Andhra Pradesh spends ₹33,000 crore annually on social security pensions: Chandrababu Naidu
Synopsis
Andhra Pradesh is spending ₹33,000 crore every year on social security pensions — a number Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu calls unparalleled in India. With 62.47 lakh beneficiaries receiving monthly payouts and over ₹63,000 crore disbursed in 22 months, the NTR Bharosa scheme has become the centrepiece of the TDP-led government's welfare pitch.
Key Takeaways
Andhra Pradesh spends ₹33,000 crore annually on social security pensions, according to CM N.
The state covers 62.47 lakh beneficiaries every month under the NTR Bharosa pension scheme.
More than ₹63,000 crore has been disbursed on pensions over the last 22 months .
The government keeps ₹2,700 crore ready for pension disbursement every single month.
Naidu pledged no electricity tariff hike, citing nine previous tariff increases by earlier administrations.
Naidu announced he will seek public feedback on MLA performance at every future public meeting.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Friday, 1 May stated that the state government is spending ₹33,000 crore every year on social security pensions — a figure he described as unparalleled in the country. Speaking at a public event in Pamidimukkala, Krishna district, Naidu said the government has disbursed more than ₹63,000 crore on pensions over the last 22 months.
Scale of the NTR Bharosa Pension Scheme
The state is currently providing pensions to 62.47 lakh beneficiaries every month under the NTR Bharosa pension scheme. To sustain this outlay, the government ensures ₹2,700 crore is kept ready for disbursement each month. Naidu participated in the 'Pedala Sevalo' (service to the poor) programme in Pamarru constituency of Krishna district, where he personally distributed pensions to select beneficiaries.
Point of View
000 crore annual pension figure is politically significant but warrants scrutiny on fiscal sustainability — Andhra Pradesh remains one of India's more debt-stressed states post-bifurcation. Naidu's framing of welfare spending as 'responsibility, not burden' is a deliberate counter-narrative to critics who argue such outlays crowd out capital expenditure. The announcement of real-time MLA performance reviews at public meetings is an unusual accountability mechanism, but its enforceability depends entirely on follow-through. The broader pattern — high welfare visibility, electricity tariff freezes, and public accountability theatre — suggests the TDP government is already in campaign mode, even with elections years away.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Andhra Pradesh spend on social security pensions annually?
Andhra Pradesh spends ₹33,000 crore every year on social security pensions, according to Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu. The state has disbursed more than ₹63,000 crore on pensions over the last 22 months.
How many people benefit from the NTR Bharosa pension scheme?
The NTR Bharosa pension scheme covers 62.47 lakh beneficiaries every month. The state government keeps ₹2,700 crore ready for disbursement each month to sustain the programme.
What is the 'Pedala Sevalo' programme?
'Pedala Sevalo', meaning 'service to the poor', is a public outreach programme under which Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu personally distributes pensions to beneficiaries. The event on 1 May was held in Pamidimukkala, Pamarru constituency, Krishna district.
Will Andhra Pradesh increase electricity tariffs?
Chief Minister Naidu has categorically stated that the TDP-led government will not increase electricity tariffs, reaffirming a promise made during the previous Assembly elections. He noted that earlier administrations had hiked power rates on nine separate occasions.
How will Andhra Pradesh assess MLA performance?
Naidu announced that at every public meeting going forward, he will seek direct feedback from citizens on the performance of their local MLAs and personally assess their work in the presence of the public.
