Archive · 20 Aug 2026
Andhra Pradesh Eases Land Rules for Private Universities
Andhra Pradesh changed the rules to make it easier to create private universities.
In some important areas, a university will now need 10 acres instead of 50 acres.
In other parts of the state, it will need 15 acres.
These rules apply to both new universities and existing institutions that become universities.
The government will not set one investment amount for every proposal.
Instead, experts will decide how much money each proposal needs.
Universities no longer have to begin with a partnership with a top foreign university.
The state also approved skill universities that will teach practical skills, apprenticeships and job-related training.
Andhra Pradesh reduced the minimum land requirement for private universities from 50 acres to 10 acres in the CRDA region and the municipal corporations of Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam and Tirupati.
The requirement will be 15 acres in other parts of the state and will apply to both greenfield and brownfield universities.
The state removed a fixed minimum investment requirement, leaving an expert committee to assess each proposal individually.
A requirement for partnerships with one of the world’s top 100 foreign universities was also removed.
The Assembly approved private skill-development university provisions focused on practical training, apprenticeships and competency-based education.
- Who
- The Andhra Pradesh government and HRD Minister Nara Lokesh introduced the changes; the Legislative Assembly approved the bills.
- What
- The state reduced land requirements for private universities, removed fixed investment and foreign-partnership conditions, and approved private skill-development universities.
- When
- The changes were announced on Wednesday, when the bills were introduced in the Legislative Assembly.
- Where
- The revised land rules apply across Andhra Pradesh, with specific provisions for the CRDA region and the municipal corporations of Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam and Tirupati.
- Why
- The government said higher-education policy should reflect Andhra Pradesh’s requirements and that the earlier foreign-partnership condition could discourage new universities.
- Minimum land in specified areas
- 10 acres in the CRDA region and the municipal corporations of Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam and Tirupati.
- Minimum land elsewhere
- 15 acres in other parts of Andhra Pradesh.
- Previous land requirement
- 50 acres.
- Investment requirement
- No fixed minimum; an expert committee will assess proposals individually.
- Foreign university condition
- The requirement for a joint degree programme with a top-100 foreign university was removed.
- Skill university model
- It will include competency-based education, the National Skills Qualifications Framework, practical training, apprenticeships and on-the-job learning.
- Eligible institutions for conversion
- Existing ITIs and polytechnics can be converted into skill universities.