AMR-Andhra Pradesh Academy of Rural Development is an Apex Institute for Training and Capacity Building of Panchayat Raj  and Rural Development Functionaries in Andhra Pradesh and is Head of the Department by a Senior Level IAS Officer.  The main objective of the Academy is to enhance knowledge base, upgrade the skills of the Panchayat Raj & Rural Development (PR&RD) Department through Training, Action Research, Monitoring and Evaluation. It also facilitates the convergence to meet the objectives of local self-governance for sustainable rural prosperity The Government of India - Ministry of Community Development and Co-operation Department started this Institute as “Development Officers’ Training Centre” in the year 1954. It was one of the three oldest Institutes of its kind in the Country during that time.

In 1954, the first President of India Late Sri.Rajendra Prasad laid a Foundation Stone for the buildings of this Institute. In the year 1967, this Institute was transferred to the State Government of Andhra Pradesh. The name was then changed to “State Institute of Rural Development” in 1970 and later renamed in 1994 as “Andhra Pradesh Academy of Rural Development”

In 2002, this Academy has been renamed as “A. Madhava Reddy - Andhra Pradesh Academy of Rural Development (AMR-APARD)” in memory of the late Minister for Panchayat Raj & Rural Development.

for more details:   http://www.apard.gov.in