In a significant policy change, the Andhra Pradesh government has decided to abolish the 15 per cent non-local quota for admissions in higher education institutions starting from the academic year 2025-26. This announcement marks a shift towards reserving the majority of seats in professional courses exclusively for students who are local to Andhra Pradesh, effectively limiting admissions for students from other states, including Telangana, under the non-local category.

The revised policy impacts admissions in a wide array of professional courses such as engineering, technology, pharmacy, architecture, Pharma D, business administration, computer applications, law, education, and physical education. According to the government order, only candidates who qualify as locals of Andhra Pradesh will be eligible to compete for 85% of the seats, while the non-local quota, previously set at 15%, will be removed or restricted with exceptions. Special provisions remain for categories such as children of Central government employees, ensuring that these individuals are still eligible under certain circumstances.

The decision follows the end of a common admission process that was in place for ten years after the bifurcation of united Andhra Pradesh in 2014. This common process had allowed students from Telangana to apply under the non-local quota in Andhra Pradesh colleges. The government order notes that this period officially ended on June 2, 2024, and hence, the existing admission rules require revision to reflect the changed scenario.

The order states:

“To protect the interests of the students hailing from the state of Andhra Pradesh, appropriate measures have to be taken in admission to undergraduate, post-graduate and PhD courses…”

Further, the government took into consideration multiple representations from parents and students who demanded justice for Andhra Pradesh natives in admissions. The move is also aimed at avoiding legal complexities related to admissions post bifurcation.

A detailed explanation of local and non-local categorisation under the state’s two major universities is also included in the order. Students from erstwhile districts of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, East and West Godavari, Krishna, Guntur, and Prakasam come under the jurisdiction of Andhra University (AU) but are considered non-local under Sri Venkateswara University (SVU). Conversely, students from Anantapur, Kurnool, Chittoor, Kadapa, and Nellore belong to the SV University jurisdiction but are treated as non-local by Andhra University.

Regarding seat allocation in statewide universities and institutions controlled by the Andhra Pradesh government and not falling strictly under AU or SVU, the revised framework reserves 85% seats for local students based on the ratio of 65.6% and 34.3% for Andhra University and SV University regions, respectively. The remaining 15% seats under the non-local quota will be distributed following the same formula used by AU and SVU.

This policy change is expected to significantly impact admission dynamics in Andhra Pradesh’s higher education sector. It aims to prioritise local students’ educational opportunities, a sensitive issue following the bifurcation of the state and the resultant shifts in administrative and educational structures.

With the removal of the non-local quota, students from Telangana and other states will face increased challenges seeking admission in Andhra Pradesh colleges under professional courses. Meanwhile, the government has taken care to balance this move by providing exceptions in special cases, reflecting an effort to maintain fairness for eligible non-local candidates in specific categories.

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