Problems Facing Indian Economy 

Since 1991, the Indian economy has pursued free market liberalisation, greater openness in trade and increase investment in infrastructure. This helped the Indian economy to achieve a rapid rate of economic growth and economic development. However, the economy still faces various problems and challenges, such as corruption, lack of infrastructure, poverty in rural areas and poor tax collection rates.

GDP per capita (in 1990 Geary-Khamis dollars) (data range 1950-2003)

What is the biggest economic problem in India?

Its population has grown 20% per decade, leading to problems that include food deficits, sanitation deterioration, and pollution. Although economic growth numbers look promising, the living standards of most citizens are not changing.

Here are the eight challenges that India is facing

India is facing the worst water crisis in history. Nearly half the population is struggling with drought-like conditions.

1. Worsening Water Nightmare

India is facing the worst water crisis in history. Nearly half the population is struggling with drought-like conditions. This year, rainfall in western and southern states is below average.

The NITI Aayog has warned that the demand for drinking water will outstrip supply by 2030 if preventive steps are not taken.

Nearly 600 million Indians suffer from high to extreme water stress. About 2,00,000 deaths per year are attributed to lack of access to safe water. Experts predict that 21 big cities will run out of groundwater by 2020.

2. Fake News Menace

Misinformation, hate speech and false propaganda on social media are dividing India’s community fabric one WhatsApp message at a time.

Fact-checker Pratik Sinha believes, what gets maximum likes on Facebook goes viral at least five times more on WhatsApp.

For two years his team has been debunking thousands of fake news cases. Ahmedabad-based Sinha, co-founder of India’s leading fact-checking site AltNews, says it is the lack of digital literacy that makes fake news acceptable.

3. Agrarian Catastrophe

Suicides, debt burden, falling prices of produce… India’s farm economy is in turmoil. Massive protests by farmers swept India late last year as thousands of them marched to Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai in the last week of November alone.

An estimated 26 crore citizens work in agriculture making about 55-57percent of India’s population dependent on the sector.

Despite the government’s implementation of the new MSP regime, profitable remuneration is eluding farmers.

Agriculture contributed 21 percent to GDP in 2004-05 but has dropped to around 13 percent in the past 15 years. 

4. Political Arrogance

Hua toh hua is the mantra of arrogant Congress,” PM Modi raged against Sam Pitroda’s cavalier remark on the anti-Sikh riots. Politicians consistently misuse their position to suppress cases, assault government staff, laud goons and in extreme cases even rape women and get pliant cops to intimidate.

Members of ruling parties are the worst: the misconduct of Akash Vijayvargiya and Sadhvi Pragya Thakur invited Modi’s ire. Crimelord MP Shahabuddin was called ‘bahubali’ until he was sent to jail.

An MP trashed an airline employee. Another ejected confirmed passengers from a train compartment to seat his gunmen. A law is necessary to rein in such hubris.

5. Flood Mismanagement

Monsoon is synonymous with floods. This year, rains killed nearly 500 between April 1 and July 17. Nearly six lakh houses and over four lakh hectares of crop were damaged, according to home ministry data.

It’s the same story everywhere, every year: thousands evacuated, hundreds dead, livelihoods lost, villages and settlements washed away, houses submerged, and the authorities always caught napping.

People die even in financial capital Mumbai, which is paralysed by rain every monsoon.

6. Unemployment

Despite rapid economic growth, unemployment is still an issue in both rural and urban areas. The fast rate of economic growth has left unskilled workers behind, and they have struggled to find work in growing industries. In 2017, the official unemployment rate was just below 5%. However, a report by the OECD found over 30% of people aged 15-29 in India are not in employment, education or training (NEETs). Livemint reported on March 6, 2017. WIth, little if any government welfare support for the unemployed, it leads to dire poverty.

7. Pending Justice

Bureaucratic sloth coupled with slow settlement of cases in India’s courts is a scourge the country has to fix on priority. The 100-year-old M Kaliyan will tell you. He has been part of two struggles over a century.

The first, the Independence movement, and the second, a Kafkaesque trial for his freedom fighter’s pension. The Tamil Nadu government initially turned down his application which was passed only in 2010 after a protracted legal battle.

His application for central government pension is yet to be approved. 

8. Poor Policing

According to United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, India’s ratio of 138 police personnel per lakh of population in 2013 was the fifth lowest among 71 countries.

Experts state that the archaic Indian police system doesn’t meet the requirements of a modern welfare state and reforms proposals have been pending for long.

A 2018 Lokniti team survey at the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies found that less than 25 percent of Indians trust the police highly. The distrust is mostly attributed to factors such as: interactions with the police can be frustrating, time-consuming and costly. 

Problems Facing Indian Economy Are:

.Poor educational standards

Although India has benefited from a high % of English speakers, (important for call centre industry) there is still high levels of illiteracy amongst the population. It is worse in rural areas and amongst women. Over 50% of Indian women are illiterate. This limits economic development and a more skilled workforce.

.Poor Infrastructure

Many Indians lack basic amenities lack access to running water. Indian public services are creaking under the strain of bureaucracy and inefficiency. Over 40% of Indian fruit rots before it reaches the market; this is one example of the supply constraints and inefficiency’s facing the Indian economy.

.Large Budget Deficit

India has one of the largest budget deficits in the developing world. Excluding subsidies, it amounts to nearly 8% of GDP. Although it is fallen a little in the past year. It still allows little scope for increasing investment in public services like health and education.

.Rigid labour Laws

As an example Firms employing more than 100 people cannot fire workers without government permission. The effect of this is to discourage firms from expanding to over 100 people. It also discourages foreign investment. Trades Unions have an important political power base and governments often shy away from tackling potentially politically sensitive labour laws.

.Inefficient agriculture

Agriculture produces 17.4% of economic output but, over 51% of the work force are employed in agriculture. This is the most inefficient sector of the economy and reform has proved slow.

.Poor tax collection rates.

According to the Economist, India has one of the poorest tax to GDP rates in the whole world. India’s tax revenue as a % of GDP is just 12%. Compared to an EU average of 45%. 

This poor tax collection rate reflects widespread corruption, tax avoidance and complicated tax rates. In 2017, Narendra Modi has sought to improve tax collection rates and reduce complications through the introduction of a general sales tax (GST) which involves a single tax rate – rather than tax rates applied multiple times at different stages of production.

.Business difficulties

According to the World Bank, the ease of doing business in India is poor. India ranks 130/190. Big issues for companies include

• Ease of enforcing contracts
• Dealing with construction contracts
• Paying taxes
• Trading across border

.Inequality within regions

India’s economic growth has benefitted some regions more than others. Technological hubs, such as Delhi and Mumbai have attracted higher-paying jobs. This has attracted an inflow of most mobile and skilled workers; this has created congestion in these super-cities but failed to address the poverty of rural areas, especially in the northeast.

.Balance of Payments deterioration.

Although India has built up large amounts of foreign currency reserves, the high rates of economic growth have been at the cost of a persistent current account deficit. 

In late 2012, the current account reached a peak of 6% of GDP. Since then there has been an improvement in the current account.

But, the Indian economy has seen imports growth faster than exports. This means India needs to attract capital flows to finance the deficit. Also, the large deficit caused the depreciation in the Rupee between 2012 and 2014.

Whilst the deficit remains, there is always the fear of a further devaluation in the Rupee. There is a need to rebalance the economy and improve the competitiveness of exports.

.Inequality has risen rather than decreased.

It is hoped that economic growth would help drag the Indian poor above the poverty line. 

However, so far economic growth has been highly uneven benefiting the skilled and wealthy disproportionately. 

Many of India’s rural poor are yet to receive any tangible benefit from India’s economic growth. More than 78 million homes do not have electricity. 

33% (268million) of the population live on less than $1 per day. Furthermore with the spread of television in Indian villages the poor are increasingly aware of the disparity between rich and poor.

The Future of Indian Economy:

The latest projections follow the IMF's forecast in January of a 5.8 per cent growth for the Asia giant in 2020. It's now slashed to 1.9 per cent -- the good news being India continues to be one of the fastest-growing nations, with its projected numbers still staying in positive territory.

POLITY OF ANDHRA PRADESH 

The State of Andhra Pradesh was originally formed in 1956.

The language of most of the people in the State is denoted by the terms Telugu or Andhra, although they bear no phonetic or etymological affmity. 

There were two important stages in the formation of the State. At the time of Independence, the Telugu-speaking people 

were concentrated in the old multilingual Madras State and the princely State of 

Hyderabad. 

The Telugu-speaking areas of the Madras State were separated on 1st October 1953 to create the 'Andhra' state, with Kumool as capital. 

This Andhra region itself was composed of two sub-regions, namely the Andhra region 

(popularly called the Andhra), and the south interior region, known as Rayalaseema. 

Later, the Telugu-speaking districts (referred to as Telangana region) of the old Hyderabad Statewere merged with the Andhra State on 1st november 1956 under the State Reorganisation Act, to form the greater Andhra (Visalandhra), called Andhra Pradesh. 

Hyderabad, the former capital of the Nizam State, became the capital of the enlarged State (Rao, 1988; Narayana Rao, 1973; Sarojini, 1968; Venkatarangaiah, 

1965). It was the first State in Independent India to be formed on linguistic principle, 

creating one unified State for people speaking one language. 

Historians disagree on how these two terms came to be used to denote the same people. 

Some say that the Andhras came to the region from northern parts of the Indian sub-continent as part of their southward expansion. 

They found a comparatively developed people here whom they called the Nagas. 

The language of the local people was non-Sanskritic, and they probably called themselves Tillingas or Telingas. 

Both peoples lived together and united into one. 

The crossing of the Telugu/Tmugu and the Adhm gave rise to a hybrid and the synthesis has been so perfect that the two terms Andhra and telugu became synonymous with each other(Hamamantha Rao, 1996; Nagabhushana Sarma and veerabadra Sastry, 1995). 

• NATURE AND ENVIRONMENT

 

Andhra Pradesh forms a major cultural and geographical link between the northern and southern parts of India. 

It is situated in the tropical region between the latitudes 1 3-20°north, and the longitudes 77-85" east.

It was bounded by the Bay of Bengal in the east, Orissa in the north-east, Chattisgarh and Maharashtra in the north, Karnataka in the west and Tamil Nadu in the south. 

Andhra Pradesh has the second longest coastline in India (972 krn), running fiom Ichchapuram in Srikalculam district in the north to Sriharikota in Nellore district in the south. 

There are eight working ports in the State, including one major port (Visakhapatnam) and two intermediate ports (Kakinada and Machilipatnam). 

Krishnapatnarn port in the private sector is also making great progress. 

Andhra Pradesh is also rich in a variety of minerals, the most important of them being coal, limestone, natural gas, barytes, manganese, mica and iron ore.

 

Much of the industrial growth of the State is in mining and industries dependent 

upon these minerals.

• POPULATION CHARACTERISTICS 

Andhra Pradesh was the fifth largest State in India, in terms of both area and population. 

In 2001, the State's population stood at 75.73 million (Census of India, 2001), which accounts for 7.4% of India's total population.

The sheer enormity of the State can be gauged against the fact that only 12 nations of the world have a population larger than that of Andhra Pradesh. 

The State population has more than 

doubled since its formation, although its decennial growth rate of population came 

down to 13.86 between 199 1 and 2001.

 

Literacy rate in Andhra Pradesh increased fiom 44.1 % in 1 99 1 to 6 1.1 % in 

2001, but it is still lower than the all-India figure of 65.4%.

The difference in literacy rate between rural and urban population, tribal and non-tribal people, socially backward castes and the upper castes, and males and females is still very wide. 

Visakhapatnam

Weather: 34 °C, Wind S at 19 km/h, 68% Humidity

Population: 20.4 lakhs (2011)

Visakhapatnam is a port city and industrial center in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, on the Bay of Bengal. It's known for its many beaches, including Ramakrishna Beach, home to a preserved submarine at the Kursura Submarine Museum. Nearby are the elaborate Kali Temple and the Visakha Museum, an old Dutch bungalow housing local maritime and historical exhibits.

Palm-lined Yarada Beach lies to the south, while sandy Rushikonda Beach is to the north. Connected to the seafront by a cable car, Kailasagiri Hill offers panoramic views of the city and the Dolphin's Nose headland, plus rides on a mini train encircling the summit. The peak is topped by a giant Shiva Parvati statue. Outside the city center are the Simhachalam Temple, a 11th-century Hindu shrine, plus the Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary. Near the quiet beach of Bheemunipatnam are a ruined Dutch fort and cemetery. Farther northwest are the Borra Caves, a limestone labyrinth in the Eastern Ghats mountains, and the Katika Waterfalls.

Visakhapatnam is a port city in Eastern coast of Andhra Pradesh. Popularly called as Vizag or Vizagapatnam. It handles bulk of Indian export to different parts of world. It is major commercial and industrial center and has many beautiful places which attracts tourists from various parts of the country. Visakhapatnam is also the headquarters of the Eastern Naval Command of the Indian Navy.

Demographics

The population is nearly 10 lakhs. The average literacy is 69%. Male literacy is 74%, and Female literacy is 63%

Climate of Visakhapatnam

Being close to the sea, Visakhapatnam has no appreciable seasonal changes. The level of humidity is high. The fluctuations in temperature are fairly uniform in character. May is the hottest month. December and January represent the coldest period of the year. Visakhapatnam receives the bulk of the rainfall from north-east monsoons.

How to reach Visakhapatnam?

Rail:

Since Visakhapatnam is a major Industrial center it is well connected by rail routes with other parts of India. The major trains that connects visakhapatnam with other parts of India are:

• Godavari Express from Hyderabad to Visakhapatnam
• Visakha Express
• Falaknuma Express
• East Coast Express
• Ratnachal Express
• Janmabhoomi Expre
• SS Coromandal Express
• Madras-Howrah Mail
• Howrah-Madras Mail

Roads:

Through state bus corporation bus service is available. Private operators also provides bus services and carry passengers to different part of the sates from and to visakhapatnam

Air:

It is connected to all the four Metropolitan cities through air route. Air India, Sahara and Air Deccan provides air services to the passengers.

Tourist Destinations

The major attraction of Visakhapatnam are beaches, caves, hills etc. The hot spot for tourists are:

Ramakrishna Beach	Rushikonda Beach	Kambalakonda Beach
Kailashgiri Hills	Borra Caves	Submarine Museums
Naval Museums

Economy

• The mainstay of Visakhapatnam's economy is heavy industries. Since there is a port therefore every major and minor industries have set up their base.
• Visakhapatnam is a major fishing port
• Apart from heavy industries there are many I.T based industries in Visakhapatnam.
• Vizag Special Economic Zone is playing major role in the expansion of industries in Visakhapatnam.

Industries

The major industries of visakhapatnam are:

• Hindustan Shipyard Limited
• NTPC
• HPCL - Oil Refinery (Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited)
• Bharat Heavy Plate and Vessels Ltd (BHPV)
• Hindustan Zinc Limited
• Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL)
• Coramandel Fertilizers
• Rain Calcining Limited
• Essar Pelletization Plant

Current Affairs 2020

1. Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Bill, 2020 passed by Lok Sabha

The bill seeks to increase the upper limit of legal abortions to 24 weeks for special categories of women such as rape survivors or victims of incest.

The Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Bill, 2020 was passed by the Lok Sabha on March 17, 2020. The bill seeks to amend the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971 and increase the upper limit of legal abortions to 24 weeks for special categories of women. 

The bill was passed in the lower house of the Parliament through a voice vote. Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan stated that the proposed bill seeks termination of pregnancy in cases involving victims of incest, rape survivors, minor girls, differently-abled girls or in case of a pregnancy that has substantial foetal abnormalities.

The Union Cabinet had approved the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Bill on January 29, 2020 under the chairmanship of PM Narendra Modi.

Medical Termination of Pregnancy Amendment bill: Key Features

• The Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Bill, 2020 proposes requirement for an opinion from one provider for termination of pregnancy up to 20 weeks of gestation and introducing the requirement of opinion from two providers for termination of pregnancy up to 20-24 weeks of gestation.

• The amended bill proposes increasing the upper gestation limit from 20 to 24 weeks for special categories of women such as vulnerable women including survivors of rape, victims of incest and others such as differently-abled women and minors.

• Under the amendment bill, the upper gestation limit will not apply in cases of substantial foetal abnormalities diagnosed by the Medical Board. The composition, functions and other details of the Medical Board will be prescribed subsequently in Rules under the Act.

• Further, the name and other details of the woman whose pregnancy has been terminated shall not be revealed except to a person authorised by the law.

2. Operation Vanilla: All You Need to Know about Indian Navy’s support to Madagascar

INS Airavat arrived at Madagascar's Port Antsiranana on January 30 with the relief material.

Operation Vanilla in News: The Indian Navy launched ‘Operation Vanilla’ on January 28 to provide relief and assistance to the cyclone-hit population of Madagascar. INS Airavat arrived at Madagascar's Port Antsiranana on January 30 with the relief material. 

INS Airavat, deployed in the Southern Indian Ocean, was diverted to Madagascar as a part of Indian Navy's 'Operation Vanilla' to provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to the people in the cyclone-ravaged areas of  Madagascar.

• About INS Airavat

INS Airavat was commissioned in the Indian Navy on May 19, 2010. It is the Indian Navy’s one of the biggest and heaviest naval ships. It is capable of carrying 10 battle tanks, more than 500 troops, and 11 combat trucks. INS Airavat provides a comfortable platform to Sea King and Dhruv helicopters. It is also equipped with two indigenous rocket launchers to provide support in amphibious operations.

• About Operation Vanilla

Indian Navy Ship Airavat reached Seychelles to provide all necessary help to Madagascar. The INS Airavat carried five pallets each of victualing, naval stores and clothing and three pallets of medicines.

The Indian Navy provided drinking water, emergency food, clothes, temporary shelters, evacuation-related help, medical assistance, emergency transportation and communication assistance to the people of Madagascar. “Operation Vanilla” is a part of the Government of India’s scheme – ‘Security and Growth for all in the Region (SAGAR)'.

• Where is Madagascar?

Madagascar is a country located in the Indian Ocean, about 400 kms away from the coast of East Africa. Madagascar is the world’s second-largest island country after Greenland. 

About Madagascar Disaster

Madagascar was severely affected by cyclone Diane recently. Around 92,000 people were affected due to floods in the country. President of Madagascar, Andry Rajoelina, had requested the international community to help the country with all possible measures. Heavy rainfall, floods, and landslides caused the loss of thousands of lives and the displacement of a large number of people.

3. Delhi Election 2020: Schedule, voting date and all you need to know!

Delhi Election 2020: The Election Commission appointed Retired IAS officer Vinod Zutshi as a special general observer for Delhi Assembly Elections 2020. Mr Zutshi was previously associated for 7 years with the Election Commission of India.

The appointment of Special General Observer comes in the wake of the poll preparedness meeting held between Delhi chief secretary, Commissioner of Police, Delhi Chief Electoral Officer and Senior Members of Delhi Government.

The EC had earlier appointed former IRS officer B Murli Kumar as special expenditure observer and former IPS officer M K Das as special police observer for Delhi Elections 2020. 

• AAP's "28-point guarantee card" 

The ruling Aam Aadmi Party released its manifesto for the upcoming Delhi Elections on February 4, 2020. The manifesto includes a plan to keep main markets open for 24 hours and 24-hour provision of electricity and clean water.

Aam Aadmi Party Manifesto: Key Details

• The guarantee card promises financial assistance worth Rs 1 crore for the kin of a sanitation worker if he dies during duty.

• The manifesto also includes a plan to establish 24x7 markets on a pilot basis in key commercial areas. The markets will be allowed to remain open round the clock.

• The manifesto also promises to provide free pilgrimage to 10 lakh senior citizens.

• The manifesto also promises to introduce Deshbhakti Curriculum in Delhi government schools after the successful implementation of the Happiness Curriculum.

• The manifesto also includes a promise to introduce English, soft skills and personality development classes for the students who have completed their schooling from any Delhi school in the last five to boost employment opportunities.

• The manifesto includes a plan to develop the riverside of Yamuna River to create new tourism spots.

Delhi Election Dates: All Important Dates

Issuance of Notification	January 14
Last Date for filing of nomination	January 21
Scrutiny of nomination	January 22
Last date for withdrawal of nomination	January 24
Polling Day	February 8
Counting of Votes- Result	February 11

The current Delhi Assembly term will end on February 22, 2020. The new government will have to be formed before the day. The Election Commission has given time till February 12, before which the election should be completed. 

Delhi Election Opinion Poll

As per IANS-CVoter opinion poll, the ruling Aam Aadmi Party is set to retain its power with 59 seats, while the BJP is predicted to win 8 seats and the Congress is predicted to open its account with 3 seats. 

Delhi Elections 2015

Arvind Kejriwal’s AAP had swept the Delhi Elections 2015 with 67 seats in the 70-member assembly. While the BJP was reduced to three seats, the Congress drew a blank despite being in power in Delhi for 15 years between 1998 and 2013. 

Party	Seats Won
AAP	67
BJP	3
Congress	-

Andhra Pradesh Government Schemes

Navaratnalu

Here are the nine Navaratna welfare schemes:

1. YSR Rythu Bharosa:

The YSRCP promises to offer Rs 50,000 financial assistance to farmers. 

Starting second year, each 

farmer family would be given Rs 12,500 per year, in addition to zero-interest loans and free borewells. 

Cold storages and food processing units in every constituency are among a list of benefits promised to the farmers.

2. Fee Reimbursement:

The party, if elected to power, plans to provide a comprehensive fee reimbursement scheme, in line 

with late Chief Minister Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy’s vision. 

In addition to complete fee reimbursement, an allowance of Rs 20,000 would be given to every student.

3. Arogyasri:

The Arogyasri scheme would be applicable to all medical treatments of above Rs 1,000.

Regardless of the location of the hospital, all medical expenses would be borne by the government.

4. Jalayagnam:

Under this scheme, lakhs of families would be benefited by the irrigation projects.

Completion of Polavaram project on a war footing is promised.

5. Ban on Alcohol:

The YSRCP promises to put in place a ban on sale of alcohol across the State in three stages.

6. Amma Vodi:

With a view to encourage the families with school-going children, the YSRCP promises to provide Rs 15,000 towards assistance to all the mothers who send their children to school.

7. YSR Asara:

All loans pertaining to the women’s co-operative societies would be waived. 

In addition, zero-interest loans would be issued.

YSR Cheyootha through YSR Cheyootha, the YSRCP intends to support all women from SC, ST, BC and Minority Communities, who are aged above 45.

8. Paydalandariki Illu:

In five years, the YSRCP promises to build 25 lakh homes for the poor.

9. Pensionla Pempu:

The eligibility age criteria of 65 years for the pensions would be reduced to 60 years.

Senior citizens aged above 60 would be given Rs 2,000 while the physically challenged would be given a pension of 

Rs 3,000.

Geography of Andhra Pradesh

160,205 km²

Andhra Pradesh/Area

PHYSICAL FEATURES:

Andhra Pradesh has three main physiographic regions: a coastal plain, the Eastern Ghats, and a plateau west of the Eastern Ghats. The coastal plain extends from the Bay of Bengal to the mountain ranges and runs nearly the entire length of Andhra Pradesh.

RELIEF FEATURES:

Andhra Pradesh has few relief features such as Deccan Plateau, Central Plateau, Eastern Highland, East Coastal Plains. Andhra is located in eastern coastline of India which is near the shore of the ocean. 974-kilometre long line of Bay of Bengal provides this state with the second largest coast.

LANDFORMS:

The state has three main physiographic regions: the coastal plain to the east, extending from the Bay of Bengal to the mountain ranges; the mountain ranges themselves, the Eastern Ghats, which form the western flank of the coastal plain; and, in the southwest, the plateau to the west of the Ghats.

Anantapur district:

Anantapur district in Rayalaseema is the largest district in area and Srikakulam district in Uttarandhra is the smallest. East Godavari district is the most populous while Vizianagaram district is the least populous.

PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY OF COASTAL ANDHRA:

Land defines the economics of utilization of natural resources and thus is much more than the mere terra-firma It includes "all the materials and forces, which 

nature gives fieely for man's use in land and water, in air and light and heat."' 

The socio-economic life of the people in any epoch is determined largely by their natural environments such as the mountains, the soils, the river-system, the flora and fauna and the weather phenomena.

 Before proceeding with the land system, its 

management and its cognate problems, therefore it is necessary to have a clear picture of the physical characteristics of the region under study fbm ancient sources bearing in mind at the same time the profound influence these features exercised on 

Coastal Andhra economy and society. 

The Coastal Andhra is the region selected for the present study. 

This region is geographically located between 18" 20'- 19" 10' and 13" 3 1 '-1 5" 5 1 ' of Northern Latitude, 83" 01'-84" 54' and 79"15-80" 15' of Eastern Longitude, This region which stretches from the Srikakulam district to Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh, with its south-eastward slope looks like a waxing crescent moon. 

This area covers a wide expanse of low land between the Bay of Bengal and the Eastern Ghats intersected by rivers and rivulets and indented by creeks and coves.

 In some places it is extremely picturesque with long stretches of rice fields and river mouths. 

Ancient port cities and trade emporiums lie scattered along the long coast-line. 

The social, economic, religious and political history of this part of Andhra is in large measure shaped and influenced its geography. 

The width of this Coastal plain is only 3.7 kms. 

in the Srikakulan district but extended afterwards to 72 kms.

 In delta and thereby paving the way for good 

agricultural activities. Again, the plain's area is gradually reduced fiom 3 to 2.2 krns. 

In the Prakasam and Nellore districts which form the southernmost tip of the Coastal 

Andhra. 

The Coastal Andhra is covered by several mountain ranges and hillocks. 

The Eastern mountain ranges start hm the district of Srikakulam and extend towards 

south-west up to the Godavari district. 

They are nearly 610 to 1206 metres high fiom 

the sea level. 

From the district of Krishna these mountain ranges or the Eastern Ghats travel with breaks and they are known locally be several names, like Palakondalu, Velikondalu, Yerramala, Nallamala, Ratnagiri and Seshachalam.

The migration of Brahmins and the Vedic religion to the Andhradesa from North India is also supported by the Buddhist literary works. 

As already stated above the Suttanipata relates the history of migration of a Brahmin by name Bavari from Kosala to south of Godavari.

Even the king of Kalinga honoured him by giving 

a large amount of money and land for building his ararna. 

The emergence of the Eastern Chalukyas of Vengi, Cholas and the Kakatiyas of Warangal gave a migration boom to the coastal Andhra desa. 

The reasons are not far to seek for this boom. 

The rich alluvial deposits, the flourishing trade and commerce and relatively peaceful conditions that prevailed in the region were mainly responsible for the

 migration. 

The land grants followed by land management and expansion of agriculture gained momentum amply attest it.

 This aspect is discussed in detail elsewhere in this thesis. 

It is evident from the above discussion that the natural geography of coastal Andhra has substantial significance, the long and unending Eastern Ghats with 

occasional breaks, minor mountain ranges and hillocks, the rivers, rivulets, minor water resources, minor valleys, diversified climatic conditions form the very wre of 

the physical geography of the region under our survey. 

It shaped the economy, society, conditioned the agrarian economy, fostered agrarian industries, determined 

the internal and external policies of the rulers and finally promoted both internal and international trade and commerce. 

Thus, the society, economy, religion, polity and the cultural patterns of the coastal Andhradesa were determined and directed by the natural geography of the region.