Madhya Pradesh at a Glance

Madhya Pradesh was originally the largest state in India until November 1, 2000 when the state of Chattisgarh was carved out. Historically it is known as Malwa. The predominant language of the region is Hindi. Due to the rule of Marathas, Marathi is spoken by a substantial number of people. It borders the states Uttar Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Gujarat. It comprises of 50 districts, which are grouped into ten divisions. Anuppur, Ashoknagar and Burhanpur are the three districts formed on August 15, 2003.

Presently all districts share the same names as their capitals; West Nimar has been renamed Khargone and East Nimar as Khandwa. Its Industrial Policy & Action Plan 1994 aims at ensuring balanced regional development and providing employment opportunities to help improve the standard of living of the people. The state is rich in low-grade coal suitable for power generation and some of the finest hard woods in the world. The Government of M.P has formed a joint venture with National Hydro-Electric Power Consumption, a Government of India undertaking for execution of 1000 M.W. Indira Sagar Hydro Electric Project. It is the first state of the country to start producing optical fibre for purposes of telecommunications. The main rail route linking Northern India with Southern India passes through Madhya Pradesh. It's a home of several national parks, including Bandhavgarh National Park, Satpura National Park, Kanha National Park, Madhav National Park, Pench National Park to mention a few. Bhopal, capital of Madhya Pradesh, combines scenic beauty, historicity and modern urban planning. Today it presents a multi-faceted profile with exquisitely laid out parks, gardens and broad avenues. Agriculture is the primary economy of Madhya Pradesh and nearly 80% of the population is rural, which is directly or indirectly depends on agriculture. As most of the state is a high plateau it is very hot and dry in summer. Besides, the state has a history spanning into centuries. Gwalior, Orchha, Sanchi, Khajuraho, Ujjain, Indore, Amarkantak and Kanha National Park are some of the prominent tourist's attraction places.