Table of Contents
The State of Madhya Pradesh at a Glance
| State Formation | |
|---|---|
| Before | Central Provinces and Berar |
| Formation | 26 January 1950 |
| Capital | Bhopal |
| Largest city | Indore |
| Districts | 55 |
| Government | |
|---|---|
| Governor | Mangubhai C. Patel |
| Chief minister | Mohan Yadav (BJP) |
| Deputy chief ministers | Jagdish Devda (BJP), Rajendra Shukla (BJP) |
| No. of Seats in Assembly | 230 seats |
| Rajya Sabha | 11 seats |
| Lok Sabha | 29 seats |
| Area | |
|---|---|
| Total | 308,252 km² (119,017 sq mi) |
| Rank | 2nd |
| Dimensions | Length – 605 km Width – 870 km |
| Highest elevation | Dhupgarh – 1,352 m |
| Population (2011) | |
|---|---|
| Total | 72,626,809 |
| Rank | 5th |
| Density | 240/km² |
| Urban | 27.63% |
| Rural | 72.37% |
| Literacy (2011) | 69.32% (28th) |
| Sex ratio (2011) | 970/1000 (15th) |
| Symbols of Madhya Pradesh | |
|---|---|
| Emblem | Emblem of Madhya Pradesh |
| Song | Mera Madhya Pradesh (My Madhya Pradesh) |
| Bird | Indian paradise flycatcher |
| Fish | Mahseer |
| Flower | White lily |
| Fruit | Mango |
| Mammal | Barasingha |
| Tree | Banyan Tree |
State Formation of Madhya Pradesh
- British Era and Central Provinces (1861):
- In 1853, the British annexed the State of Nagpur, which included southeastern Madhya Pradesh, eastern Maharashtra, and Chhattisgarh.
- In 1861, these areas were merged with the Saugor and Nerbudda Territories to form the Central Provinces.
- The Central Provinces later became Central Provinces and Berar in 1903.
- Post-Independence and States Reorganization (1956):
- After India’s independence in 1947, the former princely states in the region were reorganized into new states like Madhya Bharat, Vindhya Pradesh, and Bhopal.
- In 1956, these states were merged to form a Madhya Pradesh state as part of the States Reorganization Act.
- The Vidarbha region (including Nagpur) was ceded to Bombay State, and Bhopal was declared the capital.
- Formation of Chhattisgarh (2000): In 2000, Madhya Pradesh was bifurcated to form the new state of Chhattisgarh under the Madhya Pradesh Reorganization Act.
Bordering States
Madhya Pradesh is centrally located and shares its borders with five Indian states:
- Uttar Pradesh to the northeast
- Chhattisgarh to the southeast (carved out of Madhya Pradesh in 2000)
- Maharashtra to the south
- Gujarat to the west
- Rajasthan to the northwest
History of Madhya Pradesh
Ancient Period
- Prehistoric Period: Evidence of human settlement found in the Bhimbetka rock shelters, Narmada, Chambal, and Betwa river valleys dating back to the Stone Age, with tools and cave paintings.
- Vedic Period: The Vindhya Mountains marked the southern limit of Indo-Aryan territories.
- Period of Mahajanapadas: The region that is now Madhya Pradesh was home to three of the 16 Mahajanapadas, namely Avanti, (with its capital at Ujjain), Chedi, and Vatsa.
- Maurya Empire: The region became part of the powerful Maurya Empire under Chandragupta Maurya (around 327 BCE). Emperor Ashoka ruled over the area, and his wife was from Vidisha.
- Gupta Empire: During the 4th and 5th centuries, the Guptas ruled the region, bringing the “Classical Age” of Indian culture and literature.
Medieval Period
- Rajput Kingdoms: The region saw the rise of Rajput dynasties like the Paramaras of Malwa and the Chandelas of Bundelkhand.
- Paramara Dynasty: Famous ruler Raja Bhoja (1010-1060 CE) patronised the arts and sciences.
- Chandelas: Built the famous Khajuraho temples between 950 and 1050 CE.
- Delhi Sultanate: In the 13th century, the Delhi Sultanate conquered northern Madhya Pradesh.
- Malwa Sultanate: In the late 14th century, the independent Malwa Sultanate was established, with Mandu as its capital.
Modern Period
- Mughal Rule: Much of Madhya Pradesh came under the Mughal Empire during Akbar’s reign (1556-1605). The region of Gondwana remained under local Gond rulers.
- Maratha Empire:
- In the 18th century, the Marathas expanded into the region.
- Major Maratha rulers included the Scindias of Gwalior, Holkars of Indore, and the Bhonsles of Nagpur.
- British Rule: After the Third Anglo-Maratha War (1818), the British took control of the region, incorporating it into the Central Provinces and Berar.
- Major princely states like Gwalior, Indore, and Bhopal retained internal autonomy but were under British supervision.
Post-Independence
- Formation of Madhya Pradesh (1956): After India’s independence in 1947, Madhya Pradesh was formed by merging regions like Madhya Bharat, Vindhya Pradesh, and Bhopal.
- Creation of Chhattisgarh (2000): In 2000, the southeastern part of the state was separated to form the new state of Chhattisgarh.
Geography
Madhya Pradesh, located in the heart of India, is known for its diverse landscape, rivers, and distinct geographic regions.
Location and Area
- Position: Situated in central India, Madhya Pradesh borders several states, including Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat.
- Area: The state covers 308,000 square kilometres, making it the second-largest state in India after Rajasthan.
Physical Regions
Madhya Pradesh is divided into distinct geographic regions based on topography:
- Narmada-Sone Valley:
- A long and narrow valley running from east to west.
- Divided into the upper part (Sone valley) and lower part (Narmada valley).
- Central Highlands:
- Located between the Narmada-Sone Valley and the Aravali ranges.
- Slopes towards the north, draining into the Yamuna River.
- Key uplands:
- Rewa-Panna Plateau,
- Bundelkhand Plateau,
- Central India Plateau, and
- Malwa Plateau.
- Satpura-Maikal Ranges:
- Southern ranges – known for high peaks like Dhupgarh (1,350 meters), the highest point in Madhya Pradesh.
- Maikal ranges include the Amarkantak Plateau, the origin of the Narmada and Sone rivers.
- Eastern Plateau:
- Baghelkhand Plateau – located between the Maikal ranges and the Chhattisgarh plain.
Mountains and Plateaus
- Vindhya Range:
- Forms the northern boundary of the Narmada Valley.
- The southern boundary of the Ganges basin.
- Satpura Range:
- Lies to the south of the Narmada Valley and features peaks like Dhupgarh.
- Malwa Plateau:
- Covers the western part of Madhya Pradesh and is known for its black cotton soil.
- Bounded by the Chambal River in the north and the Narmada in the south.
Economy
- Agriculture:
- Agriculture is the backbone of the state’s economy, with major crops like wheat, soybean, gram, sugarcane, and cotton.
- The state is often called the “Soybean State” of India, contributing significantly to the nation’s production.
- Mineral Resources:
- The state is rich in mineral resources like diamonds, copper, limestone, and coal.
- Panna district is famous for its diamond mines.
- Tourism:
- Madhya Pradesh is home to numerous historical, cultural, and natural attractions, making it a key player in India’s tourism industry. Prominent places include Khajuraho, Sanchi, Gwalior, Ujjain, and several national parks such as Kanha and Bandhavgarh.
Rivers
| River | Source | Course | Mouth | Cities on the Banks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Narmada | Amarkantak Plateau | Flows westward across central India | Arabian Sea | Jabalpur, Hoshangabad, Omkareshwar |
| Tapti | Satpura Range | Flows westward through Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra | Arabian Sea | Multai |
| Chambal | Janapav, Vindhya Range | Flows north and west, joining the Yamuna in Uttar Pradesh | Yamuna River | Morena, Gwalior |
| Betwa | Vindhya Range | Flows northeast into Uttar Pradesh | Yamuna River | Vidisha, Sagar |
| Son | Amarkantak | Flows eastward through Madhya Pradesh | Ganges River | Sidhi |
Waterfalls
| Waterfall | River | Location | Height |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dhuandhar Falls | Narmada | Jabalpur | 30 meters |
| Kapildhara Falls | Narmada | Amarkantak | 100 meters |
| Pandav Falls | Ken | Panna | 30 meters |
| Raneh Falls | Ken | Chhatarpur | 30 meters |
| Bahuti Falls | Sellar River | Rewa | 198 meters |