R. S. Ramakrishna Ranga Rao

Raja Sri Ravu Svetachalapati Sir
Ramakrishna Ranga Rao
5th First Minister of the Madras Presidency
In office
24 August 1936 – 1 April 1937
GovernorKurma Venkata Reddy Naidu (acting), John Erskine, Lord Erskine (2nd term)
Preceded byP. T. Rajan
Succeeded byKurma Venkata Reddy Naidu
In office
5 November 1932 – 4 April 1936
GovernorJohn Erskine, Lord Erskine
Preceded byB. Munuswamy Naidu
Succeeded byP. T. Rajan
Member of the Legislative Assembly of Andhra Pradesh for Bobbili
In office
1967–1972
PremierKasu Brahmananda Reddy
Preceded byL. Thentu
Succeeded byVenkata Krishna Rao
Member of the Constituent Assembly of India
In office
1946–1951
Member of the Council of State (Imperial Legislative Council of India)
In office
1927–1927
Raja of Bobbili
In office
1921 – 1978
(titular from 1948)
Preceded byVenkata Kumara Krishna
Succeeded byVenkata Gopala Krishna Ranga Rao
Personal details
Born(1901-02-20)20 February 1901
Bobbili, Madras Presidency, British Raj
(Present day Andhra Pradesh)
Died10 March 1978(1978-03-10) (aged 77)
Bobbili, Andhra Pradesh, India
NationalityBritish Indian citizenship (1901 - 47), Indian citizenship (1947 - 78)
Political partyJustice Party
SpouseLakshmi Subadrayamma
OccupationPolitician
ProfessionLawyer

Raja Sri Ravu Svetachalapati Sir Ramakrishna Ranga Rao KCIE (20 February 1901 – 10 March 1978) was an Indian politician and zamindar who served as the First Minister of Madras Presidency from 5 November 1932 to 4 April 1936 and 24 August 1936 to 1 April 1937.

Ramakrishna Ranga Rao was born in the royal family of Bobbili zamindari in 1901. He succeeded his father Venkata Kumar Krishna to the throne of Bobbili and ruled as zamindar from 1921 to 1948 and as the titular "Raja of Bobbili" from 1948 to 1978. He set up trusts and patronized sports and education.

Ramakrishna Ranga Rao joined the Justice Party in 1930 and was elected to the Madras Legislative Assembly. He served as the First Minister of Madras Presidency from 1932 to 1936 and 1937. He resigned as First Minister in 1937 when the Justice Party lost the elections. From 1946 to 1951, he served as a member of the Constituent Assembly of India which framed India's Constitution. In his later years, he also served a term as a member of the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly for the Bobbili assembly constituency.

Ramakrishna Ranga Rao married Lakshmi Subhadrayamma in 1921. He had a son Venkata Gopala Krishna Rao who succeeded him as Raja in 1978. Ramakrishna Ranga Rao is mostly remembered for his contribution towards framing India's constitution and for his service to society in establishing colleges. He is also held responsible by analysts for the defeat of the Justice Party in the 1937 assembly elections which is blamed upon his despotism and anti-people measures.