The Government of Andhra Pradesh has missed presenting the Socio-Economic Survey 2025–26 during the recently concluded Budget Session of the State Legislature, despite the session being held for an extended period.

The omission continued even during the subsequent session of the Assembly, which was convened to ratify a resolution urging Parliament to amend the A.P. Reorganisation Act to ensure that Amaravati is the State capital, thereby marking a second missed opportunity for the Finance Department.

The Socio-Economic Survey is considered one of the crucial financial documents of the State Government, as it presents economic indicators, growth statistics, challenges and planning for the future.

Though the presentation of the Socio-Economic Survey is not a constitutional obligation — unlike the Annual Financial Statement (Budget), which requires legislative approval — it is widely regarded as a key financial document of the Budget Session.

Traditionally, it is presented ahead of the Budget speech of the Finance Minister to provide a comprehensive overview of the State’s economic performance, welfare initiatives, and developmental indicators, ensuring transparency and informed legislative debate.

At the national level, the Union Government follows a similar convention by presenting the Economic Survey in Parliament prior to the Union Budget. In the latest edition, Chief Economic Adviser V. Anantha Nageswaran noted a reconfiguration of the Economic Survey, expanding its scope to 17 chapters and focusing on emerging priorities such as Artificial Intelligence, urban quality of life, and strategic resilience.

In Andhra Pradesh, the Socio-Economic Survey for 2024–25 was presented during the previous Budget Session.

Reacting to the current delay, Principal Secretary (Planning) Peeyush Kumar told The Hindu that the government had intended to present the Socio-Economic Survey 2025-26 before the end of the session but could not do so due to unspecified reasons. He added that the document would be released next week and subsequently tabled in the forthcoming Assembly session. He explained that producing the Socio-Economic Survey is a top priority for the department and it is actively working on it.