Headquarters: Ongole. The present district spans an inland-to-coast belt, reduced after the 2025 creation of Markapuram. Locate this district first in relation to the coast, the Godavari or Krishna corridors, the Eastern Ghats or the Rayalaseema plateau. These physical belts often reveal why a crop, port, reservoir or pilgrimage place appears in a district question. Read the number on the accompanying current-boundary map before memorising a headquarters. A town name on a pre-2022 map can remain correct geographically but lead to the wrong present-district option.
Exam anchor: Ongole headquarters, Chimakurthy Black Galaxy granite and the coastal Ramayapatnam area are distinct location anchors. This is a place-to-theme association, not a claim that every landmark in the surrounding region belongs inside the district. Keep a separate column for a river or landscape, a site or activity, and the administrative headquarters. In a map question, begin at the state outline, narrow to the regional belt, and only then select the district polygon. The order is more dependable than recognising a familiar town name in isolation.
Boundary and date caution: Western Nallamala and Veligonda references in old Prakasam sources may now point to Markapuram district; date the source. District-level population, area, output and mandal totals are especially sensitive to reorganisation. An exact figure should carry its reference year and boundary vintage; this book does not silently attach an old census total to a new polygon. If the stem quotes an older notification, answer for that date. If it asks for the current district, use the 2026 map and official district portal.
Worked example: Prakasam still contains Ongole as headquarters, but later creation of Markapuram changed the present district geometry. A 2024 Prakasam area figure and a 2026 map cannot be paired as if they describe the same polygon. Chimakurthy's granite association may be useful, yet check the current boundary for a specific locality. The date determines which district list applies.
Active recall: Name the headquarters of Prakasam; place it on the map; give one physical-geography anchor and explain the dated boundary trap above.