Madhya Pradesh
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MADHYA PRADESH
Area : 3,08,000 sq kms
Population : 7,25,97,565 Prov. census 2011)
Capital : Bhopal
Principal Language : Hindi
HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY
Madhya Pradesh is the second largest Indian State in size with an area of 3,08,000 sq.km. Geographically it occupies a pivotal position in the country. King Ashoka, first among all, ruled over Ujjain. A sizeable portion of Central India was part of the Gupta empire (300-500 A.D.). The Muslims came into Central India in the beginning of 11th century. First of all, Mahamood of Ghazni came over here and then Mohammad Gouri, who incorporated some parts of Central India into his ruling territory of Delhi. Central India was also part of the Mughal empire. During the period between the beginning of the influence of Marathas and the death of Madhoji Scindia in 1794, Marathas were on the ascendent in Central India but later on the small states started coming into existence. These small states became the cause of perpetuation of British power in the country.
Queen Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore, the Gond Maharani Kamalapati and Queen Durgawati, etc. were women rulers whose names have left an indelible imprint on Indian history for their outstanding rule. Madhya Pradesh came into being on 1 November 1956. It was reorganised on 1 November 2000 to create a new Chhattisgarh state. The successive state, now, is bounded in north by Uttar Pradesh, east by Chhattisgarh, south by Maharashtra and west by Gujarat and Rajasthan.
AGRICULTURE
Agriculture is the mainstay of State’s economy as 74.73 per cent of the people are rural. As much as 49 per cent of the land area is cultivable.
The net sown area during 2010-11 was estimated at about 2,08,36,000 ha. (both Rabi and Kharif). The foodgrain production was 171.77 lakh metric tones. The productivity of major crops like wheat, rice, pulses has also been good.
INDUSTRY AND MINERALS
Madhya Pradesh has entered the era of high-tech industries such as electronics, telecommunications, automobiles, Information Technology, etc. The state produces optical fibre for telecommunication needs. A large number of automobile industries have been established at Pithampur near Indore. Prominent industries in the public sector in the state are Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd. at Bhopal, Security paper mill at Hoshangabad, Bank Note Press at Dewas, Newsprint factory at Nepanagar and Alkaloid factory at Neemuch and Oman Bina Refinery at Agasod near Bina in Sagar district.
An air cargo complex is coming up at Pithampur. The Government of India has set up a Special Economic Zone at Indore. Foreign Direct Investment is being promoted by implementing the comprehensive Economic Development Policy. The state government has announced an Industries Promotion Policy offering attractive incentives for investment in the state. The Government of India has also sanctioned a National Auto Testing and Research and Development Infrastructure Project to be set up at Pithampur in Dhar district.
Madhya Pradesh is a mineral rich state. The state produced minerals worth Rs. 1590.46 crore in the year 2009-10. It produces 21 types of minerals. The output of minerals in 2008-09 was dolomite 1.98 lakh metric tonnes, diamond 16810 carats, limestone 285.43 lakh metric tonnes, bauxite 10.10 lakh metric tonnes and copper are 19.32 lakh metric tonnes. The coal production was 728.72 lakh metric tonnes.
The State is famous for its traditional handicrafts and handloom cloth manufactured in Chanderi and Maheshwar.
IRRIGATION AND POWER
The net area under irrigation was 65.43 lakh hectares in the year 2009-10. A Rs. 1919 crore Water Sector Restructuring Project is being implemented to restore irrigation facility in five lakh hectare by renovating the existing irrigation system in 30 districts. Madhya Pradesh is rich in low-grade coal suitable for power generation and also has immense potential of hydro-energy. Total installed power generation capacity in year 2010 was 9878.25 MW. There are eight hydro-electric power stations with 922.95 MW installed capacity.
DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES
National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme has been implemented in all 50 districts. M.P. has topped in the country in its implementation. National Horticulture Mission has been launched to boost horticulture production and productivity in the state.
TRANSPORT
Roads : The total length of roads in the state is 91968 km. The length of national highway in the state is 4280 km while State highway extends to 10249 km. The state government has taken up the construction and upgradation of roads in a big way and about 70 thousand kilometer of roads will be constructed and upgraded.
Railways: The main rail route linking northern India with southern India passes through Madhya Pradesh. Main junctions in the state are Bhopal, Bina, Gwalior, Indore, Itarsi, Jabalpur, Katni, Ratlam and Ujjain. The divisional railways headquarters are at Bhopal, Ratlam and Jabalpur.
FESTIVALS
A number of festivals are celebrated in Madhya Pradesh. An important tribal festival is Bhagoriya marked by traditional gaiety and enthusiasm. Shivratri is celebrated in Khajuraho, Bhojpur, Pachmarhi and Ujjain and has its own local flavour while Ramnavami festival at Chitrakoot and Orchha has a unique sense of devotion imbued with tradition. Festivals of Orchha, Malwa, Pachmarhi bring to the fore, repertoire of culture and art of the people. Tansen Music Festival, Gwalior, Ustad Allauddin Khan Music Festival of Maihar, Kalidas Samaroh, Ujjain and Festival of Dances at Khajuraho are some of the well-known art festivals of Madhya Pradesh. An annual Narmada Festival has been started from this year at Bedhaghat in Jabalpur, famous for its marble rocks. A Shivpuri Festival has been started at Shivpuri. Betwa Festival has been started at Vidisha from this year.
TOURIST CENTRES
Perfectly preserved medieval cities, refreshing and enchanting wildlife sanctuaries and some of the holiest and most revered pilgrim centres offer to the tourist the most fulfilling experience. Tranquil beauty of Pachmarhi, glittering splendour of Marble Rocks and roaring sound of Dhuandhar Fall at Bedaghat, Kanha National Park, with its unique Barasingha, and Bandhavgarh National Park with its prehistoric caves and wildlife are some of the major attractions of the state. Gwalior, Mandu, Datia, Chanderi, Jabalpur, Orchha, Raisen, Sanchi, Vidisha, Udaygiri, Bhimbetika, Indore and Bhopal are the places well-known for their historical monuments. Maheshwar, Omkareshwar, Ujjain, Chitrakoot and Amarkantak are major centres of pilgrimage. Unique temples of Khajuraho are famous all over the world. The temples of Orchha, Bhojpur and Udaypur attract large number of tourists as well as pilgrims. Archaeological treasures are preserved in the museums at Satna, Sanchi, Vidisha, Gwalior, Indore, Mandsaur, Ujjain, Rajgarh, Bhopal, Jabalpur, Rewa and many other places. Omkareshwar, Maheshwar and Amarkantak have been declared as holy cities for their integrated development in accordance with their religious significance. Burhanpur is being developed as a new tourist destination.
GOVERNMENT
Governor : Shri Ram Naresh Yadav
Chief Secretary : Avani Vaish
Chief Minister : Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan
Jurisdiction of : Madhya Pradesh High Court
AREA, POPULATION AND HEADQUARTERS OF DISTRICTS
S. No. District Area (sq km) Population Headquarters
(Prov. Census 2011)
1 2 3 4 5
1. Badwani — 13,85,659 Badwani
2. Balaghat 9,229 17,01,156 Balaghat
3. Betul 10,043 15,75,247 Betul
4. Bhind 4,459 17,03,562 Bhind
5. Bhopal 2,772 23,68,145 Bhopal
6. Chhatarpur 8,687 17,62,857 Chhatarpur
7. Chhindwara 11,815 20,90,306 Chhindwara
8. Damoh 7,306 12,63,703 Damoh
9. Datia 2,038 7,86,375 Datia
10. Dewas 7,020 15,63,107 Dewas
11. Dhar 8,153 21,84,672 Dhar
12. Dindori — 7,04,218 Dindori
13. Guna 11,065 12,40,938 Guna
14. Gwalior 5,214 20,30,543 Gwalior
15. Harda — 5,70,302 Harda
16. Hoshangabad 10,037 12,40,975 Hoshangabad
17. Indore 3,898 32,72,335 Indore
18. Jabalpur 10,160 26,60,714 Jabalpur
19. Jhabua 6,782 10,24,091 Jhabua
20. Katni — 12,91,684 Katni
21. Khandwa (East Nimar) 10,779 13,09,443 Khandwa
22. Khargone (West Nimar) 13,450 18,72,413 Khargone
23. Mandla 13,269 10,53,522 Mandla
24. Mandsaur 9,791 13,39,832 Mandsaur
25. Morena 11,594 19,65,137 Morena
26. Narsinghpur 5,133 10,92,141 Narsinghpur
27. Neemuch — 8,25,958 Neemuch
28. Panna 7,135 10,16,028 Panna
29. Raisen 8,446 13,31,699 Raisen
30. Rajgarh 6,154 15,46,541 Rajgarh
31. Ratlam 4,861 14,54,483 Ratlam
32. Rewa 6,314 23,63,744 Rewa
33. Sagar 10,252 23,78,295 Sagar
34. Satna 7,502 22,28,619 Satna
35. Sehore 6,578 13,11,008 Sehore
36. Seoni 8,758 13,78,876 Seoni
37. Shahdol 14,028 10,64,989 Shahdol
38. Shajapur 6,196 15,12,353 Shajapur
39. Sheopur — 6,87,952 Sheopur
40. Shivpuri 10,278 17,25,818 Shivpuri
41. Sidhi 10,256 11,26,515 Sidhi
42. Tikamgarh 5,048 14,44,920 Tikamgarh
43. Ujjain 6,091 19,86,597 Ujjain
44. Umaria — 6,43,579 Umaria
45. Vidisha 2,742 14,58,212 Vidisha
46. Ashoknagar 4,673.90 8,44,979 Ashoknagar
47. Burhanpur 2,472.5 7,56,003 Burhanpur
48. Anuppur 3,746 7,49,521 Anuppur
49. Alirajpur - 7,28,677 Alirajpur
50. Singrauli - 11,78,132 Singrauli
