Indian States at a Glance 2008-09: Performance, Facts and Figures presents information on the 29 states and 6 union territories of India in a set of 22 volumes. A compilation of the latest facts and figures, ranging from the basic socio-economic and demographic indicators to development parameters, these books also provide brief profiles of the states covering their history, culture, cuisine, handicrafts, places of tourist interest as well as an account of their performance vis-à-vis other states.

Andhra Pradesh, the fourth largest state in the country, has been a middle-order performer so far, with unexploited potential of its huge resources. Though growth in the state income has been generally below the Indian trend, the state’s contribution to India’s growth story has been significant, whether it is in agriculture as the rice bowl of India or in the services sector as a hub for higher education and the IT sector. Infrastructure in this state is better than in most states and connectivity through air, road and rail network is high. Intra-state disparities, however, are large, with some districts like Adilabad and Medak lagging behind others, and this is a cause of concern. Andhra Pradesh has ambitious plans of raising its growth rate to 9 per cent over the next five years. It is a state that has shown considerable openness to innovation and technology, and with concerted effort from all stakeholders, it can achieve its high growth target.