Economic Survey 2025-26: Centre Praises AP, Telangana Amidst Funding Concerns

• The Economic Survey 2025-26 lauded Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, but critics suggest this is a tactic by the Centre to avoid providing financial aid.
• The survey highlighted that inflation in both Telugu states was 1.72% lower than the national average, with Telangana's inflation dropping from 8.61% to 0.20% and AP's from 7.57% to 1.39%.
• Telangana was praised for increasing cultivable land from 1.31 crore to 2.21 crore acres, becoming the "New Bowl of India" due to projects like Mission Kakatiya and Kaleshwaram.
• Andhra Pradesh's capital, Amaravati, was recognized as an emerging green city, and the state was lauded for its business reforms, single-window system, and land resurvey initiatives.
• Hyderabad ranked 4th among fastest-developing cities, with a projected GDP of $201.4 billion by 2035, and Telangana holds a 7% share in AI startups.

Why It Matters: The Economic Survey's praise for AP and Telangana is seen by some as a strategic move by the Centre to justify reduced financial support.