Andhra Pradesh Municipal Wards Change Number of Members Based on 2011 Census Data

The number of elected members in Andhra Pradesh's urban local bodies will now be set by population size, based on the 2011 Census. This means some wards might have more or fewer representatives than before.
By Newsroom | Government, Andhra Pradesh |

ANDHRA PRADESH - The Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MA&UD) department has issued a government order, G.O.Ms.No.65, on March 24, signaling a recalibration of electoral boundaries for 87 municipalities and 13 municipal corporations across Andhra Pradesh. This move, detailed in a notification released on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, and pegged to the 2011 Census population figures, dictates the strength of elected members based on established population tiers.

The G.O. aims to amend existing rules – the Andhra Pradesh Municipalities (Fixation of Strength of Nagar Panchayats and Municipal Councils) Rules, 2004, and the Andhra Pradesh Municipal Corporations (Fixation of Strength of Elected Members) Rules, 2005 – by introducing a population-based framework for determining the number of representatives in urban local bodies.

The prescribed strength of elected members is stratified as follows:

MA&UD issues G.O. for delimitation of wards in 87 municipalities, 13 municipal corporations in Andhra Pradesh - 1

  • Below 2 lakh population: 60 elected members.

  • 2 lakh to 3 lakh population: 62 elected members.

  • 3 lakh to 4 lakh population: 66 elected members.

  • 4 lakh to 5 lakh population: 68 elected members.

  • 5 lakh to 6 lakh population: 72 elected members.

  • 6 lakh to 10 lakh population: 76 elected members.

  • 10 lakh to 15 lakh population: 86 elected members.

  • Above 15 lakh population: 120 elected members.

Official Mandate for Boundary Adjustments

The directive from the MA&UD department follows established administrative procedures, referencing historical rule sets that govern the fixation of elected member strength in various municipal bodies. This legislative action implies a systematic approach to aligning representation with demographic shifts, as captured by the decennial census. The notification specifically points to the "delimitation of wards" as the operational outcome of this G.O., suggesting a process that will redraw the electoral map of urban Andhra Pradesh.

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Echoes of Regulatory Frameworks

The action resonates with a broader context of municipal governance in India, where delimitation processes are standard for ensuring fair representation. Andhra Pradesh itself has a history of regulatory documentation concerning urban planning and development. A compilation of 119 government orders related to town planning and development, primarily from 1996-2004, highlights a consistent administrative engagement with urban structure and regulation. These past orders touched upon building standards, zoning, and the delegation of powers to municipal bodies, underscoring the ongoing evolution of local self-governance frameworks.

The current move by MA&UD is situated within a landscape of various existing and amended rules governing municipalities and corporations. References to specific rules like the 'Andhra Pradesh Municipalities (Fixation of Strength of Nagar Panchayats and Municipal Councils) Rules, 2004' and 'Andhra Pradesh Municipal Corporations (Fixation of Strength of Elected Members) Rules, 2005' indicate a procedural continuity, even as population data from 2011 is now being applied to redefine ward strengths.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What new rule did the MA&UD department in Andhra Pradesh make on March 24?
The MA&UD department issued G.O.Ms.No.65, which changes how the number of elected members in municipal wards is decided. This new rule uses population data from the 2011 Census.
Q: How will the number of elected members in Andhra Pradesh municipalities be decided now?
The number of elected members will be based on the population of the area, using the 2011 Census. For example, areas with less than 2 lakh people will have 60 members, while areas with over 15 lakh people will have 120 members.
Q: Which municipalities and corporations in Andhra Pradesh are affected by this new rule?
This rule affects 87 municipalities and 13 municipal corporations across Andhra Pradesh. The changes are based on population figures from the 2011 Census.
Q: What is the main goal of changing the number of elected members in municipal wards?
The main goal is to make sure the number of representatives in each ward matches the population size, as per the 2011 Census. This process is called 'delimitation of wards' and aims for fairer representation.
Q: When was this new rule officially announced and when will it be applied?
The government order (G.O.) was issued on March 24, and a notification was released on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. The rule uses population data from the 2011 Census.