By Desaraju Surya
AMARAVATI: If you are looking for some authentic information about the Andhra Pradesh government, never visit ap.gov.in, the so-called “official portal of Andhra Pradesh government”.
It is full of blunders and is so obsolete, going by the content.
Yet, a footnote on the home page says the site was “last updated” on 22-05-2025, with the visitor count at 72094464 (at 11.37 pm on May 22).
Nara Lokesh retired as member of the Legislative Council in March 2023, yet the ap.gov.in portal continues to list him as an MLC.
Of course, he is also listed as an MLA from Mangalagiri constituency in Guntur district.
What an irony that the IT, Electronics and Communications Department, headed by Lokesh himself, is the one that manages the ‘official portal’ of the state government!
At least two MLCs – Sheik Sabjee and Batchula Arjunudu – died in the last three years, yet they are listed as MLCs.
Many MLCs had since retired over the years but their status remains unaltered on the government website.
For a government that boasts of using Emerging Technologies like Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning for real-time governance, its official web portal appears a real shame. It’s apparently ages since the portal has been updated. If one is looking for any authentic info, the portal is best avoided.
Click the IT Policy link on the Home page, it takes you back to year 2021, though the latest policy was unveiled in December 2024. Same with Electronics Policy. The “latest news” section is stalled in January 2025 and the photo gallery in November 2024 as if nothing happened in the AP government ever since.
Listing of officials and Heads of Departments is another apology!
IAS officer M Hari Narayanan was Director of Municipal Administration for a few months in 2024 and is now the Commissioner and Inspector General of Stamps and Registration Department. Yet, he is shown as holding both posts.
Additional Director General of Police-rank IPS officer N Sanjay is currently under suspension. But he is listed as DIG\IG\Additional DG of Police under Potti Sreeramulu Nellore district. Sanjay is also shown as Director (Full Additional Charge) of AP Police Academy, Anantapuramu.
IAS officer Vivek Yadav is now the state Chief Electoral Officer but the official portal shows him as Commissioner (Prohibition and Excise) (FAC)!
IPS officer Md Ahsan Reza retired on July 31, 2023. But, if you visit ap.gov.in, you will find him designated as Director General of Prisons.
The Chandrababu Naidu government has disbanded the Special Enforcement Bureau established by the previous Jagan regime.
The SEB, however, is an entry on the official portal with Ravi Shankar Ayyanar, IPS, designated as Commissioner.
The blunders are one too many.
There is a ‘quick links’ button that gives a drop-down menu, where if you try to access the ‘investment policy’ related to industries or information technology, the response will be “No Records Found”!
All in all, the official web portal of Andhra Pradesh government is not only an apology but also a real shame for a regime that claims credit for being a “pioneer in use of technology”.