Andhra Pradesh, state (2001 provisional pop. 75,727,541), 106,052 sq mi (275,608 sq km), SE India, on the Bay of Bengal. The capital is Hyderabad. The state was created in 1956 from the Telugu-speaking portions of Madras (now Tamil Nadu) and Hyderabad states. Although the interior is mountainous, Andhra Pradesh is largely on a coastal plain drained by the Penner, Krishna, and Godavari rivers. Rice, sugarcane, peanuts, and cotton are raised; coal, chrome, and manganese are mined. India's largest shipyard is located in Vishakhapatnam, and a satellite launch center is on Sriharikota island. The state takes its name from the Andhra people, the indigenous inhabitants of the area. Among the political forces within Andhra Pradesh is a movement advocating separation from India. There also has been long-term sentiment by many in the section (NW) of the state that was part of Hyderabad in favor of a separate state, Telangana, and demonstrations on issue at times have led to deadly violence. In 2009 the Indian government announced it would began the process of creating the state, but it then backtracked in the face of opposition to the move and called for consultations. The state is governed by a chief minister and cabinet responsible to a bicameral legislature with one elected house and by a governor appointed by the president of India.

State (pop., 2001: 76,210,007), southeastern India. Located on the Bay of Bengal, it is bordered by Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, and Orissa states. Covering 106,204 sq mi (275,068 sq km), it was created in 1953 and achieved its present-day form in 1960; its capital is Hyderabad. Its name derives from the Telugu-speaking Andhra people, who have long inhabited the area. Many dynasties have flourished here, dating to the 3rd century BC. The area came under British influence in the 17th century; in the 19th century the Andhras played a decisive role in the rise of Indian nationalism. The state's economy, once primarily agricultural, has become one of the most industrialized in India.

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