A panel of state ministers has recommended changes to the Goods and Services Tax (GST) structure, specifically targeting sin goods, including tobacco products, aerated beverages, and luxury cars. These goods are currently taxed at the highest 28% GST rate, along with an additional cess. The proposal, which is part of a rate rationalisation report, is set to be presented before the GST Council in its upcoming meeting later this month. The Group of Ministers (GoM), led by Bihar Deputy Chief Min

Andhra Pradesh Education Minister Nara Lokesh has proposed several strategies to address the growing drug abuse problem in the state. Speaking at a meeting of the ministers' sub-committee on narcotics, Lokesh suggested that a chapter about the dangers of drug addiction should be included in the school curriculum to educate youth. He also recommended the use of drones to identify and destroy ganja plantations and the creation of anti-narcotics committees across schools, colleges,

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has recommended a ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah, aimed at ending over 14 months of fighting linked to the ongoing Gaza war. Despite Israeli bombardment escalating in the hours before the ceasefire proposal, Netanyahu is optimistic that the deal will isolate Hamas and shift Israel's focus to Iran, Hezbollah's backer. The ceasefire, brokered by the U.S., would temporarily halt fighting between Israel and Hezbollah for two months,

The Telugu Desam Party (TDP), known for its strong presence among the masses in Andhra Pradesh, has achieved an extraordinary milestone with its ongoing membership drive. In less than a month, TDP has successfully enrolled 50 lakh new members, a feat that showcases the party's deep-rooted influence in the region. With Andhra Pradesh’s population in 2022 at 5.33 crore, this means 10% of the state's population is now registered as TDP members. This massive membership sur

Andhra Pradesh IT and Education Minister Nara Lokesh is proving to be a people’s leader with incident after incident. In the latest development, he quickly assisted a group of Ayyappa devotees from Goduguchinta village in Vedurukuppam Mandal, Nellore Constituency, who were struggling in Kerala. The devotees encountered difficulties during their pilgrimage to Sabarimala, facing a road accident en route and subsequently being detained by the Kerala police despite not being at fault

N. Lokesh, the IT Minister of Andhra Pradesh, took a direct shot at YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s approach to decentralization during his speech in the state assembly. Lokesh mocked Jagan’s vision, claiming that the construction of a palatial building with an extravagant budget of Rs 500 crore hardly aligns with the concept of decentralization. He said, "Building a palace does not reflect true decentralization; it is a misuse of public funds for personal gain." Lokesh

Andhra Pradesh’s IT and Education Minister, Nara Lokesh, has announced an ambitious vision to create a distinctive "Andhra Pradesh model" of education, which he claims will surpass the existing educational frameworks of Delhi and Kerala. His reforms aim to bring revolutionary changes to the state's education system, spanning from KG to PG levels, with a focus on quality and holistic development. Lokesh emphasized that his approach would break awa

Somu Veerraju, the former chief of BJP in Andhra Pradesh, has long been associated with a perceived soft corner for YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s leadership, which many believe contributed to his removal from the BJP's state leadership position. However, after remaining largely silent despite the NDA alliance's massive victory in Andhra Pradesh, Veerraju made a surprising public appearance recently by meeting Nara Lokesh, the son of TDP leader N. Chandrababu Naidu. In a meeti

That Andhra Pradesh state IT and education minister Nara Lokesh is gradually emerging as the heir apparent of his father and chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu is being established gradually in the TDP and also the government. The way the TDP ranks have been calling Lokesh the future chief minister of Andhra Pradesh on social media and the state government carrying his picture on the front page advertisements of the official programmes along with his father clearly indicated that Lokesh is em

Nara Lokesh, the scion of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), is currently on an extended trip to the USA, where he is actively engaging with global tech giants to attract investments to Andhra Pradesh. One of the highlights of his visit occurred in Atlanta, where he unveiled a statue of the legendary Sr NTR, commissioned by the NRI TDP workers. The unveiling ceremony was a grand affair, marked by a unique spectacle of flower petals showered from a helicopter, adding a festive atmosphere

Nara Lokesh, the leader of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), has been vocal about his commitment to accountability through his "Red Book" initiative, a key element of his Yuvagalam Padayatra. This initiative aimed to document the grievances of TDP cadres who faced persecution under the YSR Congress Party (YCP) regime. Lokesh had pledged that once the NDA government came to power, those responsible for tormenting TDP members would be held accountable. However, five months into

Andhra Pradesh’s IT Minister Nara Lokesh is currently on a tour of the USA, actively engaging with representatives from global companies to attract investment to the state. A key highlight of his visit was a meeting with Tesla’s CFO Vaibhav Taneja at the company's headquarters in Austin, where Lokesh encouraged the electric vehicle giant to consider Anantapur as a prime location for its EV and battery manufacturing units. Lokesh pitched Anantapur as an ideal spot for

IT Minister Nara Lokesh is making headlines with his proactive approach to attracting investments and driving governance in Andhra Pradesh. In a recent interview with a national media outlet, he discussed his ambitious goals and the current political landscape, particularly in the context of the NDA government’s first 100 days. Lokesh revealed his commitment to Prime Minister Modi, stating, “I promised to deliver 22 seats to NDA from AP but I was off by 1 seat as we won

The Andhra Pradesh government is making significant strides in attracting investments, evidenced by the recent arrival of major players like TCS and Lulu Mall. In a notable announcement, IT Minister Nara Lokesh discussed the state's investment opportunities and hinted at the possibility of a Tesla manufacturing plant setting up operations in Andhra Pradesh. In an interview with a national media outlet, Lokesh mentioned, “There could be an update on the Tesla plant as and w

The Tirumala Laddu adulteration saga is reaching a boiling point, drawing in major political figures from Andhra Pradesh, including Chandrababu Naidu, Jagan Mohan Reddy, Pawan Kalyan, and Nara Lokesh. While the YSR Congress Party (YCP) faces mounting blame for the alleged adulteration, Jagan's defense has appeared somewhat stagnant. In a recent media interaction, Jagan requested a CBI investigation into the Laddu controversy, attempting to assert his innocence amid the swirling

Nara Lokesh has made a stunning comeback in the 2024 elections, securing a record victory in Mangalagiri with a margin of over 90,000 votes after his disappointing defeat in 2019. His active involvement in public administration has solidified his presence in the constituency, making Mangalagiri a stronghold for him. In contrast, the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YCP) faced setbacks when Alla Ramakrishna Reddy, who had previously won against Lokesh, was unexpectedly sideline

In the wake of the NDA alliance forming the government in Andhra Pradesh, a new trend has surfaced on social media regarding the swift actions of the AP Police department. They have begun responding promptly to allegations made against ministers or leaders from the NDA, indicating a concerted effort to counter what they describe as a conspiracy by political rivals aimed at undermining the government. Recently, T. Chandra Sekhar, a YCP MLA from Yerragondapalem, took to the platform X

The Nadu Nedu program, a flagship initiative of former Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy, aimed to significantly improve the infrastructure of government schools across Andhra Pradesh. While the program was publicly lauded for its focus on beautifying schools, recent revelations suggest that there were serious underlying issues with its implementation. IT Minister Nara Lokesh has come forward with critical observations about the program, pointing out significant financial mismanagement.

On the occasion of Pawan Kalyan's birthday, he has received a wave of heartfelt wishes from various quarters. Following an earlier birthday message from Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, Nara Lokesh has also taken to social media to extend his birthday greetings. Lokesh's emotional tweet refers to Pawan Kalyan as “Anna,” meaning brother, which underscores their close bond. He describes Pawan as a "god-gifted brother" and wishes him a long and prosperous life, rep

IT Minister Nara Lokesh is increasingly influential in Andhra Pradesh's NDA government, actively managing significant back-end operations. Recently, Lokesh has executed a strategic counter to Former Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy’s earlier maneuvers in Eluru, delivering a notable political setback to Reddy. During Jagan's tenure, efforts were made to diminish the TDP's presence in El