 government offices and 5,000 public health centres will Hyderabad - 500 028 be connected under the project, fundamentally changing the way the Ph: 040-23300258 Government and the citizens interact. IT and Panchayat Raj Minister N Lokesh has provided ample evidence of Views expressed by various how village‐level grievances such as roads or drains can be addressed authors in this issue reflect their through the effective use of social media. He received 10,111 complaints personal opinions. through social network sites till date, 70 percent of which were tackled by the Minister through personal monitoring. Design The proof of the pudding lies in the achievement of 33 Gram Panchayats Karthik Beesu of Andhra Pradesh which were identified among 83 most developed Pan‐ chayats across the country on development index, in a baseline survey Photos: done by Union Rural Development Ministry under Antyodaya Scheme. T.Srinivasa Reddy, Vijayawada No other government in the country has so productively used technology Printed at for not only economic uplift of the citizens but also for betterment of Caxton Offset Pvt. Ltd. their living standards. The cynics may wallow in their gripe, but the Hyderabad results on the ground speak louder. Each Issue : Rs 20/- Annual Subscription : Rs 220/-

Email: [email protected] Ramesh Kandula www.ipr.ap.nic.in Editor

Ramesh Babu Kandula M/s Caxton Offset Pvt. Ltd Printed and Published by on behalf of Director/Commissioner, Information and Public Relations Dept.; Printed at ., 11.5.416/3, Red Hills, Hyderabad - 500 004; Published at Of�ice of Director/Commissioner , I&PR Dept, Govt of Andhra Pradesh, Samachar Bhavan, AC Guards, Hyderabad - 500028. Editor: Ramesh Babu Kandula. Ph: 040-23300258. 4 JANUARY 2018 AP Eng Jan 2018 30th_Layout 1 12/30/2017 3:09 PM Page 5 Downloaded from http://SmartPrep.in

CM's family declares assets

The CM with family members.

In an effort to he family members of Chief Ambassador car worth Rs 1.52 lakh. He has improve trans - Minister N Chandrababu Naidu a residential building in Hyderabad worth parency in public declared their assets for seventh of Rs 7.75 crore. life, Chief Minister year in a row. Telugu Desam Nara Bhuvaneswari, the Chief Minister's Chandrababu Naidu Party (TDP) national general wife, owns net assets worth Rs 25.41 crore, secretary and Information Technology and while the liabilities are Rs 20.90 crore. She has been declaring Panchayat Raj Minister Nara Lokesh made owns an Audi car worth Rs 91.93 lakh and assets of each and the announcement on behalf of the family. has Rs 7.44 lakh in savings account. everyone of his At a press conference, Lokesh said while he Replying to queries, Lokesh said that before family members for has total assets of Rs 26.39 crore, bank questioning the property details announced loans and advances accounted for Rs 11.17 by him, the opposition leaders should the last seven years. crore, leaving his net assets at Rs 15.21 emulate the example of the Chief Minister crore. His wife, Nara Brahmani owns net and declare their assets. The Minister said assets to the tune of Rs 15.01 crore. The that he has been challenging the critics to liabilities stood at Rs 36.14 lakh. Nara come for a debate on the assets and bank Devansh, his son, has fixed deposits and deposits owned by his family. But no one house property worth Rs 11.54 crore. was coming forward. Neither had they dis - Chief Ministe Chandrababu Naidu has more losed the details of thier properties, he said. liabilities than assets. His total liabilities are “We are declaring the assets taking the ac - Rs 5.64 crore, while the net assets are Rs quisition value into account. Present mar -v 2.53 crore. Naidu took a housing loan of Rs ket value is not being taken into JANUARY 2018 5.60 crore from Bank of Baroda and has Rs consideration as it keeps fluctuating,” he 5 40 lakh in savings account and owns explained. T AP Eng Jan 2018 30th_Layout 1 12/30/2017 3:09 PM Page 6 Downloaded from http://SmartPrep.in

CM's three-day visit kindles interest in AP SHAKING HANDS WITH SOUTH KOREA

The CM’s delegation received a warm welcome during their South Korea tour.

he three-day visit of the Korean automotive company Kia high-level delegation led by Motors is in the process of beginning The visit to South Chief Minister N Chan - works on its greenfield plant in Andhra Korea is one more drababu Naidu to the East- Pradesh, where it plans to invest over step in CM Chandra- Asian economic $1.1 billion. Various ancillary units of babu Naidu's powerhouse South Korea paid rich Kia Motors have confirmed their plans dividends in terms of exposing the to invest about Rs 4,995.2 crore with efforts to bolster the slew of opportunities Andhra Pradesh potential to generate 7,171 jobs. manufacturing can offer for investment as well as The Chief Minister appealed to the sector in Andhra economic and technological coopera - Korean companies to draw inspiration Pradesh for generat - tion. The Chief Minister and his team from Kia Motors and come forward to ing incomes and kicked off their whirlwind tour to invest in the State. The Government increasing the South Korea in December first week on was providing many facilities and cre - a positive note by entering into a letter ating the ecosystem for growth of in - economic profile of of intent (LoI) with a group of 37 com - the state. dustry. When some representatives panies. sought clarifications over the invest - The Andhra Pradesh Economic Devel - ment climate, Naidu said, “I assure you opment Board (EDB) entered into the again that any problems faced by you LoI and the group of companies will be solved immediately. Anantapur, evinced interest in investing Rs 3,000 which you have selected, is close to crore in AP and providing employment Bangalore airport and Krishnapatnam to 7,171 people. Besides, the ancillary port. Infrastructure is in place. There 6 units of Kia Motors have confirmed are no law and order proJbAlNemUAs. RY 2018 their participation in the venture. The Neither is there labour unrest.” T AP Eng Jan 2018 30th_Layout 1 12/30/2017 3:09 PM Page 7 Downloaded from http://SmartPrep.in

The Kia Motors is in the process of beginning works on its greenfield plant in Andhra Pradesh, where it plans to in - vest over $1.1 billion. Various ancillary units of Kia Motors have confirmed their plans to invest in the state.

Solar power plant

week of December, and discuss the and Delhi. Jusung Engineering CEO Hwang Chul- plan ahead. For a lunch meeting, the The next meeting was with J. J. Hong, joo, who met the CM, said the com - Chief Minister met with the CEO and Founder CEO of Kokam, which is one pany had plans to establish a solar President of Lotte Corp., Kag-Gyu of the world's leading battery manu - power plant with a capacity of 100 Hwang and Executive Vice President facturers. Kokam is currently work - giga watts in India. The company was Lim, Byung Yun. The Chief Minister ing on a battery which does not die, also developing the next-generation explained the investment opportuni - which will be a major breakthrough. LED bulbs, called OLED. Naidu in - ties of AP, the growth potential and The Chief Minister also met with Ms. vited the company to set up a re - the development project of the capi - Stephanie Cho, Executive Vice Presi - search & development unit in the tal city, Amaravati. He said that dent of Hansol Chemicals and The Chiefs Mtainteis.t eYr ’Ks idmel,e agdatjiuon cvti spitrinogfe tshseo Bru tsoan Port. Andhra's strength lies in the agricul - Genebok Kim, General Manager. The India Studies at Hankook University ture, horticulture and allied sectors. company is engaged in manufactur - of Foreign Studies, and MD of BTN He urged the Hwang to come to AP, as ing, supply and distribution of chemi - cal products including hydrogen peroxide, polyacrylamide, SG and BPO. They manufacture chemicals to purify water and paints that are used in smartphones. Ms. Cho said Hansol Chemicals considers India as a poten - tial maker, and is keen to explore pos - sibilities in India.The next meeting was with Lim Byung-Yong, President of Gran Seoul Engineering & Con - struction. Others present from GS were Executive Vice Presidents Tae- Jin Kim and Yoon Hong Huh, Senior Vice President Lim Chong-Min and General Manager Ryan Jeon. GS E&C is a South Korean conglomerate com - pany involved in the exploration and Co. Ltd., presented a proposal for the production of electric and gas utili - development of the first local- it has enterprising people, a huge Ptieasc, tc awthiotdhe ManIdC anode materials for friendly Sustainable Integrated Smart market, a skilled younger generation rechargeable batteries and engineer - City in India in Anantapur. and is a peaceful state. It was decided ing and construction projects. that a joint working group would be The CM's next meeting was with Kim set up with representatives of the AP Daehoon, CEO of Iritech. The organi - government and Lotte Group to ex - On the second day, the State govern - zation supplies iris-based biometrics plore the possibilities of cooperation. software and hardware solutions for ment and Make in India Korea Center identity assurance in the fields of se - Lotte Corp. is South Korea's eighth (MIC) signed a Memorandum of Un - curity and safety. The Chief Minister largest business conglomerate, and is derstanding (MoU) to set up Korea explained all the initiatives with high engaged in diverse industries like Industrial Complex in the State. As level technology being implemented candy manufacturing, beverages, per the MoU, the Andhra Pradesh in Andhra Pradesh, including sen - hotels, fast food, retail, financial serv - Centre will be established at Busan in sors, Internet of Things, drones, ices, heavy chemicals, electronics, IT, South Korea. The MIC will also con - duct outreach programmes in Korea JANUARcYlo u20d1 a8 nd more. Daehoon agreed to construction, publishing & entertain - 7 visit Andhra Pradesh in the second ment. They also have a strong pres - for the promotion of investment and ence in India near Chennai, Kolkata business in AP. Chief Minister Chan - AP Eng Jan 2018 30th_Layout 1 12/30/2017 3:09 PM Page 8 Downloaded from http://SmartPrep.in

Chief Minister and delegation during a visit to Kia Motors plant.

other countries as well,” he said. Naidu requested him to visit AP as State guest. Busan Vice Mayor Kim Young Wan and the CM discussed the prospects of mutual cooperation be - tween fisheries university of AP and Pukyoung national university of Korea. The Chief Minister visited Busan new port, which can handle up to 13.2 million TEU shipping contain - ers per year. The CM and his team visited the Busan-Jinhae Free Eco - drababu Naidu attended a business Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister as a nomic Zone (BJFEZ), Busan-Jinhae seminar on the second day of his visit dynamic leader, and said there were FLEGZ taon dc oNonks-isdaen rN saetitotnianl gIn udups turniail t at Busan. Addressing the gathering, many similarities between South Complex, and New Indian Cultural Naidu said Andhra Pradesh was Korea and Andhra Pradesh, and un - Centre – Make in India Centre, Busan. ahead of other States in creation of derlined the need for mutual cooper - infrastructure. Also, an investor- ation in various areas like health and friendly atmosphere prevailed in the medicare, agriculture, renewable en - Consumer electronics giant, LG Elec - stgate. AP unveiled the best indus - ergy, sea ports, development of cities, tronics, responded positively to trial policy and was offering best and the like. Chandrababu Naidu’s invitation to packages to the investors. Isuzu, Indian ambassador to South Korea set up its unit in Andhra Pradesh. Its Hero, Bharat Benz and Kia Motors Doraiswami expressed happiness president Soon Kwon said, “We were a few automobile giants that over Naidu's visit, and said Busan haven’t set up manufacturing unit have footprints in AP. “To know more city and AP have many comparisons outside South Korea. But, we will about our efficiency, you can talk to in work culture, usage of technology, consider the proposal of the AP gov - Kia Motors who are setting up their development of ports etc. He also rec - ernment.” Naidu and his team inter - plant in our state,” he said. Naidu also ommended Andhra as the best place acted with the LG officials in South praised Korea for developing "very for doing business in India, to the Ko - Korea and wanted the Korean com - fast" despite facing similar problems rean industrialists. Doraiswami fur - pany to start manufacturing storage as that of Andhra Pradesh. ther said that the land allotted to Kia and display systems such as LED and "Taking inspiration from you, we are motors in Anantapuram district was OLED screens in AP. Soon Kwon passing on the path of development. I a rocky land. "We thought it will take asked Naidu about the competitive request your participation in building one year but Andhra Pradesh govern - advantage of Andhra Pradesh other a new Andhra Pradesh. Our state has ment cleared and flattened it in just states in India. The CM told him that many resources. Thousands of kilo - three months," he added. Later a Andhra Pradesh was ranked No. 1 in meters of sea coast are one of the ad - Isnhovrit efil mto o Bn udsevaenlo Mpmaeynot rworks at Ease Of Doing Business. He also ex - vantages. There are no labor the land allotted to Kia motors was plained him the facilities avialable in problems, nor issues of law and screened. the State and its flexible industrial order. We have a peaceful ecosystem policy. "AP is ahead of other States, for industries," he added. registering double-digit growth rate. "I will be available on a phone call or At another meeting, Busan Mayor Other companies can take a cue from SMS text. I believe South Korea can Suh Byungsoo said AP and Busan can the experience of Kia Motors,” he be a confident business partner to establish sister state relationship. “So said. “Even Foxconn left Tamil Nadu Andhra Pradesh," Naidu said. far, we have been focusing on Japan, to set up its unit in AP. Foxconn now China and the US. We are now keen JANUARY 2018 8 Busan metropolitan city vice mayor employs 13,000 people in the State,” on establishing economic ties with Kim Young Wan addressed the he said, adding, “You can visit AP to AP Eng Jan 2018 30th_Layout 1 12/30/2017 3:09 PM Page 9 Downloaded from http://SmartPrep.in

APEDB hopes to attract direct invest - ment of about Rs10,000 crore to the State through the cluster project. This has the potential to generate around 45,000 jobs, according to APEDB.

Korean Cluster Project experience the ecosystem for indus - trial growth created there.” “It is unusual to see a government leader speaking with such technolog - ical awareness,” Soon Kwon said, adding, “We will consider exploring opportunities in AP”. Naidu met OCI CEO and president WooHyun Lee, Darcl Director-cum- Deputy CEO Benny Kang, vice-presi - dent Nikhil Agarwal, manager (Global Biz Development) Kyeok Nam Kwon, and Greencross Cell CEO Lee Duck - jFoooc. Hues aolsno cmoent otafficniealrs bofu KsAinMeAs, s, ndhra Pradesh is seeking to develop a South Korean City KpAoIrCtA e, Hxypuanndsaio Mn erchant Marine project in Andhra Pradesh where KIA Motors is likely to be the etc. anchor industry along with a clutch of other ancillary industries in the automotive sector. The Andhra Pradesh Economic Development Board signed an MoU with Tier-2 and Tier-3 ancillaries of KIA Motors, referred to as the Korean Association in Chennai, for the The CM met officials of Hyundai Mer - project. chant Marine and discussed the potential for container business and “This is a very vital step towards global visibility and also a great port expansion in the state. On the wAay to carve the path for upcoming collaborations,” J Krishna third-day of his tour to South Korea, Kishore, CEO, APEDB, said. The Korean Association in Chennai is an the Chief Minister met Hyundai's Soo association of Korean companies. The proposal is to develop an Ho Kim, Executive Vice President, integrated industrial cluster in the state to be occupied by Korean Chief Container Business Officer, companies, which include Tier-2 and Tier-3 ancillaries of Kia David Seong, General Manager, Motors. The Korean Cluster Project is subject to due process and Sangsik Lee, Senior Vice President applicable rules and regulations in Andhra Pradesh. and GB Kim, Senior Vice President. APEDB looks at commitment to bring in direct investment of "Our ports are well-connected and approximately Rs. 10,000 crore to Andhra Pradesh through the Ko - deep, and the state will generate a lot rean Cluster Project. This has the potential to generate employment of cargo to be exported. Our airports, for approximately 45,000 persons, according to APEDB. road network, inland waterways, in - The board has agreed to provide the necessary assistance, including dustrial corridors (VCIC and BCIC) necessary assistance in discussion with the Centre. KIA Motors had and special employment zones are earlier outlined plans to invest about $1.1 billion on a greenfileld developing at a high pace," the Chief plant in Ananthapur district of Andhra Pradesh. The project is set to Minister said. come up at a strategic location close to Krishnapatnam port and Senior Vice President, GB Kim said also to major cities. Hyundai, who have increased their Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, during his South Korea visit, business in India by 50 per cent in interacted with some of the companies there, to encourage them to last two years are considering choos - set up their projects in AP along with KIA Motors, seeking to make ing Krishnapatnam as their trans - it a Korean industrial hub. JANUARY 2018 shipment hub of India. Naidu also expressed interest to start the re - 9 search on modern logistics through AP Eng Jan 2018 30th_Layout 1 12/30/2017 3:09 PM Page 10 Downloaded from http://SmartPrep.in

Going by the interest shown by many leading industrial houses during this visit, AP may witness an increased flow of investments from South Korea in the near future.

Positive Response: CM

the proposed Logistics University. Hoon Kim and Young-Joon from trip. The Chief Minister also met the CEO Trade and Technology Support Divi - of Greencross Cell Dr Lee Duckjoo, sion of Korea Auto Industries Corp Executive Director Ahn Jong Seong Association (KAICA). Later, Naidu The response of the Korean compa - and Team Manager David J Eun. met the Chairman and CEO of Youn - nies and industrialists towards in - gone Corporation, which is a manu - vesting in AP was very positive, Chief Greencross Cell conducts research on factures and sells apparel, footwear Minister Chandrababu Naidu said cancer treatment; they are spe - and gear products. During the discus - after wrapping up his three-day visit cialised in liver and pancreatic cancer sion, the Chief Minister emphasised to South Korea. "Korean companies and have already produced a com - on AP potential in the textile sector, have recently had bitter experiences in China and now they are looking for better alternatives. It is high time that we attracted them here," he said. Applauding their work culture, he said South Korea strived very hard to come out of poverty after the division with North Korea and today it has surpassed India in many economic parameters. "If they start a project, they put their time and blood into it and make it a global brand," he added. He said several companies showed interest to invest in AP. Global players such as Lotto, Dasan Networks, The AP delegation interacting with Korean children. Kokam, Posco Daewoo Corporation, OCI, Darcl and Greencross Cell etc had responded positively, he said. A South Korea township would be de - veloped as 37 suppliers of automo - he even invited them to the Partner - mercialised drug in South Korea. The bile industry came forward to invest ship Summit in Vizag in February. company is trying to get clearances Rs 5,000 crore, he disclosed. A logis - Youngone Corporation operates ma - from the United States and is cur - tics university would be set up and, jorly in Bangladesh, Vietnam, China rently working with Singapore, and as part of it, he discussed with the au - and El Salvador. The last time they looking forward for increasing their thorities the best ports in South had invested in Chennai and Coim - reach in East-Asian markets. Korea, he said. batore, but withdrew later. Now they The visit to South Korea is one more Naidu even asked Greencross Cell's have expressed interest to enter step in Chief Minister Chandrababu officials to get in touch with the India again. Andhra Pradesh Government as soon Naidu's efforts to bolster the manu - Ministers Yanamala Ramakrishnudu as they get clearances. facturing sector in Andhra Pradesh to and N Amaranatha Reddy, Govern - generate incomes and increase the Further in the day, the chief minister ment Advisor (communications) economic profile of the state. Going met the officials of Korean Automo - Parakala Prabhakar, CMO Chief Secre - by the interest shown by many lead - bile Manufacturers Association tary G Sai Prasad, Industries Secre - ing industrial houses during this (KAMA), who are keen to enter v tary Solmon Arokiaraj, Economic visit, AP may witness an increased Andhra Pradesh after Kia Motors se - Development Board CEO J Krishna flow of investments from South 10 lected the region. He also met the JANUARY 2018 Kishore, and APIIC MD Babu A were Korea in the near future. Deputy General Manager, Young- part of the delegation during this AP Eng Jan 2018 30th_Layout 1 12/30/2017 3:09 PM Page 11 Downloaded from http://SmartPrep.in

Pension scheme for TRANSGENDERS

AP is the first state to extend welfare schemes to transgenders.

n a first of its kind, the Andhra Pradesh The Cabinet decided to introduce Chandranna Pelli Cabinet approved a scheme to provide a Kanuka for the BCs, the SCs, the STs and the pension of Rs 1,500 to transgenders. The minorities in February. The BCs will be get Rs Cabinet meeting, which was chaired by Chief D30G,0P0 0a apnpdo tihnet SmCse annt d the STs Rs 50,000. Almost Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, took the 40,000 people will be benefitted from this scheme decision after deliberations. Information and in 2018. Public Relations Minister Kaluva Srinivasulu and Municipal Administration Minister P Narayana disclosed the decisions. The Cabinet discussed in The Cabinet resolved to bring an ordinance to depth about the transgender policy. amend the A.P. Police Act for appointing the It was decided to keep the policy online, and to Director General of Police (DGP) on its own. The take feedback from all sections of the society. Once DGP appointment would be, however, subject to the policy comes into effect, 26,000 transgenders the All India Services Act, 1953. The Cabinet had in the state will be benefitted. Under this scheme, aUlsrob daenc imdeadn tod barlis ng about a comprehensive the transgenders will also be provided skill devel - Police Act at that time for the welfare of the police opment for financial stability. The transgenders forces. will also be provided ration cards, plots and scholarships. They will also be extended loans through banks so The Cabinet cleared the creation of 9 urban man - that they can start small businesses. Special toilets dals: 2, 3 and 4 mandals in Visakhapatnam, 2, 3 will be built in public places like malls and cinema and 4 mandals in Vijayawada and one each in Gun - halls. Subsidized bus passes and health care tur, Nellore and Kurnool. The Cabinet decided to through Arogyasri scheme will also be provided. constitute a sub-committee for taking steps for The Chief Minister had earlier announced the pro - speedy redressal of grievances of the AgriGold vic - posed pension scheme for the transgender com - tims. Another significant decision was to give munity in the state. Andhra Pradesh has become Transstroy another year’s time to return the mo -v only the next state after Kerala and Odisha to sanc - bilisation advance amounting to about Rs530 JANUARY 2018 tion a pension scheme for the transgender com - crore. It will now have time until September 20118 1 Imunity. to do so. AP Eng Jan 2018 30th_Layout 1 12/30/2017 3:10 PM Page 12 Downloaded from http://SmartPrep.in

GODAVARI-PENNAR linkage is next

Water Resources Minister Nitin Gadkari comes to the State. The WAPCOS team, pre - senting the report on the project, said that 3,625 MW power would be re - quired for the pumping 320 tmcft of Godavari water. Land to the tune of 32,000 acres, including 7,000 acres forest land, had to be acquired. Two tunnels were needed between Polavaram and Prakasam Barrage and a reservoir was needed near Bollapalli. And 701 km of canals needed to be excavated from the fter successfully linking the Godavari with Polavaram project to Sangam Barrage. On completion of Krishna through the Pattiseema Lift Irriga - the project, 1,500 tmcft could be stored in various reser - tion Scheme (PLIS), the State Government is The project voirs, the experts said. involves divermtoinogting linking the Pennar with the Godavari. It is estimated that The process of Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) and 320 TMCs of sur - funds to a tune of Rs 80,000 crore Hydrographic surveys have already been completed for plus water from will be needed for diverting 320 linking the rivers, and the geotechnical studying is in the Godavari to Pen - TMCs of surplus water from final stage. The Government aims to provide adequate Godavari to Pennar. The State water for irrigation, industries and drinking purposes for nar. Setting up an - Government is also contemplating the four Rayalaseema districts and also Nellore and other barrage on setting up another barrage on the Prakasam by linking Pennar with Godavari. The Chief the Krishna’s Krishna’s downstream Pulichin - Minister directed officials to prepare plans for complet - tala project. ing the linkage of rivers in a phased manner and also for downstream is reducing the project cost. He also suggested to them to Chief Minister N Chandrababu make a study over the feasibility of diverting water also on the cards. Naidu made a few suggestions to through existing canals. He said that the state will have the Water and Power Consultancy 1,500 TMCs water storage capacity once the linking of Services (WAPCOS) team of ex - rivers was over. Water Resources Minister Devineni perts on Godavari-Pennar River Umamaheswara Rao, Secretary Shashi Bhushan Kumar, Linkage plan and asked them to CM’s personal secretary Sai Prasad and Engineer-in-Chief get back to him with their inputs. M Venkateswara Rao were present at the presentation A team of WAPCOS experts made a presentation to the made by WAPCOS. Chief Minister on the Rs 80,000-crore project at the Sec - retariat. The Chief Minister asked the experts to make the A new barrage project more cost effective and segregate the parts that Officials also informed the Chief Minister that Rs 3,278.60 could be taken up immediately. crore will be needed for construction of another barrage upstream Prakasam barrage in the Krishna. Completion Suggesting the low-hanging fruit concept to the team, of the project will take three years. The Chief Minister ivs Naidu asked them to identify the components that would favouring the construction of a barrage at Vykuntapuram, bear fruit immediately to be taken up in the first phase. JANUARY 2018 12 which is 23 km upstream Prakasam barrage and 60 km He said he would discuss the project when the Union A downstream of Pulichintala project. AP Eng Jan 2018 30th_Layout 1 12/30/2017 3:10 PM Page 13 Downloaded from http://SmartPrep.in

Guidelines for DIRECT SELLING IN AP

vides the policy pragmatism and a predictable regulatory environment for the direct selling industry and Andhra Pradesh is poised to lead efforts in furthering investments and job creation in the sector” Leena Jaisani, Assistant Secretary General & Head FICCI – Retail, FMCG, Direct Selling and E-Commerce remarked "Indian Direct Selling In - dustry is an important component of the Indian economy and acknowl - edging this, we at FICCI through our focused task force on direct selling is working dedicatedly towards the growth of this industry and seeking regulatory clarity for this new indus - he Government of Andhra Consumer Affairs at the Centre and try." Pradesh has notified the concerned ministry in states for "FICCI is working closely with the direct selling guidelines consumer protection. Central and State Governments on putting in place a pre - Direct selling industry in India has the same and. I would like to dictable regulatory environment for not witnessed large-scale participa - congratulate Government of Andhra the direct-selling industry in India. tion owing to lack of regulations in Pradesh for implementing the much This notification would result in pol - the industry, these direct-selling awaited guidelines to govern the icy pragmatism, ease of doing busi - guidelines would provide the sector. I am certain that the effective ness and will be a major boost to the required fillip to the direct selling in - enactment of the same would facili - Rs. 10,000 direct-selling industry in dustry in India and the ‘Andhra tate the further growth of the sector India. Pradesh Direct Selling Guidelines and act as a growth catalyst in the South India accounts for one fourth Order 2017’ provides for a frame - state,” she added. of market share of the direct selling work for compliance for direct sell - Direct-selling is a heavy-employ - industry and Andhra Pradesh’s ing entities to ensure consumer ment generating industry with an entrepreneurial ethos makes it an protection and safeguard against estimated 50 lakh entrepreneurs important state for direct selling potential fraudulent activity. engaged in India by this sector. This entities. The Andhra Pradesh government is number is expected to increase to The Government of Andhra Pradesh also setting up a mechanism to 1.8 crore entrepreneurs by 2025. has adopted the Centre’s draft guide - monitor and supervise the activities In terms of gender-parity, Direct sell - lines as final norms for direct-selling of direct sellers and direct selling ing industry plays a critical role in business. Andhra Pradesh was part entities regarding compliance of the empowering women by offering an of the inter-ministerial committee guidelines. opportunity for generate income and established by the Government of J Krishna Kishore, Chief Executive acts as an alternative for those desir - India for establishing direct-selling Officer, Andhra Pradesh Economic ing to earn flexible income earning guidelines. Development Board, said “Andhra opportunities. This notification from T the Government of Andhra Pradesh Sikkim, Chhatisgarh and Telangana Pradesh’s entrepreneur ethos makes have already notified the guidelines direct-selling an important aspect of will not only play a key role in and Maharashtra is in the process of growth especially when South India entrepreneurship through self- v notifying the guidelines soon. Being accounts for one fourth of India’s employment, but also have a multi - JANUAaR Yst a2t0e1 s8 ubject, direct-selling indus - direct selling market share” plier effect on the GDP growth rate13 try is regulated by the Ministry of “The notification of guidelines pro - of the economy. AP Eng Jan 2018 30th_Layout 1 12/30/2017 3:10 PM Page 14 Downloaded from http://SmartPrep.in

The new design for Assembly building finalised by the State Government.

taken by duly factoring in the sugges - tions given by Rajamouli. The well-known director gave a pres - entation on the historic backdrop of Andhra Pradesh starting from its prominence as a hub of maritime trade centuries ago to its makeover as a Sunrise State. Rajamouli told the media that the majority of the participants in the meeting had voted for the tower design and another one for which he submitted the images of the Telugu history, language and cultural aspects to the F+P was set aside. It could be used for the proposed cultural city or the media city. he proposed structure for the complex spread over 17 lakh Rajamouli said his concept to install the legislative building in square feet. a statue of ‘Telugu Talli’ in the Amaravati will have a tower Earlier, Chief Minister N Chan - Assembly hall with the rays from ris - design. The State Govern - drababu Naidu gave his approval to ing sun falling on it was unanimously ment took a decision finalising the the design of the Legislative Assem - approved. tower design for the Assembly build - bly building from two options at a “At the beginning of this exercise, I ing, which would be a 250-metre meeting with the officials of the AP helped in documenting the aspira - high structure including a four- Capital Region Development Author - tions of the Chief Minister, who storeyed main building. The Chief ity (CRDA) and representatives of the wanted the building to be a show- Minister and the Ministers felt the Foster+Partners , in which film direc - piece of Indian-ness and one that re - tower design was the best one, while tor S S Rajamouli had made some flects the richness of Telugu history it was also favoured by the majority suggestions on giving a cultural and culture. Now, I provided images NEW ASSEMBLY asked by the F+P. Otherwise, my con - tribution is as little as that of the squirrels in the construction of the will have a tower design Rama Sethu,” he said. There was yet another round of deliberations on the designs of the iconic government buildings in the ‘Amaravati Deep Dive Workshop’ conducted by the CRDA in of the public whose feedback was dimension. Vijayawada on December 14 and 15. taken. Municipal Administration A tower having the Assembly hall on Minister P Narayana said Foster + Construction activity will begin at the ground floor and other facilities Partners would come up with the ac - the earliest since the State Govern - above, which include space from tion plan for the design’s implemen - ment has formally finalised the de - T where visitors could have a bird’s tation in six to eight weeks, after signs for the State Legislature as well eye view of the capital region, was which the construction was likely to as the High Court. It may be recalled what the CM had chosen. The second begin and be completed in 1 1/2 to 2 that a Buddhist monument prototype design is a square-shaped structure. years. According to an official re - for the High Court was finalised ear - The CRDA sougt feedback from the 14 lease, the Assembly design includes a lier. JANUARY 2018 public on both the designs, on the viewing tower and a museum, with As the process of getting the final basis of which the final decision was AP Eng Jan 2018 30th_Layout 1 12/30/2017 3:10 PM Page 15 Downloaded from http://SmartPrep.in

Centre for Liveable Cities (CLC, Singapore) Executive Director Khoo Teng Chye said he was proud to be associated with the prestigious project while being conscious of the challenge of implementing the master plan.

structural designs is expected to take An urban design policy that incorpo - Meanwhile, the Chief Minister dis - at least two more months, officials of rates futuristic concepts but does not closed that the prestigious Harvard the Capital Region Development Au - lack in the human element is what ex - University in the USA had taken up thority (CRDA) will have to wait till perts emphasized at the valedictory land pooling process of Amaravati as then for inviting tenders. session of the two-day Amaravati a case study. “It is a matter of privi - Senior officials said they were expect - Deep Dive Workshop on Amaravati lege for us. During the deep dive ing the structural designs from the project. Judging by the rich array of workshop on Amaravati, Junji Shi - Foster + Partners within two months. global resource persons pooling their bata, Urban Planning expert from “Later, we will call for tenders and knowledge, Benjamin Yap, Group Di - Transport and Mobility, Tokyo, was hope to complete the construction of rector (north and south Asia) of Inter - also surprised at the way farmers of Dthe eLpeg Disliavteur We aonrdk Hsihgho Cp ourt within national Enterprise, Singapore, said Amaravati had responded to a simple two years after commencement of the entire world was coming together appeal from the government to sup - works,” they said. to help Andhra Pradesh in realising pAo rte tshpe olannsdi bpoleo llinogc eafl fort, which its dream to build its capital city not wgouvledr bnem a wenint -win situation,” he just as a seat of governance but also a said. The Singapore Government’s partner - place where different cultures co- ship with Andhra Pradesh in the exist and have economic development development of its capital city Amara - models that sustain growth. vati was described as the second life - Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu A responsible local government is time opportunity after transforming said he was keen on developing being visualised for the capital region. the Southeast Asian city-State into a Amaravati into one of the best cities One of unique aspects of the capital global economic powerhouse from by involving the top brains and region, as revealed in an “expert pre- what was a fishing village. Centre for stressed the need to speed up execu - read (document) on governance mat - Liveable Cities (CLC, Singapore) Exec - tion of the project with the help of the ters” prepared by the AP Capital utive Director Khoo Teng Chye said he Singapore government and others Region Development Authority was proud to be associated with the who came forward to assist AP in (CRDA) was a feature for recall. The prestigious project while being con - building a happy and healthy city. document was circulated at the two- day Deep Dive Workshop on Amara - scious of the challenge of implement - Earlier, experts from McKinsey & vati development, organised by the ing the master plan. He made these Company, World Bank, Centre for CRDA. remarks during his address at the in - Liveable Cities (Singapore), Foster + augural session of the two-day Amar - Partners etc. suggested that public “The elected representatives and staff avati Deep Dive Workshop on the transport should account for 80% of of the metropolitan government shall planning of Amaravati organised by the road traffic even as a large compo - be answerable to electors for per - the AP Capital Region Development nent of it should be electric mobility formance and delivery, failing which Authority. Chye said AP should put in combined with bicycling and walking. there will be a provision of recall,” the place institutions, policies and document reads. Population density not exceeding processes that facilitate implementa - 17,000 per sq. km, a dig-once policy “Ward sabhas held every six months tion of the master plan in the desired of creating utilities, houses as social with the electors under the Constitu - manner. The government could learn clusters but not a mere urban agglom - tion will decide on the continuity of from the way Singapore gave a lift to eration and IT infrastructure com - the elected representatives and the its downtown, which has an orderly prising Internet-of-Things etc. were key staff,” the document adds. The pattern of buildings and the famous among many recommendations that report further adds that there won’t Marina Promenade, attracting emerged. Earlier, the CM launched a be an elected body to govern the capi - tourists. In this context comes the in - block-chain-enabled asset (land tal to begin with as the AP govern - tegration of water bodies with the record data) management system, a ment proposes to constitute the urban landscape. Being a Greenfield web GIS portal that gives precise loca - Amaravati City Council as a nomi - v city, Amaravati offered the flexibility tion of government lands and private nated body in the period when the to make it a world-class blue-green JANUARY 2018 holdings and a Building Information city gets populated. city, he said. 15 Modelling System. AP Eng Jan 2018 30th_Layout 1 12/30/2017 3:10 PM Page 16 Downloaded from http://SmartPrep.in

High growth rate in AGRI AND ALLIED SECTORS

24.44% during the corresponding period in 2016-17. There is a fall in the industry and services sectors’ growth compared to the last fiscal. A growth rate of 9.98% had been registered in the industry sector during the first half of 2016-17, while it is 7.43% during the first half of the current fiscal. The serv - ices sector too registered a fall from 9.57% in 2016-17 to 8.38% in 2017-18. The growth in these sectors, how - ever, is high compared to the na - Chief Minister, Agriculture Minister and officials at a review meeting. tional growth. Also, there is a fall in the national growth in the agricul - ture and allied sectors and services sector. Chief Minister N Chandrababu ndhra Pradesh has registered a Naidu said the government would continue to growth rate of 11.37% during the focus on 40 growth engines to sustain and fur - first half of the current fiscal com - ther the growth rate. The objective was to pared to the national growth rate of achieve 80% satisfaction level of people with 5.8%. The growth rate, however, has 80%political ownership. A sustainable growth fallen compared to 12.23% in the first half of rate of 10% to 15% for the next 15 to 20 years 2016-17. was required for laying a strong foundation for The State has registered highest growth rate in development of the State. “To achieve it, a stable the agriculture and allied sectors with 25.60% government is necessary for the next two as against the national growth rate of 2%. Indus - decades,” he said. try and services sectors also registered highest The highest growth in the agriculture and allied growth rate of 7.43% and 8.38% respectively. Psehcteonrso wmaes nacahli eGvreod wdetsh pite meagre rainfall. It These growth rates are higher than the national was possible due to better water management, growth rates of 3.6% and 7.9% respectively. Naidu said. All the three sectors have shown a fall in growth during Q2 compared to Q1. The agriculture and allied sectors’ growth rate The agricultural sector in the State has recorded slipped to 24.05% in Q2 from 27.6% in Q1. Simi - an astounding growth of 25.56% which is five larly, the industry sector has shown a growth times the national average growth, according to rate of 6.80% in Q2 as against 8.05% in Q1. The Minister for Agriculture Somireddy Chandramo - services sector registered a growth rate of only hana Reddy. He told reporters after chairing a 8.38% in Q2 as against 8.67% in Q1. review meeting on agriculture and allied sectors that the phenomenal growth rate in the farm 16 The agriculture sector has registered 25.60% JANUARY 2018 growth during the first half compared to sector was the result of a massive technological intervention which marked a turnaround in con - A AP Eng Jan 2018 30th_Layout 1 12/30/2017 3:10 PM Page 17 Downloaded from http://SmartPrep.in

ventional farming. Beginning with the introduction of soil health cards in the State Biodiversity Index to the integration of technology with Aadhar enabled distribu - tion of fertilizers, the agricultural department had played a cru - cial role in the success story of farm sector, the Minister said. Temple Town to “We have provided 54.27 lakh soil health cards after testing 13.48 lakh soil samples and I am proud to announce that the host Pilot Scheme State has stood first in the implementation of soil health card scheme,’’ the Minister said. The Department of Agriculture would be receiving CSI Nihilent eGovernance award for the project ‘D-Krishi’, which enabled Aadhar-linked seed distribution. The award would be pre - sented in Kolkata on January 20, 2018. pilot project to determine the ‘City Bio - The Minister said that the target set for sowing kharif was diversity Index’ of major cities across achieved with over 90 % of sowing reported. Out of 40.47 lakh the State will be a reality soon in the hectares, sowing was completed in 36.62 lakh hectares. The de - temple city of Tirupati. Keeping in view tails of the row sowing iPn ekrh acraifp witaas rienccoordmede i nh ieg-chreops tb ook - the steady increase of population in urban areas The pinhge. Inno thme oenngaoil ng rabi season, 49% of the sowing area was and changing patterns of city growth, the Andhra growctohve rraedt eso i nfa rt. he Pradesh State Biodiversity Board (APSBDB) is embarking on the project. The pilot project farm sector was would evaluate biodiversity indicators, existing the result of a Andhra Pradesh’s Per Capita Income environmental indices and several other factors, massive techno - (PCI) is the highest in South India, the according to Chairman of APSBDB SBL Misra. logical interven - Chief Minister said. Addressing a meet - Tirupati hosted a district-level awareness pro - tion which marked ing of Heads of Departments (HODs), gramme/workshop on the ‘Concepts of Biodiver - Secretaries and Ministers at the Secre - sity, Biological Diversity Act and Access and a turnaround in tariat, he said Andhra Pradesh regis - Benefit Sharing (ABS) Mechanism’ recently. conventional farm - tered a growth rate of 11.37% during Misra revealed that APSBDB’s new area of focus ing, according to the first half of the current fiscal com - would be ‘City Biodiversity Index ‘. It would as - pared to national growth rate of 5.8%. sess the prevailing conditions in urban areas, Agriculture Minis - The growth rate, however, has fallen which of late had witnessed a gradual rise in pop - ter S Chandramo - compared to 12.23% in first half of ulation, infrastructure etc., followed by a discon - hana Reddy. 2016-17. The State registered highest nect with nature. growth in agriculture and allied sectors “Through this project we intend to evaluate the with 25.60% as against 2.0% of na - existing conditions and ensure that the biodiver - tional growth rate. The other sectors in - sity/natural resources are not disturbed beyond dustry and services also registered the limit,” the report quoted him. highest growth of 7.43% and 8.38% re - A Misra said they had already called for ‘expression spectively. These growth rates are higher than national growth of interest’ and would decide on the consultant in of 3.6% and 7.9% in industry and service sectors, he said. a couple of months. The process would be fol - Asserting that it was not just growth rates and GSDP that were lowed by a detailed assessment of the city over important, the Chief Minister said: “Every performance indica - 23 parameters as per the ‘City Biodiversity Index,’ tor is equally important to the growth of the State. We are paid also known as ‘Singapore Index on Cities Biodi - to serve the people.” versity.’ The Government could achieve 11.37% growth rate during first Elucidating on the evaluation process, APSBDB half year of the current fiscal though impact of Goods Services Member Secretary R K Suman said every indica - and Tax (GST) and demonetisation could be seen. It would not tor can be assigned points between 0-4 and could be a challenging task to achieve the set goals for next half year if v reach a total of 92, with the city's baseline year v everyone worked eight hours a day dedicatedly, he said.The being the year of initiation. ‘Biodiversity Park’ at State government would establish Centre for Good Governance JANUARY 2018 Amaravati is on the cards, he added. (CGG) very soon. 17 AP Eng Jan 2018 30th_Layout 1 12/30/2017 3:10 PM Page 18 Downloaded from http://SmartPrep.in

Bonanza for VISAKHAPATNAM CITY

The CM participated in a slew of programmes in Visakhapat - nam, steadily turning it into a happening city.

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu at the Transforming Education Conference for Humanity’17 organised in Vizag.

hief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has given a pand its wings by utilizing the resources made available to firm assurance to the people of Visakhapatnam it by the Government. that it will be made an international city and finan - They have to take cue from the Karur Vysya Bank which cial capital of the State besides developing it as a picked on Visakhapatnam city to celebrate its 101st an - top tourist centre of the world. niversary on a grand scale. Of course, the Chief Minister True to his word, he inaugurated the much-awaited heli also attended the function and took the opportunity to ad - tourism project being jointly run by Visakhapatnam Urban vise the public sector as well as private ones to leverage Development Authority (VUDA) and Tourism department technology to provide quality services and products to the at the VUDA Park here mid-December. The project is bound people. He also dedicated online the first digital village fa - to attract foreign tourists as one could see not only the city cilitated by the KVB at Bandarupalli in Guntur district on but also places like Araku and Lambasingi. Paderu, Araku the occasion. and Lambasingi have tremendous tourism potential and Karur Vysya Bank has adopted Bandarupalli, a remote vil - there is need to develop them. lage with no banking facilities and set up a digital branch As he rightly mentioned, heli tourism would also be of great there. Cashless transactions and all banking operations are help in transportation in medical emergency. Most impor - conducted there in a digital atmosphere. tant is the Chief Minister’s announcement that the CII Part - The Chief Minister observed that the visionary leadership nership Summit will be held again early 2018 in February, of KVB’s founders in identifying the banking needs of the as the last two Summits proved to be a great success in that local community in Karur, a small town near Trichy in Tamil several foreign players evinced interest in setting up their Nadu, and thereby earning the trust of the people had centres in Andhra Pradesh, investing lakhs of crores of ru - placed the bank on a strong foundation as it had grown into pees. Even if half of them are grounded in the new year, the one of the major banks in the country. He also appreciated State will become a vastly developed one without doubt. the KVB contributing Rs.One crore from its CSR funds to Already, Visakhapatnam is emerging as a prominent Infor - Visakhapatnam district and hoped others would emulate mation Technology hub in the State as the city is attracting it. Chuge investments because of connectivity and the infra - Another significant development in Visakhapatnam city in structure readily available which is why the Government is December was that the AP Government in association with showcasing it as a hotspot for financial technology –fintech. UNESCO Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace After the protracted economic slowdown and drastic meas - and Sustainable Development (MGIEP) are likely to estab - ures like demonetization and goods and Service Tax (GST), lish a centre of excellence for children with learning differ - 18 the industry is treading with circumspection. But it is only ences as well as a "gaming for e-learning huJAb"N. UARY 2018 a matter of time that it would settle down and begin to ex - It will be the first of the its kind in India and in Asia-Pacific AP Eng Jan 2018 30th_Layout 1 12/30/2017 3:10 PM Page 19 Downloaded from http://SmartPrep.in

region, according to Anantha Kumar Duraiappah, the Director of UNESCO Kovind lauds AU’s MGIEP who announced it at the end of the three-day TECH-2017 on education jointly organised by the AP Government and the UNESCO in the city. collaboration in “We have developed a Telugu app that was tested at the conference. We will be missile projects working with a number of schools in the State to screen students at a very early age to see if they are dyslexic or have any other form of learning difficulty,” he said. The app will be rolled out in the New Year. Duraiappah said that they would be starting with 200 government schools and we need to train teachers first. The centre will have a team of child psycholo - he President, Ram Nath gists. Kovind was delighted to see the students of Andhra Uni - About the gaming hub coming up in AP, he revealed that they were working versity, particularly of Engi - on developing a blueprint for this hub which will be a centre of excellence as neering stream, are engaged in R&D well. They will decide on the infrastructural and logistical needs, the knowledge projects with defence institutions. He partner and institutional partner, and the governance of the hub. They will visited the University, Visakhapat - have a close connection with the universities and institutes like the IITs and nam recently to open the Centre for the IIMs. Defence Studies. He also laid the The hub will advise the universities what the future courses that they have to foundation stone for the E-Classroom be designing. “The old style of just computer science and design doesn’t work. Complex and Incubation Centre. You have to bring them together. Recruiters often lament how they are unable Speaking on the occasion, the Presi - dent said that the Centre for Defence Studies will focus on cybersecurity, nanotechnology, radar and communi - cations, corrosion technology, and other technologies that have strate - gic dimensions. The President noted that professors and researchers from the Andhra University are collaborating on spe - cific projects with DRDO as well as CM launching heli tourism in Vizag. with the Naval Research Board and other institutions. Professors from Andhra University have been used as TR&D consultants for missile projects, including in the development of the to find candidates with multiple skills. This centre will address that issue. Skill Brahmos missile. Additionally, ex - development will be one of the areas of focus. Many of the foreign firms are pertise from this University has been very excited about the centre," he disclosed. sought by the Eastern Naval Com - mand, headquartered in Vishakhap - The TECH-2017 even brought together experts from some of the biggest com - atnam, for civil engineering panies from across the world in the conference. Every day discussions on what structural applications and corrosion this would look like were held. “We are focussing on creating an ecosystem related issues. which is very different unlike the Montreal gaming hub. We want this to be the global centre of excellence for gaming and digital learning," Mr. Duraiappah Research related to defence and mili - said. new e-Visa services inaugurated The Chief Minister also inaugurated an - tary applications and technologies other prestigious programme--the new e-Visa services at Visakhapatnam in - will have multiple benefits for our ternational airport mid-December. This will facilitate international passengers country. It will provide a tonic to the to have visa at the airport but the required documents and other formalities effort to Make in India. And as expe - - B. Prabhakara Sarma rience in other countries has shown, should have been completed online before their arrival in India. Visakhapatnam v airport has become the first airport to have this facility in Andhra Pradesh and research in defence technologies can also lead to innovations that have di - JANUjAoiRnYe d2 02148 such e-Visa centres in India. verse civilian applications. 19 Downloaded from http://SmartPrep.in

Wireless Internet Technology to Andhra AP ties up with Alphabet X

IT Minister N Lokesh posing in front of driverless car parked at Alphabet X premises.CEO of Real Time Governance and VC & MD APIIC Ahmed Babu is also seen.

without the cable. It frees the service provider from digging earth to lay the cables or stringing cable along poles. "This association with X labs to imple- ment FSOC in AP is �irst of its kind in the world to provide wireless internet connection at a higher speed of up to 20Gbps and to a distance of up to 20kms. This signi�icant partnership will offer a major boost to the state's digital infrastructure and help over- come hindrances in terms of connect- ing isolated and dif�icult terrain, forest areas, river crossings, railway cross- ings etc," a press release said. Less than 20% of the 53 million people he Government of Andhra in Andhra Pradesh currently have ac- AP State FiberNet, Pradesh has entered into an cess to broadband connectivity. In which is working with agreement with the moon- order to bridge this gap, the state gov- X to launch the shot factory of Alphabet (ear- ernment and telecom service provider AP State FiberNet have been working project in 2018, has lier Google) - X - to bring the breakthrough Free Space Optical Com- on an initiative called AP Fiber Grid to announced that it will munication (FSOC) technology to connect 12 million households and be rolling out 2000 Andhra Pradesh. The new technology thousands of businesses by 2019. FSOC links as far as 20 will enable the State Government to Lokesh said that the FSOC technology kilometres apart on provide internet through the Fibergrid will enable the government to "provide posts and rooftops to project. The agreement came through bandwidth data to every household during the visit of Information and not only in plain areas but also in the bring a wireless Technology Minister Nara Lokesh to tribal belt." "This is �irst of its kind. No internet connection to Mountain View headquarters of other country has done it. We are very ATlphabet. the state. The break- proud that India is going to get this through agreement The Free Space Optical Communica- technology and Andhra Pradesh is was reached during tions (FSOC) technology to be brought going to lead the way," he remarked. IT Minister Lokesh’s in the state will enable the state to pro- The X Labs will initially supply the AP vide internet facility in rural areas and US visit. government with two thousand FSOC the tribal belt of the state. links and the X engineers and experts The technology involves beaming of on site in AP will work with the gov- light between FSOC boxes mounted on ernment personnel to identify and se- towers, which could be placed kilome- lect suitable sites for deployment of tres apart from each other. This tech- the FSOC links. Alphabet's X will also nology works like �iber optic cable but set up a local of�ice with the help of the 20 ANDHRAPRADESHMAGAZINE.COM JANUARY 2018 AP Eng Jan 2018 30th_Layout 1 12/30/2017 3:10 PM Page 21 Downloaded from http://SmartPrep.in

Invest in Human Capital To Achieve New India: Prez

Government of Andhra Pradesh in order to provide real time support for nvestment in health and education should be treated as an invest - smooth operation of the project, the ment in human capital which was a critical building block for the government said in a statement. economy, the President Ram Nath Kovind said in his inaugural "We are delighted to be partnering with address at the centenary conference of the Indian Economic Associa - AP FiberNet on this promising innova - tion at the Acharya Nagarjuna University (ANU). tion that could overcome some of the “The weaker sections of the society such as the Scheduled Castes (SCs), longstanding challenges of getting high the Scheduled Tribes (STs), segments of the Other Backward Classes speed internet too hard to reach areas, (OBCs) and women, have insufficient access to healthcare, education, and looking forward to helping them housing and civic amenities. Addressing these issues is necessary in order make the benefits of the web accessible to achieve the dream of a New India,” he said. to more people in Andhra Pradesh," Expressing concern over the persistence of poverty in the country, Kovind said Astro Teller CEO of Alphabet X. The said it is vital to address the marginalisation, as significant number of citi - IT minister said the CEOs of other zens still living in poverty or being very close to poverty line. “Tackling in - major companies have also made com - equalities in our society and overcoming the social and economic mitment to bring technology to India inequalities between different sections and regions require imaginative and start their offices in Andhra policy-making,” he said. Pradesh. He called upon emerging economies, including India, to speak up for an X Development Centre, LLC, interconnected world with a fair and growing trade, in the wake of some formerly known as Google X, coming to countries turning protectionist. He also said imaginative policy-making Visakhapatnam augurs well for the city, was required to overcome the social and economic inequalities between Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu said. different sections and regions. He congratulated IT Minister N Lokesh “We face a situation where many societies that had so far advocated the on his efforts stating he had been sent cause of a liberal trading order are turning protectionist. The onus is on to sign a different MoU but he clinched emerging economies such as India to speak up for an inter-connected the Google pact too. “A number of other world where fair and growing trade helps the largest number of people,” MNCs and IT companies will follow I he said. suit. With Fintech and Blockchain tech - nologies also contributing, it will usher Referring to the importance of the States in an era of cooperative federal - in knowledge economy and help in the ism, the President said addressing the concerned issues at the local and city emerging as financial capital of the the state-level with an appropriate policy mechanism would drive for - State,” he said. Alphabet, which owns ward the Indian development experience. Google, and other online service “After the implementation of the report of the 14th Finance Commission, providers view increasing internet ac - more funds had been transferred to the states. There is a lot of responsi - cessibility in developing countries as bility and hope that rests with our various states,” the president said. crucial to maintaining their fast-grow - Andhra Pradesh Governor E S L Narasimhan, Chief Minister N Chan - ing businesses. X plans to deploy free drababu Naidu, former RBI governor C Rangarajan, Nobel Laureate and space optical technology, which trans v- Bangladesh Grameen Bank founder Muhammad Yunus, Indian Economivc mits data through light beams at up to Association (IEA) president Sukhadeo Thorat, ANU Vice Chancellor A Ra - JANU2A0R gYig 2a0b1it8 s per second between the ANDHRA jePnRdArDa EPSrHasMaAd GanAdZ oINthEe.CrsO aMttended the event. 21 rooftop boxes. AP Eng Jan 2018 30th_Layout 1 12/30/2017 3:10 PM Page 22 Downloaded from http://SmartPrep.in

Prez Launches Fiber Grid AP Pioneers Digital Connectivity in India

President of India at the launch of AP Fiber Grid project. CM Chandrababu Naidu, Supreme Court Justice N V Ramana, several Ministers and officials are also seen.

ndhra Pradesh is poised to emerge as the increasingly adopting latest technologies. Kovind ob - pioneering state in the country in digital served that the access to data had become a utility like connectivity with the launch of Fiber Grid water, gas and electricity and that the fiber grid project project by the President of India, Ram Nath was a major milestone on the way to the transformation Kovind. With this major initiative unveiled at of the State into Digital AP. at AP Secretariat. the State achieved a major milestone in At the macro level, technology had come to drive modern taking Information and Communication Technologies governance and States could not afford to be merely (ICT) closer to the people, even as the President dedi - reactive. Integration of their responsibilities with plat - cated the Fiber Grid project to the common man. The forms like AP’s fiber grid and Real-Time Governance state-of-the-art ‘triple play services’ of the project com - (RTG) projects would have multiple benefits as these prises Internet, television and voice telephony, and systems result in human empowerment. With the fiber makes the recent ruling of the Apex Court that Internet grid, the CCTV camera surveillance, the drones and the access must be a fundamental right of the citizens a real - RTG, AP lived up to its reputation as an innovator in ity. Emphasising the same in his speech, the President catching up with the latest technology trends. Farmers said governments should no longer treat technology as and small producers could find buyers at distant loca - an add-on as they move to provide access to the Internet tions and the Cloud-based virtual classrooms would pro - which was a luxury till a decade ago. vide a level-playing field to the better-off children in the “What AP has done is outstanding. It paves the way for cities and the talented in the villages, he said as an exam - joining the ambitious Bharat Net project and is worthy of ple. emulation by other States,” the President said. The Presi - The President hoped that with the rich assortment of dent inaugurated the project in the presence of Governor AtePch wnoillolg biees tIhned AiaP' gso kvneronwmelendt wgaes hputbti:n Cg Min place, ESL Narasimhan, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, Amaravati would become India’s leading technopolis Supreme Court judge Justice NV Ramana, Assembly when the construction of the capital city was completed. Speaker Kodela Sivaprasad Rao and IT Minister Nara Lokesh. 22 JANUARY 2018 The President underlined the need for the governments "We are trying to make Andhra Pradesh no.1 in the coun - to be online and on-time in serving the people who are try and it will be made knowledge hub of India. Students A AP Eng Jan 2018 30th_Layout 1 12/30/2017 3:10 PM Page 23 Downloaded from http://SmartPrep.in

President’s pat for Tech-savvy CM

he manner in which AP has been leverag - functioning of RTG system and congratulated ing technology has received applause from Chief Minister Naidu for his hi-tech and futuristic President Ram Nath Kovind. After his visit initiatives to bring governance to the citizens' to the state, the President hailed real-time gover - doorstep. Kovind's tweets received 19,152 likes nance (RTG) system and AP Fiber Grid project in and have been retweeted 4,084 times. Madhya a series of tweets. The President, who went Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan a"Ir omunuds th ce oRnTgGr caetnutrlea dteur CinMg hoisf rAecPe nNt vCishita tno drabalasbo ujo iNnaedid thue fPorre smidaenkti ning a phpisla ustdaintge N a aidu's Vleijaydaewra dina , epocsotnedo 2m4i tcw tehetisn dkeinscgr ibainndg tihne itiativeRsT Ga nandd fFoibre srk Girlifdu ilnlyit icatoivnevse. rting the policy perceptions into projects on ground."

of AP are very strong in Information Technology (IT) and cation Technologies across sectors. The Chief Minister they are ruling in world IT industry," the Chief Minister himself gave a presentation on RTG Centre. saidT. Referring to the economy of the state, the CM said While appreciating the State’s proactive approach in realising the potential of technologies, Governor ESL Narasimhan cautioned the people against getting addicted to the multi-media content that the fiber grid would beam into their houses. IT Minister Lokesh said Tthhaet t hSet aFtibee rt oG rbide m wuis-tfi b eh puub t to full utilization in sec - tors like education, telemedicine, e-governance, agricul - ture, rural development, and e-commerce.

To begin with, high-speed internet grid connections would be available to around one lakh households with 100-per cent connectivity in 55 villages in Krishna and Guntur districts. By April next year, the Government aims to bring 30 lakh households under the fiber grid. The project, when completed by 2019, will cover over one crore households, 50,000 schools and educational the State's economic parameters are very strong vis a vis institutions, all government offices, over 5,000 govern - India. Though there was a depletion in some of the pa - ment hospitals and health centres and all panchayat of - rameters owing to the bifurcation, AP is striving hard to fices. The project will turn every household into a Wi-Fi reach top position, he averred. He added that good eco - hub and people can avail the services with a set top box. nomics coupled with good governance, and led by good The fibre grid will also offer services like video-confer - politics will make the state flourish. encing and movies on demand. The district command "The vision of Fibre Grid project is to establish a highly control centres, all public CCTVs, the AP State Wide Area scalable network infrastructure, accessible on a nondis - Network will be integrated into the grid. criminatory basis, to provide on demand, affordable and Officials hope that the project will boost digital literacy end-to-end broadband connectivity of 15 Mbps for all and skill development in the state, and provide citizen households and 100 Mbps to 1 Gbps for institutions and services on digital platform to every household. It also Offices by 2018, to enable realization of the Vision of expected to facilitate setting up BPOs or call centres in Digital AP, in partnership with the Government of India rural areas. and the private sector," the CM said. Every household needs two set top boxes to avail the v Later, during a demonstration of the RTG at the Secre - services. They cost Rs 4,000 and the same may be paid to tariat, the President suggested to the CM to help other JANUARY 2018 the government in monthly instalments of Rs 99. States in becoming technology-enabled by drawing from 23 his experience in rolling out Information and Communi - AP Eng Jan 2018 30th_Layout 1 12/30/2017 3:10 PM Page 24 Downloaded from http://SmartPrep.in chief minister’s social network CM Chandrababu Naidu is an active social media user. Many of you have been actively following his activities with admiration. Here are a few snapshots from his Twitter account and those on him. w w w w w

24 JANUARY 2018 Downloaded from http://SmartPrep.in

Snapshot

ndhra Pradesh �igured top on develop- (Chittoor) in AP, are ranked 4th, and Koujalagi in ment index of gram panchayats in the Belagavi in Karnataka and Indupalli in Krishna in country. The list released by the Centre is AP, are ranked 5th. overwhelmingly crowded by Andhra The most developed panchayats include 33 from Pradesh. As many as 33 out of 83 panchayats in the Andhra Pradesh, 21 in Tamil Nadu, six in Kerala, country that �igured in the list are from the State. �ive from Maharashtra and Karnataka each, and Tellapur gram panchayat in Sangareddy district of four from Telangana. Telangana has been found to be the best village in The �irst-ever ranking of villages forms part of the the country followed by Parapatla in Chittoor dis- "baseline survey" done by Union rural development trict of Andhra Pradesh. Cheedikada in Vishakhap- ministry among 50,000 gram panchayats that the atnam is ranked 3rd, Kajuluru (East Godavari), "Antyodaya" scheme aims to turn "poverty free". � Unguturu (Krishna) and Eguva Thavanampalle JANUARY 2A018 25 AP Eng Jan 2018 30th_Layout 1 12/30/2017 3:10 PM Page 26 Downloaded from http://SmartPrep.in

Literary reminiscences Of GURAZADA APPARAO PANTULU

- Ongole Muniks ukbr ak hmanyam

argument. I want the sexual relations to be thoroughly analysed, shutting out all the light of conventional sentiment from the laboratory. Examine biologically and historically and learn to rate it at its true value. You care for truth in life. Why don't you seek truth in sentiment? I can imagine what thraldom women have suf - ferred under men. Can't you? Try to study mar - ried life around you. Try to imagine what wives think of poor husbands, ugly husbands, bad husbands, weak husbands. You will perhaps ask what of bad wives, ugly wives etc.? But they are slaves and we expect a higher stan - dard of purity from them than they from us! That makes all the difference. Suppose you ac - tively abhor all men who are not pure, how many of your friends would be left to you? If a woman is unhappy because man expects more than woman can give, man is unhappy because woman does not adore him as he could wish. What is jealousy? If a husband is not beautiful - a woman cannot admire his person. She cannot help admiring a beautiful person. Elk Hill House, How impossible! Even if a husband is a fool, his Ootacamund, wife should admire his wisdom! You can en - large. You have no doubt heard of Geishas of 2' June, 1909. Japan. In Japan sexual morality is lax. Side by side there is rigorous national life and material prosperity and what is surprising, there are high political ideals. Sentiment apart, I view the sexual question like this There are laws im - My dear Munisubrahmanyam, posed by society. It is our duty to respect them. I like your letter. I did not misunderstand you. I Such a law is the law that regulates sexual rela - started commenting on your statement that tions. the scenes in which the nautch girl appeared It is a crime to violate it, except when you feel (in Kanyasulkam) were not very edifying and that the social law is defective and you want to that I wondered over the ethics of literature. I reform It, openly of course. If you obey the law never said that the moral sense was a matter of you should not be debarred from scrutinising temperament (though some of it certainly is). it and reforming it, if need be. I admire the sen - What I said was that moral censure was a mat - timent of purity. But what is the exact nature of ter of temperament. I was referring to literary that sentiment, its genesis and working? And judgements. I am surely stating a fact and the wherein lies that purity? I believe that the history of literary criticism will bear me out. If present social laws about sexual relations have 26 you go to spiritual ethics, there is an end of all set up an unattainable standard - andJ tAhNe UARY 2018 Downloaded from http://SmartPrep.in

APSSDC To Make One Lakh Students Industry‐Ready

lapses are very numerous. It is time we tell the truth to ourselves. You say unchaste married men and women are equally abominable as nautch girls. Cannot you ractical skill development can ensure a ready think out and try to distinguish? Certainly your search- workforce. In a highly competitive world, being ing intelligence will readily �ind points of difference. academically sound might just not be suf�icient For one thing, a nautch girl is true to her profession. I for graduates. Applied knowledge with pragmatic am viewing that one point by itself. I dilate— because training would go a long way in making the graduates em- my next play touches this problem slightly. Yes. ployable and industry-ready. Keeping in mind the require- Compte, the positivist philosopher elaborated human- ments of the industries, Andhra Pradesh State Skill ity as a creed. I don't rate it exactly as he does. Creeds Development Corporation (APSSDC) started imparting are cumbrous and impracticable. Love of man is a sim- training to their students in developing employable skills. ple rule and it will make man very very happy. Love Accordingly, APSSDC will impart training to the students wins back love. Modern European society is a strange in the next three years in 3D software applications. To combination of extreme sel�ishness and some human- achieve the goal, the State will seek assistance of Dassault ity. Which will triumph? Self possibly! Systems of France. About Usha, I read it recently and noted my remarks TPhe APSSC Managing Director and CEO K Sambasiva Rao on the book itself. I lent it to Mr. Narayana Murty. It is a and Managing Director of Dassault Systems India Pvt. Ltd Samson Khaou signed an MoU to this effect in the pres- worthless book. I never thought that Mr. Venkataraya $s¡Vü≤ Á|ü<äT´eTï ence of Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu recently. S$ass¡Vtü≤ri was so puerile and lacking in healthy imagina- tion. One act is Usha’s (Viraha), another is “The training will increase the talented manpower in the (Pradyumna Viraha) in the disgustingly conven- State which in turn will attract investments, as the in- tional style, lotus leaves. moon-beams and what not. vestors seek talented workforce, which is the need of the No action, no character. The love between Bana’s hour besides good infrastructure,” the CM said. nephew and wetnurse of Usha is conceived in bad taste The Dassault Systems (DS) will establish an Experience and is extremely vulgar. Mr. V. Venkataraya Sastri Centre (EC) in an area of 5,000 square feet space pro- thinks that buffoonery is wit. vided by the APSSDC. The centre will help learners to vi- The last scene of K (Kanyasulkam) is in print. You will sualise the designing of the products for the customers have the entire book very soon. Mr. Y.N. (Yanamandra under the direct supervision of DS, a leader in imparting Narayana Murty) calls my book a wonderful work of training through designing software CATIA, manufactur- art. Leading book-sellers promote speedy sale. Mr. ing software DELMIA and Analysis software SIMULIA. Yates wrote admiring my preface. We live on such Sambasiva Rao said the cost of the project was Rs. 309 praise. crore over a period of three years. The State would pro- I became very weak as soon as I arrived here. I am vide Rs 36 crore in three instalments, while DS would in- glad to tell you my health has improved considerably. vest Rs 273 crore to establish the Centre and to offer the product/service at a subsidised price to the students. I shall print a portion of your glossary at the end of the book. My pranamas to your father. When do you return He said it would enhance the employability skills of the to Nellore? engineering and polytechnic students by making them in- dustry-ready. The centre would foster innovation and Yours very affectionately, eventually incubate student start-ups, he said. Khaou said they were happy to be imparting training to students of AP and hoped that it would enhance their em- P.S. At what O'clock does the Mail arrive at Nellore - ployability skills. Dassault Systems is a company with a turnover of $3.26 billion (Rs. 19,560 crore approxi- from Madras, I mean? � mately) headquartered in Paris. It has 1,90,000 clients � worldwide across 12 industries in 140 countries. JANUARY 2018 27 AP Eng Jan 2018 30th_Layout 1 12/30/2017 3:10 PM Page 28 Downloaded from http://SmartPrep.in 2018

1 Agnyaathavaasi

awan Kalyan and Trivikram Srinivas are two of the biggest names in the industry without a shadow of doubt. Their previ - ous film Atharintiki Daredhi, which released in 2013, was a blockbuster, and five years later, the duo is back with yet another family drama Ag - nyaathavaasi which is poised to be a smash hit at the box-office. The film also stars Kushbu, Boman Irani, Rao Ramesh, and Murali Sharma in supporting roles, along with Keerthy Suresh and Anu Emmanuel who’ll be playing the lead roles alongside Pawan Kalyan. The music album, composed by Anirudh Ravichander, has already become a runaway hit. We can only imagine how the film, which is slated for release on January 10, is going to turn out with such big names coming together for what could be one oPf the most talked about films of the year.

2 Saaho

ith the staggering success of ‘Baahubali 2’, Prabhas went on to become the ‘dar - ling’ of the nation. Five years after the actor began working on the Baahubali series, he fi - nally kick-started his next action drama, Saaho, in late 2017. Directed by Sujeeth, the film is now being touted as one of the expensive films in Telugu cin - ema’s history. That’s not all. The makers roped in actors like Shraddha Kapoor and Neil Nithin Mukesh to play the other lead roles in the film which will also release in Telugu, Tamil, Hindi, and Malayalam. The makers are leaving no stone un - turned to give the film an international look and they even roped in acclaimed action choreographer Kenny Bates to supervise jaw-dropping stunt se - 28 Wquences which will be shot in Dubai soon. JANUARY 2018 AP Eng Jan 2018 30th_Layout 1 12/30/2017 3:10 PM Page 29 Downloaded from http://SmartPrep.in

Bharath Ane Nenu 10 TELUGU Post the debacle of Brahmotsavam and Spyder, it wouldn’t FILMS TO be an exaggeration to say that Mahesh Babu desperately needs a hit. And his upcoming film Bharath Ane Nenu, di - WATCH OUT rected by Koratala Siva, is expected to give him the much needed success. Interestingly, Mahesh Babu will be seen FOR IN as the Chief Minister of a state in this political drama, and eNxpeactaat ioPnse arre huig hS froumr thye afilm considering that Ma - hesh Babu-Kortala Siva’s previous film Srimanthudu was 2018 the biggest hit in their respective careers. Rangasthalam Allu Arjun is on a roll, thanks to his recent films like Sar - rainodu and DJ which cemented his position as one of the biggest stars in Tollywood. For his next, the actor has col - 2lab oPratoedi wnitht w Oriter-turned-director Vakkantham Vamsi for an action drama titled Naa Peru Surya. The makers have kept the story and theme under the wraps for now. When Ram Charan and Sukumar announced that they are working together, for the first time, on a village-based drama that’s set in the 80s, it couldn’t be more surprising for Telugu movie aficionados. Sukumar has made a mark Post Baahubali 2, the only film which has brought the en - as a director with a unique vision, thanks to his previous tire South Indian audiences together is Rajinikanth- films like 1-Nenokkadine and Nannaku Prematho. And Shankar’s 2 Point O. The sci-fi action drama, which also him teaming up with an actor like Ram Charan, who has stars Amy Jackson and Akshay Kumar, is slowly turning Man imamhenasen fana ftolilowing among the masses, made news out to be an unstoppable force and it’s expected to have for obvious reasons. Rangasthalam is slated for release in one of the biggest release ever for a South India film in re - late March and it’s expected to be a trendsetter. cent times. Although it’s not a sequel to Endhiran (Robo in Telugu), Rajinikanth will return to play two different roles including that of Chitti, a robot, and Akshay Kumar will be seen as his arch nemesis. Touted as the most ex - The life of legendary actress Savitri has been the subject pensive film ever, 2 Point O has been made with a budget of intense discussion among several scholars, writers, and oRf oGver VRs -40N0 carogresa, arndj uit’sn slate’ds f oFr reilelam se in sum - movie buffs over the past few decades. Now, Nag Ashwin, mer, 2018, in Telugu, Tamil, Hindi, and it’ll also be dubbed who had earlier made Yevade Subramanyam, is bringing in several other foreign languages. alive the story of the ‘Mahanati’ for Telugu and Tamil au - dience. With actors like Mohan Babu, Dulquer Salmaan, Samantha, Prakash Raj, Vijay Devarakonda, Malavika Nair, and Shalini Pandey playing some of the most important Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma and Nagarjuna have collab - characters in the film, Mahanati has piqued our interest orated after 23 years for an intense action drama which and how! Keerthy Suresh will portray the lead character will have Nagarjuna playing the role of a tough cop. The and her transformation to look like Savitri is magical to duo had first collaborated for Shiva, which went on to be - say the least. The film is among the most awaited biopics cGomoe ao cladssaic,c anhd aftreri Govinda Govinda released way Bof 2a01l8a akndr Niags Ahshnwian i-s Tsaied tjoa ha’vse dFoniel pm lenty of re - back in 1994, the two haven’t found an opportunity to search to present an unknown side of Savitri’s personal - team up once again, until now. ity through this film.

Adivi Sesh stunned everyone with his portrayal of an 2018 will see plenty of biopics on a wide range of sub - youngster trying to search for a young girl in the 2016 jects; however, no other film has garnered as much atten - thriller Kshanam. Now, almost two years later, he’s back tion as the untitled Balakrishna’s film in Teja’s direction. with a spy drama titled Goodachari. The actor has, so far, The film is going to bring alive the story of the Telugu cin - played the cards close to his chest; however, buzz in the - Hemanth Kumar C R ema icon and former CM NT Rama Rao. With Balakrishna industry is that Sesh and his team have another winner in himself playing the lead character as NTR, the film is ex - their hands. We can’t wait to see what a desi spy is going JANUARpYe c2t0e1d8 to set the box-office on fire. to solve with this film. 29 AP Eng Jan 2018 30th_Layout 1 12/30/2017 3:10 PM Page 30 Downloaded from http://SmartPrep.in

Amazing Andhra Pradesh

Kondaveedu Fort An Impregnable Fortress

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t is a memorable experience for campaign in the coastal Andhra. fort of Kondaveedu, once the any wanderlust to trek to the high After the capture of Prataparudra citadel of Reddy Kingdom, is all set ridge of Kondaveedu Fort, a his - by Tughlaq in 1323 AD, his subor - to get a makeover. Proposals are torical place, once flourished as dinate Prolaya Vema Reddy be - afoot to set up cottages, a five star the capital of Reddy kings. Hill fortress came autonomous and shifted his hotel, zoo, fitness clubs, audito - located 1,700 feet (520 m) above MSL, capital from Addanki to Kondav - rium, children’s park, sports arena is in Kondaveedu village near eedu. Later it was taken over by and amusement centres. Laying of PHhiisrtaonrgipcuarla Rme 3m3 iknmis fcroemnc Ge untur, 65 Gajpathis of Orissa and ravaged by 3 km length of road has completed KM from Vijayawada and 265 KM from the Muslim rulers of the Bahmani and work on the remaining 2.1 km Hyderabad. kingdom (1458). The Vijayanagara is in the final stage. emperor Krishnadevaraya cap - The Department of Archaeology is tured it in 1516. The Golconda Sul - taking up work to restore Three forts, dated to the 12th century, tans fought for the fort in 1531, Mutyalamma Cheruvu, Vedulla are on top of the narrow hill range. 1536 and 1579, and Sultan Quli Cheruvu, Nemalla Buruju, Khilla Considered to be one of the strongest Qutb Shah finally captured it in Bhuruju. resetting and providing forts in the region, Kondaveedu main 1579, renaming it Murtuzanagar. railing along the rocky pathway, fort was built by the Reddy dynasty Later it was recaptured by Vi - and improving the view-points, and renovated by succeeding rulers. A jayanagara dynasty. bastions, garrison barracks, sta - total of 21 structures have been recog - The fort came under the control of bles and internal roads with ap - nised within the fort. Its fortifications the French colonists in 1752 when propriate tourist signages. were built with granite stones com - it was extensively fortified. It Government of AP has sanctioned prise massive ramparts, magazines, passed on to the English imperial - a 65-acre plot at the foot of the hill warehouses, granaries and wells. iRstesg wahion ignogt c Ponatsrto lG olfo threy fort in to ISKCON South India for its Spiri - ‘Kolepalli Darwaza’ and the ‘Nadella 1788 but abandoned it in the early tual Heritage Revival Project to Darwaza’ are the two entry gates into 19th century . build a magnificent temple for the tIhe forts. The entrance gate is three ancient Venu Gopala deity, which storied, massive and made of granite is only one deity in entire Asia stone blocks. A building built with rock Aiming at developing ecotourism with Vennamudda (butter-lump) pillars and covered with rock slabs, in the State to attract tourists, Gov - in his hand. has110 metres (360 ft) long inscrip - ernment of Andhra Pradesh, under It was originally installed 500 tions. A defence bunker is also seen. the aegis of the Chief Minister, N years ago by the great Telugu Em - The source of water supply to the in - Chandrababu Naidu, planned for peror Krishnadevaraya. habitants of the fort was from three Kondaveedu Fort festival in March, sources namely, the Mutyalama 2018. Accordingly, monumental Cheruvu (pond), the Puttalamma how to reach Cheruvu and the Vedulla Cheruvu. Gopinathaswami temple of Lord Kr - ishna, with monolithic stone pillars, lies at the foot of the hill. The temples of Lord Lakshmi Narasimha, Lord Shiva Kondaveedu fort, with its historical significance and the tranquil are in good shape. Both Hindu and vicinity, has always been a favourite tourist spot, especially on Sat - AM uPselimek a racth iHteicsttuorarly s tyles are seen in urdays, Sunday and other public holidays. Since Kondaveedu vil - the forts. A mosque is located within lage is near Guntur, which is easily accessible by road and rail the fort. from all parts of India. The nearest airport is at Vijayawada. After reaching Guntur one should board a Guntur-Chilakaluripet ordi - nary bus and alight at Bhoyapalem-Pirangipuram Road and can Kondaveedu Fort was considered im - achciroe amn amutoo ridckashtaiwo tno the fort. The simplest way to reach the pregnable and spread across 30 fort by one's own vehicle, after reaching Guntur. hillocks during the rule of Gajapathis, according to the historians like Roy v Chaudhuri and Amol Majumdar . It was JANUaActRuYa l2ly0 1co8 nstructed during the time of Being commercial capital of AP with biggest markets of Chilli, To - Telugu Cholas and was occupied by bacco and Cotton, Guntur has good number of hotels of all cate -31 Kakatiya Ganapati Deva during his gories for accommodation. Downloaded from http://SmartPrep.in HAPPENING AP

Vizag airport gets e‐visa on arrival facility Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas, municipal, social and tribal welfare and model schools in all the districts. e‐Tourist Visa on Arrival (e‐TVOA) at the Visakhapatnam Interna�onal Airport is now a reality. The e‐Tourist Visa facilitates arrival of tourists from 147 countries at 16 air‐ State to introduce cradle system ports in India —Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Bengaluru, Chen‐ Officials of the Women Development and Child Welfare nai, Delhi, Gaya, Goa, Jaipur, Kochi, Kolkata, Lucknow, (WD&CW) Department are planning to introduce cradle Mumbai, Hyderabad, Thiruvananthapuram, Tiruchi and system at some public places to check abandonment of Varanasi. The facility, now extended to the Visakhapat‐ children. With the number of such cases increasing in nam airport, will facilitate foreign tourists to fly into Krishna district, the cradles would allow people to safely Visakhapatnam and Andhra Pradesh. The Vizag airport deposit babies in them who could be handed over to in‐ will become the first in A.P. to get the facility. terested couples. K. Krishna Kumari, WD&CW Krishna district Project Director said that the cradles would be Start‐up gets ‘Baahubali’ support kept at the Government General Hospital, the bus and railway sta�ons. People could keep the babies in them Director S.S. Rajamouli and producer Shobu Yarlagadda, and alert officials by ringing the bell. who have tasted one of the biggest successes in the country with Baahubali, have now turned investors for a start‐up. The duo has recently invested a huge sum in TTD diaries and calendars online an IIT Madras incubated start‐up Conzumex which came The TTD has decided to market its New Year diaries and up with innova�ve ‘Internet of You’ pla�orm that in‐ calendars through online stores. People can either log cludes smart devices, ar�ficial intelligence and exergam‐ into the website �dsevaonline.com and place the order ing called Muse Wearables. The company is building or can purchase them through Flipkart. However, they India’s first Hybrid Smartwatch which does not require have to bear the transporta�on charges. TTD Execu�ve any charging for one whole year, unlike any other digital officer Anilkumar Singhal said the facility will be made smart watches. says K.L.N. Sai Prasanth, CEO of available from December 7. A�er the launch of the Conzumex Industries Pvt. Ltd and one of its founders. Tamil version of the TTD website, efforts are on to launch a Hindi website. For the speedy redressal of Martial arts to be part of curriculum complaints of the devotees regarding co�ages and guest houses, the management has set up a free FMS The State and the Central governments have decided to helpline 1800425111111 at Tirumala. impart self‐defence courses for girls in all government‐ run schools in the State. About 3.88 lakh students Resolution on quota for women passed would be provided training during 2017‐18, in 5,605 schools in the State. Commissioner of School Educa�on The Legisla�ve Assembly passed a resolu�on urging the Department and Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan Central government to enact the Women’s Reserva�on (RMSA) have issued instruc�ons to all headmasters and Bill providing for 33% reserva�on for women in Parlia‐ Project Coordinators in the State in this regard. The pilot ment and State legislatures. Moving the resolu�on dur‐ project would be implemented in all Mandal Praja ing a discussion on ‘Women empowerment and child Parishad Upper Primary, Zilla Parishad High Schools, rights protec�on ‐ The role of Amarava� Declara�on,’

Suresh Babu at Mount Kilimanjaro Kurnool student scales Mt. Kilimanjaro raving the cold weather, Suresh Babu, a first year B.Sc. student of Silver Jubilee Government College Bin Kurnool climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, the highest mountain peak in the African con�nent, on December 25, the college principal S. Abdul Khader said. Suresh Babu climbed Mount Everest in April this year. He scaled the Gilman’s Point at a height of 5,685 metres and displayed his college banner there. TDP MLA B. Jaya Nageswar Reddy and Maheswara Reddy of Madhu Cements at Kodumur, sponsored his mountaineering expedi�on.

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The First lady at a crafts stall in Vijaywada. First Lady Relishes Andhra Culture he First Lady Savita Kovind and her daughter Swati Kovind experienced the flavours of the Andhra culture Tin Vijayawada, during the President Ram Nath Kovind’s recent visit. They spent the three-hour-long span going around places in Vijayawada by road and visited the rose show at the Swaraj Maidan, had darshan of Goddess Kanaka Durga atop Indrakeeladri and then reached the picturesque Bhavani Island. They also went around an exhibition of locally-manufactured traditional garments like the Mangalagiri silk saris, bought world famous Kon - dapally toys from a Lepakshi stall and tasted Bandar laddu and headed back to the Punnami Ghat after enjoying the recently-installed musical fountain and laser show.

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said it had been a till January 17. Online mock test will be held from Janu - long-pending demand. The Centre should have no ary 23 and hall tickets could be downloaded from Janu - doubt about the importance of political empowerment ary 24. The initial key will be published on February 16, of women, which would be possible only when 33% final key on February 24 and the results will be declared reservation was provided to them in Parliament and on February 26. State legislatures. Naidu said the State government en - joyed the distinction of providing 33% reservation for Vijayawada youth bags national youth award women in government jobs, local bodies, and in educa - Vijayawada based Naga Sravan Kilaru has been selected tional institutions, and was committed to replicating the for the National Youth Award 2015-16 by the Union same in the political arena. Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports for his efforts in em - powering and driving youth towards social service and Airport at Donakonda strengthening democracy. Sravan heads Vijayawada Needs U (VNU), an NGO here and has attended various Plans of the Airports Authority of India(AAI) are now international youth conventions. In a communique from afoot to revive the British-era airfield at Donakonda in the Ministry of Youth Affairs informed him that he Prakasam district into a no-frills airport coinciding with would be honoured with the National Youth Award. The the State government’s proposal to promote a Rs 5000 award will be presented by the President of India on crore Donakonda Industrial city. A detailed project re - January 12 at the opening ceremony of the National port(DPR) has also been submitted through Bhogapu - Youth Festival. When contacted, Sravan said the award ram International Airport Company Ltd.,(BIACL), a was making his responsibility towards strengthening ad - special purpose vehicle promoted by the government to vocacy for youth rights and democracy, more. The six- develop a string of airports in the State. “To start with, day youth festival will be held in Jaipur, Rajasthan. Youth the British era airstrip will be revived at a cost of about working in the fields of entrepreneurship, health, re - Rs 30 crore to facilitate landing of smaller aircraft and search and innovation, culture, human rights, art and lit - will be expanded in phases depending upon aerospace erature and others get selected for the award. and other projects taking concrete shape in the Don - akonda Industrial Park being promoted by the State gov - TemplateMonster to launch operations ernment,” the officials said. TemplateMonster, of the U.S., a $15 million company AP TET postponed to Feb. 5 with specialisation in e-solutions, digital marketing and training, will soon launch its operations in Visakhapat - As the outcry to postpone the Teacher Eligibility Test nam and Vijayawada. According to reports, Template - (TET) had grown louder, the Government of AP was con - Monster’s India partner Satish Babu said that the siderate to change the schedule. Acting on the requests company will start with a 100-seater facility each in of the students seeking time for preparation, the sched - both the cities and later scale up the manpower to 500. ule of the TET exam was postponed, HRD Minister Andhra Pradesh Non-Resident Telugu (APNRT) Society Ganta Srinivasa Rao announced. As per the fresh sched - promised to provide rented accommodation. In ule, the exams would be held from February 5 to 15 in Visakhapatnam, it is likely to get space at Millennium two sessions of 9.30 a.m. to 12 noon and 2.30 p.m. to 5 Tower, which is on the verge of completion at p.m. Payment of fee through the Payment Gateway can Rushikonda, the report added. now be made till January 13 and online submission of application through http://cse.ap.gov.in could be done v

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The CM kept his word by pass‐ KAPU QUOTA ing the bill for Kapu reservation Bill passed by Assembly to the varoius Kapu sub‐castes.

islation, the Kapu, Telaga, Balija and Ontari communities would get the quota under the new category ‘F’ in government jobs and seats in educa- tional institutions, which would take the total reservation for six categories of the BCs to 34% (A-7%, B-10%, C- 1%, D-7%, E-4% and F-5%). The SCs and the STs have 15% and 6% reserva- tions respectively. The Bill left no scope for political quota by clearly mentioning that it was con- �ined to admission to educational insti- tutions and in the State services but that it should not be construed as giv- ing reservation in political positions or The State Government is committed to uplifting Kapu community. CM at a welfare scheme posts. to Kapu youth. File Photo. The Chief Minister said the passage of the Bill was in ful�ilment of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP)’s promise to recognise the Kapus as hief Minister Chandrababu Naidu ful�illed his Backward Classes (BCs) and pointed out that it was one of promise of providing reservations to Kapu and the main items in the party’s 2014 election manifesto. other sub-castes by passing the bill in this regard. He asserted that the entitlement of the existing communi- The Government ensured that the other BC ties within the BCs would not be affected as a separate castes were not affected by the new inclusion. category had been created for the Kapus and three other The Assembly unanimously passed the AP Kapu (Reserva- sub-castes. Anybody left out of the Pulse Survey could get The newly tion of Seats in Educational Institu- themselves registered with the department concerned proposed reser‐ tions and of Appointments or Posts even now to avail themselves of the bene�it. He said the vations for Kapus in Services under the State) Bill on BC Commission headed by Justice K L Manjunath (re-con- stituted on January 18, 2016) took a long time to submit and sub‐castes the last day of its winter session.The Bill would now be sent to the Gover- its report as the matter dealt by it was a serious one that will in no way af‐ nor, who would refer it to the Central could not be rushed through due to the risk of courts fect the current government for inclusion in the striking it down. reseCrvations for Schedule IX of the Constitution as the The CM said the Commission had recommended 4% to total reservations for the Backward 5% quota for the Kapus on the basis of the data provided BC communities. Classes (BCs), the Scheduled Castes by the government from the Pulse Survey and the feed- (SCs) and the Scheduled Tribes (STs) back received by it at public hearings conducted in all 13 had crossed the cap of 50% stipu- districts. lated by the Supreme Court and He said the Kapu reservation issue had a historical back- reached 55%. ground dating back to the British regime, under which the After the Cabinet decision to provide 5% reservation for Kapus were considered BCs but were deleted from that the Kapus, the draft bill was approved at a special Cabinet list when Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy was the Chief Minister. meeting. It was then introduced in the Assembly by Minis- Several committees had since been set up, to no avail, as ter for BC Welfare K Atchannaidu while the Leader of the the Congress party lacked the political will to keep its House and Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu sought word to alleviate the plight of the Kapus by giving them the support of the House. the reservation, he added. � With the Assembly passing this long-pending piece of leg- 34 JANUARY 2018 Downloaded from http://SmartPrep.in

IN PICS

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5 Pic 1: CM inaugurated the 100th Annual Conference of Indian Economic Association at Acharya Nagarjuna University with President of India Sri Ram Nath Kovind and Governor Sri ESL Narasimhan. Pic 2: Chandrababu at the 101 Founder’s Day celebration of Karur Vysya Bank, where he dedicated the "Digital Vil‐ lage" app facilitated by Karur Vysya Bank in Andhra Pradesh. Pic 3: The President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, visited the Andhra University, and opened the Centre for De‐ fence Studies. Governor and Chief Minister are also seen. Pic 4: The CM participated in the Christmas celebrations at St. Paul's Cathedral Church, Vijayawada. Pic 5: Film director S S Rajamouli making a presentation on Amaravati iconic buildings to the Cheif Minister at Secretariat.

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