Hyderabad: In recognition of their outstanding contributions across diverse fields such as science, medicine, arts, research, engineering, and social service, seven eminent personalities from Telangana have been selected for the Padma Shri Awards this year.
Among the awardees is Chandramouli Gaddamanugu, a distinguished scientist and former Project Director at the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). He devoted over three decades to the development of the Akash missile system, significantly strengthening India’s defence capabilities.
Another prominent scientist, Krishnamurty Balasubramanian, has been honoured for his contributions to science and engineering, particularly in advanced materials and engineering components. He previously led the Nonferrous Materials Technology Development Centre (NFTDC) in Hyderabad.
In the field of medicine, renowned oncologist Dr Palkonda Vijay Anand Reddy, Director and Senior Oncologist at Apollo Cancer Centre, Jubilee Hills, has been named for the prestigious honour. Also receiving the Padma Shri is Dr GV Rao, Director and Chief of Surgical Gastroenterology, GI Oncology, and Minimally Invasive Surgery at AIG Hospitals, Hyderabad.
Dr Kumarasamy Thangaraj, a senior scientist at the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), has been recognised for his contributions to scientific research. Rama Reddy Mamidi, known for modernising animal husbandry practices in Telangana, has also been selected.
In the field of arts, renowned Kuchipudi dancer Deepika Reddy, a prominent figure in Indian classical dance, has been conferred with the Padma Shri.
Andhra Pradesh Awardees
Apart from Telangana, four individuals from Andhra Pradesh have also been honoured with the Padma Shri awards:
Gadde Babu Rajendra Prasad – Art
Garimella Balakrishna Prasad – Art
Maganti Murali Mohan – Art
Vempaty Kutumba Sastry – Literature and Education
The Padma Shri awards are among India’s highest civilian honours, celebrating excellence and distinguished service across various domains.
With the completion of the delimitation exercise, the expanded Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has emerged as the largest municipal corporation in the country.
Hyderabad: The Telangana government on Thursday completed the long-pending reorganisation of GHMC divisions, a move aimed at enhancing governance and improving service delivery across the rapidly expanding metropolitan region.
GHMC Commissioner R.V. Karnan issued the final notification, formally concluding the division bifurcation and zonal reorganisation process.
Simultaneously, the government released G.O. Ms. No. 292, outlining the newly restructured zones, circles, and divisions under the GHMC framework.
New Governance Architecture for the City
Under the revised administrative framework, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) will now operate through 12 zones and 60 circles, replacing the earlier six-zone structure. The reorganisation is aimed at improving administrative efficiency, promoting decentralised decision-making, and enhancing the delivery of civic services across the city.
Previously, GHMC comprised six zones—LB Nagar, Charminar, Serilingampally, Khairatabad, Kukatpally, and Secunderabad. As part of the restructuring, six new zones have been added: Malkajgiri, Uppal, Shamshabad, Rajendranagar, Golconda, and Quthbullapur, expanding the governance framework to better manage the city’s growing metropolitan footprint.
Each zone will comprise a minimum of four and a maximum of seven circles, depending on population and geographical spread.
Special Chief Secretary Post Created
In a significant administrative development, the Telangana government has created a new post of Special Chief Secretary, Metropolitan Area and Urban Development (within HMDA limits) to oversee the developmental needs of Hyderabad and the broader metropolitan region.
Senior IAS officer Jayesh Ranjan has been appointed to the newly created position. The role is expected to provide focused leadership and ensure coordinated planning for urban infrastructure, growth management, and overall metropolitan development within the HMDA jurisdiction.
Zonal Commissioners Appointed
Following the completion of the reorganisation, the Telangana government has appointed IAS officers as Zonal Commissioners for the newly created zones, ensuring that the restructured administrative units become operational without delay.
Zonal Commissioners Appointed
The Telangana government has appointed IAS officers as Zonal Commissioners for all 12 GHMC zones to ensure a smooth transition following the administrative reorganisation.
The newly appointed Zonal Commissioners are:
Bhorkhade Hemant Sahadeorao – Serilingampally
Apurv Chauhan – Kukatpally
Sandeep Kumar Jha – Quthbullapur
S. Srinivas Reddy – Charminar
G. Mukunda Reddy – Golconda
Priyanka Ala – Khairatabad
Anuraag Jayanti – Rajendranagar
N. Ravi Kiran – Secunderabad
K. Chandrakala – Shamshabad
Hemanta Keshav Patil – LB Nagar
Sanchit Gangwar – Malkajgiri
Radhika Gupta – Uppal
Officials stated that the swift appointment of Zonal Commissioners would help maintain continuity in governance and ensure the new administrative units become fully functional without delay.
‘No Disruption to Civic Administration’
GHMC Commissioner R.V. Karnan said the newly appointed Zonal Commissioners would assume charge immediately. He assured that all necessary arrangements had been made to ensure civic administration and essential public services continue uninterrupted during the transition.
Public Objections Examined
Before finalising the reorganisation, GHMC invited objections and suggestions from the public for nearly two weeks. After reviewing the representations received, authorities revised the boundaries and names of several divisions to address concerns raised by residents and other stakeholders.
Scale of the Reorganisation
Divisions renamed: 30
Divisions with boundary changes: 104
GHMC’s current administrative spread now covers:
Districts (fully/partially): 5
Mandals: 47
Villages: 311
Parliamentary constituencies: 6
Assembly constituencies: 28
“The comprehensive overhaul of GHMC’s administrative structure, along with the creation of a dedicated metropolitan-level leadership post, is expected to strengthen urban governance and support Hyderabad’s rapid growth in the coming years,” Commissioner Karnan said.
ఎంబడే రమేష్ పులిమామిడి సర్పంచ్ ఎన్నికల్లో భారీ మెజారిటీతో విజయం సాధించారు
కందుకూరు మండలం పరిధిలోని పులిమామిడి గ్రామ సర్పంచ్ ఎన్నికల్లో ఎంబడే రమేష్ ఘన విజయం సాధించారు. ఆయన 154 ఓట్ల స్పష్టమైన మెజారిటీతో గెలిచి, ప్రజల బలమైన నమ్మకాన్ని, విశ్వాసాన్ని చూరగొన్నారు.
డిసెంబర్ 15న జరిగిన ఈ ఎన్నికల్లో పెద్ద సంఖ్యలో ఓటర్లు పాల్గొన్నారు, గ్రామస్తులు ఎంబడే రమేష్కు అఖండ మద్దతు తెలిపారు. ఫలితాలు వెలువడిన వెంటనే గ్రామం అంతటా సంబరాలు మిన్నంటాయి. మద్దతుదారులు, స్థానిక నాయకులు మరియు గ్రామస్తులు నూతనంగా ఎన్నికైన సర్పంచ్ను పూలమాలలతో సత్కరించి అభినందనలు తెలిపారు.
ఈ సందర్భంగా ఎంబడే రమేష్ తనపై నమ్మకం ఉంచిన ఓటర్లకు హృదయపూర్వక కృతజ్ఞతలు తెలిపారు. పులిమామిడి గ్రామాన్ని సమగ్రంగా అభివృద్ధి చేయడానికి తాను అవిశ్రాంతంగా కృషి చేస్తానని, ప్రాథమిక మౌలిక సదుపాయాలను బలోపేతం చేయడంపై మరియు సంక్షేమ పథకాలను సమర్థవంతంగా అమలు చేయడంపై దృష్టి సారిస్తానని ఆయన హామీ ఇచ్చారు. గ్రామస్తులందరి సహకారంతోనే అభివృద్ధి సాధ్యమవుతుందని ఆయన ఉద్ఘాటించారు.
సీఎస్ఆర్ మెమోరియల్ ఫౌండేషన్కు చెందిన శ్రీ కృష్ణారెడ్డి, ఎంబడే రమేష్ విజయం సాధించినందుకు అభినందనలు తెలిపి, పులిమామిడి అభివృద్ధికి ఆయన చేసే ప్రయత్నాలలో విజయం సాధించాలని ఆకాంక్షించారు. నూతనంగా ఎన్నికైన సర్పంచ్ బృందానికి కూడా ఆయన శుభాకాంక్షలు తెలిపారు. కమ్యూనిటీ హాళ్లు మరియు నివాస సౌకర్యాల అభివృద్ధి సహా గ్రామాభివృద్ధి కోసం వారందరూ సమిష్టిగా కృషి చేస్తారని ఆయన విశ్వాసం వ్యక్తం చేశారు.
అంతేకాకుండా, నూతనంగా ఎన్నికైన 6వ వార్డు సభ్యుడు మల్లేష్ యాదవ్ను కూడా శ్రీ కృష్ణారెడ్డి అభినందించారు.
Embade Ramesh Wins Pulimamidi Sarpanch Election with Thumping Majority
Embade Ramesh registered a resounding victory in the Pulimamidi village Sarpanch elections held under Kandukur mandal, winning with a clear majority of 154 votes and earning the strong trust and confidence of the people.
The elections, conducted on December 15, saw a large voter turnout, with villagers extending overwhelming support to Embade Ramesh. Soon after the results were announced, celebrations broke out across the village. Supporters, local leaders, and villagers congratulated the newly elected Sarpanch by garlanding him with flowers.
Speaking on the occasion, Embade Ramesh expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the voters for placing their faith in him. He assured that he would work tirelessly for the overall development of Pulimamidi village, focusing on strengthening basic infrastructure and ensuring effective implementation of welfare schemes. He emphasized that progress would be achieved with the cooperation of all villagers.
Mr. Krishna Reddy of the CSR Memorial Foundation congratulated Embade Ramesh on his victory and wished him success in his efforts toward the development of Pulimamidi. He also conveyed his best wishes to the newly elected Sarpanch team, expressing confidence that they would work collectively for the welfare of the village, including the development of community halls and residential facilities.
Mr. Krishna Reddy further congratulated the newly elected 6th Ward Member, Mallesh Yadav, on his success.
The 58th edition of the Inter-IIT Sports Meet commenced at IIT Hyderabad, Kandi (Sangareddy district) on Sunday, bringing together athletic talent from across the country. The week-long event is witnessing the participation of nearly 2,500 students from 23 IITs, competing across a wide range of sporting disciplines.
The sports meet was inaugurated by Olympian and badminton star Saina Nehwal, who highlighted the importance of fitness and sports in nation-building. She remarked that India’s pride can be shaped not only through world-class research and innovation but also through healthy lifestyles, discipline, and a passion for sports.
“Sport is not just about competitions that last a week; it is about the habits we form every day. Regular workouts and staying active instil discipline, resilience, and focus — qualities as vital as academics and research,” she said.
Also present at the inauguration, India’s Chief Badminton Coach Pullela Gopichand emphasized the need to integrate sports into campus life. He stated that sports play a crucial role in building character, confidence, and discipline, helping shape well-rounded individuals.
The event will be followed by the Inter-IIT Sports Meet for staff, scheduled from December 24 to 29, with over 2,000 participants expected to compete in various categories.
The ceremony was attended by B.V.R. Mohan Reddy, Chairman of the Board of Governors, IIT Hyderabad, and Director B.S. Murty, among other dignitaries.
On March 2, 2025, Telangana’s Information Technology Minister, D. Sridhar Babu, commemorated the 88th birth anniversary of his father, the late Duddilla Sripada Rao, former Speaker of the undivided Andhra Pradesh Assembly. The event in Manthani town was marked by heartfelt tributes and community-centric initiatives.
Honoring a Legacy of Service
Minister Sridhar Babu paid floral tributes to his father’s statue, reflecting on Sripada Rao’s selfless contributions to society. He emphasized the enduring impact of good deeds, stating, “If we do good for 10 people, it should be remembered for 10 generations.” This sentiment underscores the lasting influence of Sripada Rao’s work in the community.
Community Engagement and Welfare Activities
Demonstrating a commitment to public welfare, Sridhar Babu visited the Government Hospital in Manthani. There, he distributed fruits and bread to patients and provided new uniforms to the sanitation staff, highlighting the importance of healthcare and hygiene. Additionally, he inaugurated a buttermilk distribution center at the Manthani bus station, an initiative by the Youth Congress, to offer free refreshments to the public.
A Pledge to Constituents
In his address, Sridhar Babu expressed gratitude for the unwavering support from party workers and leaders. He reaffirmed his dedication to his constituency, stating that despite his ministerial role, he remains a committed worker for the people of his region. He noted that while Sripada Rao is no longer present, his spirit continues to inspire and guide their collective efforts.
The commemoration not only honored Sripada Rao’s legacy but also reinforced the ongoing commitment to community service and the well-being of the people in Manthani and beyond.
