AP Govt Takes Another Key Decision: Non-Local Quota in Educational Institutions Revoked

The Andhra Pradesh government has issued significant orders concerning the 15 percent non-local (general) quota seats in admissions to professional, degree, and engineering higher education courses. Until now, students from Telangana were eligible for admission under this non-local quota. However, from now on, these seats will be allocated exclusively to students from Andhra Pradesh.

In light of the fact that it has been ten years since the bifurcation of the state, the Andhra Pradesh Higher Education Department has clarified the local and non-local eligibility criteria for admissions into higher and professional education courses and common entrance examinations. On Monday, Secretary for Higher Education Kona Shashidhar issued three separate government orders formalizing this policy change.

Previously, the Telangana government had issued orders excluding students from Andhra Pradesh from the 15 percent quota in its universities. Following suit, the Andhra Pradesh government has now issued similar orders to prevent students from Telangana from being admitted under this quota in Andhra Pradesh universities. Under the convener quota system, 85 percent of seats will continue to be reserved for local candidates.

Local eligibility in Andhra Pradesh is defined based on two regions: the Andhra University region and the Sri Venkateswara University region. Earlier, for a period of ten years after the state's bifurcation, admissions were conducted across three regions—Andhra, Sri Venkateswara, and Osmania. With the latest order, the Osmania region has been removed from this framework. Henceforth, seat allotment will be conducted solely between the Andhra and Sri Venkateswara University regions.