The minister's chief responsibility is the maintenance of Andhra Pradesh's internal security; the state's police force comes under the ministry's jurisdiction.

Following the cabinet re-shuffling on 11 April 2022, Taneti Vanitha assumed the office under the Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy ministry, serving until 11 June 2024.

On 14 June 2024, Vangalapudi Anitha assumed the office under the fourth N. Chandrababu Naidu ministry.

Its responsibilities include management of the Special Protection Force (SPF), administration of the Sainik Welfare Department, and regulation under the Arms Act and related state judicial matters.

Additionally, the department is authorized to sanction or withdraw prosecution, delegate magisterial powers to district collectors and district election officers during election periods, and confer magisterial powers to IAS probationers.