Did Chandrababu Naidu Claim 23 Lakh Crore Jobs Were Created in 18 Months? Edited Clip Goes Viral

A clip of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu saying that 23 lakh crore jobs have been created in the state over the last 18 months is viral on social media. The 10-second clip, taken from an interview with NDTV journalist Rahul Kanwal, was circulated by many users who mocked the CM for the numbers he cited. (Archive)

సీఎం చంద్రబాబు మాటలకు ఉలిక్కిప‌డ్డ‌ యాంకర్

18 నెలల్లో 20 లక్షల కోట్ల పెట్టుబడులు వచ్చాయి.. దాంతో 23 లక్షల కోట్లు జాబ్స్ క్రియేట్ అవుతాయ‌ని చెప్పడంతో, 23 లక్షల కోట్ల అని యాంక‌ర్ అన‌డంతో.. 20 లక్షల కోట్ల+ అని చెప్పిన సీఎం చంద్రబాబు

Video Credits – NDTV (Used Only For News) pic.twitter.com/ct5zLrcBod

— greatandhra (@greatandhranews) January 22, 2026

Several other users also amplified the clip with the same claim. (Archives- 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

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Fact Check

We found the original video on NDTV Profit’s X handle. Naidu was actually speaking about a 20 lakh crore investment that would churn out 23 lakh jobs. He can be heard correcting himself — something that has been edited out of the viral clip.

Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu sits down with NDTV’s Rahul Kanwal to discuss Quantum Valley, the investments coming into the state, and much more. pic.twitter.com/GIc1QB84xA

— NDTV Profit (@NDTVProfitIndia) January 22, 2026

At around the 7th minute of the video, Naidu explains his plans for a knowledge economy in Visakhapatnam, akin to Bangalore and Hyderabad, where IT companies would set up shop. He explains how a culture would be created in Andhra Pradesh, which would, in turn, lead to more jobs. To this, Kanwal counters, saying, “In some of the Hi-Tech industries which you are trying to build, it requires knowledge workers, intelligent workers, but it doesn’t really mass-create employment; how does that tackle your challenge of creating jobs in Andhra Pradesh?”

The viral bit starts at 7:57. Naidu states, “As of today, 18 months, I got investment (of) nearly 20 lakh crore. It is going to create 23 lakh crore jobs”. Kanwal questions the number, “23 lakh crore jobs?”. Naidu replies, “20 lakh crores plugs 22 lakh crores, I attracted investment… which is going to create nearly 23 lakh crore… (corrects himself) 23 lakh jobs…”

Interestingly, this moment has been edited out of the full interview available on NDTV’s official YouTube channel.

As it stands, AP Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu did not really mean that 23 lakh crore jobs were created in the last eighteen months — he actually meant 23 lakh jobs. It was a slip of the tongue which was corrected seconds later. The viral clip has been edited out of context.