Madhya Pradesh General Knowledge and Culture
What it covers
Madhya Pradesh-specific history, geography, polity, economy, tribes, fairs, art and current state schemes - the highest-yield section for a state post, because question patterns repeat: rivers, districts, national parks, tribal groups, temples and festivals.
Core facts
- Formation: 1 November 1956; capital Bhopal; largest city Indore; second-largest state by area after Rajasthan.
- Rivers: the Narmada is the state's lifeline, rising at Amarkantak; also the Tapti, Betwa, Chambal, Son, Ken, Shipra, Kali Sindh and Mahi.
- National parks include Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Pench, Satpura, Panna, Madhav (Shivpuri) and Van Vihar (Bhopal); Pachmarhi is a biosphere reserve.
- Heritage: Bhimbetka rock shelters and the Sanchi stupa are UNESCO sites; the Khajuraho temples were built by the Chandelas; the Paramara king Bhoja ruled from Dhar.
- History: Rani Durgavati of Gondwana died fighting the Mughals in 1564; Ahilyabai Holkar ruled from Maheshwar; Gwalior and Indore were Scindia and Holkar territories.
- Tribes and culture: the Bhil are the largest tribal group; Baiga, Bharia and Sahariya are Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups; the Bhagoria festival belongs to the Bhils of Jhabua; Chanderi and Maheshwari sarees, Gond and Bhil Pithora paintings, the Tansen Samaroh at Gwalior and the Maihar gharana are the cultural markers.
Worked example
Q: Which of these is a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group - Bhil, Gond, Baiga or Korku? Answer: Baiga. Reasoning: Madhya Pradesh has exactly three PVTGs - Baiga, Bharia and Sahariya - while the Bhil and Gond are large Scheduled Tribes. Anchor the three-name list instead of guessing from size.
Traps
- District counts change with reorganisation, so verify the latest notification.
- Similar names: Madhav National Park (Shivpuri) versus Madhai (Satpura).
- Festival–tribe pairing: Bhagoria belongs to the Bhil, not the Gond.