Madhya Pradesh Facts and Information
General Information
| Capital | Bhopal |
|---|---|
| Formation Date | 1 November 1956 |
| Largest City | Indore |
| Nickname | Heart of India |
| Official Language | Hindi |
| State Animal | Barasingha (Swamp deer) |
| State Bird | Indian paradise flycatcher |
| State Flower | Lily |
| State Name | Madhya Pradesh |
Government and Administration
| Chief Minister | Mohan Yadav |
|---|---|
| Governor | Mangubhai C. Patel |
| High Court | Madhya Pradesh High Court at Jabalpur |
| Legislature | Unicameral (230 Assembly seats) |
| Lok Sabha Seats | 29 |
| Number of Districts | 55 |
| Rajya Sabha Seats | 11 |
Geography and Environment
| Area | 308,252 km² (2nd largest Indian state) |
|---|---|
| Climate | Tropical with hot summers |
| Forest Cover | ~25.1% (highest forest area in India) |
| Major Rivers | Narmada, Tapti, Chambal, Betwa, Son |
| Tiger Reserves | 6 (Bandhavgarh, Kanha, Pench, Panna, Satpura, Sanjay-Dubri) |
Demographics and Social Structure
| Density | ~236/km² |
|---|---|
| Literacy Rate | 69.32% |
| Population (2011 Census) | 72.6 million |
| Sex Ratio | 931 |
| Tribal Population | 21.1% (largest tribal population in India in absolute numbers) |
Economy and Industry
| Cement Industry | Major cement production hub |
|---|---|
| Diamond Mines | Panna (only diamond mine in India) |
| Soybean Hub | Largest soybean producer in India |
| Wheat Production | Among top producers |
Education and Research
| AIIMS | AIIMS Bhopal |
|---|---|
| Famous Institute | MANIT Bhopal, IIITM Gwalior |
| First Women's IIT | IIT Indore has notable women in engineering programs |
| Premier Institute | IIT Indore, IIM Indore |
Infrastructure and Connectivity
| Highways | NH 44 (longest in India) passes through |
|---|---|
| Major Airports | Bhopal, Indore, Jabalpur, Gwalior |
| Solar Park | Rewa Ultra Mega Solar (one of largest in India) |
Culture and Heritage
| Classical Music | Gwalior gharana (oldest in Hindustani music) |
|---|---|
| Cuisine | Poha-jalebi (Indore), bhutte ki kees, dal bafla |
| Folk Dance | Matki, Phulpati, Grida |
| UNESCO Sites | Khajuraho Temples, Sanchi Stupa, Bhimbetka Rock Shelters |
Tourism and Places of Interest
| Buddhist Site | Sanchi Stupa |
|---|---|
| Hill Station | Pachmarhi |
| Rock Art | Bhimbetka rock shelters (30,000 years old) |
| UNESCO Heritage | Khajuraho (erotic sculpture temples) |
| Wildlife | Bandhavgarh, Kanha National Parks (Kipling's Jungle Book inspiration) |
Fun facts
| Diamond Producer | Panna is the only diamond-producing district in India |
|---|---|
| Geographical Center | Karondi (Katni district) is the geographical center of India |
| Kipling Connection | Kanha National Park inspired Kipling's 'Jungle Book' |