A Special Economic Zone is a legally notified area under the applicable central framework. “Notified” and “operational” are not synonyms: a developer can obtain notification before units begin exporting. Land may also be de-notified, changing the notified extent. The Department of Commerce publishes dated lists, including a 2025 operational SEZ list; APIIC has its own inventory. Read the list's heading and as-of date before using a number.

An MCQ may ask which AP location has a multi-product SEZ, which asks for sector and site. Another may ask how many were operational in March 2025, which requires the exact list and date. An old notification may use “Chittoor” for Sri City or “Visakhapatnam” for Atchutapuram; these are administrative vintages, not necessarily errors in the legal record. The SEZ boundary is a parcel area, not the whole district or nearby port-proximal zone.

Worked example: A Special Economic Zone can be proposed, formally notified, operational, partly occupied or de-notified. These labels matter more than a promotional name. The Department of Commerce's dated notified and operational lists answer different questions. A proposed SEZ in a state policy cannot be counted as an operational export zone in an MCQ.

Active recall: What extra evidence beyond a notification proves a site was on an operational list at a given date?

SEZ status ladder

Proposed, notified and operational are distinct; de-notification can change area.

Read this visual

Proposed, notified, operational and de-notified SEZ statuses are distinct. The list's issue date determines the answer.

Current district geometry: APSDMA. Mining, industry, SEZ and port claims: credited issuing bodies.