Polity, Formation & Administration of Madhya Pradesh — Practice

Question 1

On what date was the present state of Madhya Pradesh formed, and which city became its capital?

Accepted Answer

On 1 November 1956, under the States Reorganisation Act, with Bhopal as the capital.

Question 2

State the strength of the Madhya Pradesh Vidhan Sabha and the seats reserved for SC and ST.

Accepted Answer

The Vidhan Sabha has 230 members, of whom 35 seats are reserved for Scheduled Castes and 47 for Scheduled Tribes.

Question 3

Which state was the first to enact a public services guarantee law, and in which year?

Accepted Answer

Madhya Pradesh, through the Lok Sewaon ke Pradan ki Guarantee Adhiniyam, enacted in 2010; Bihar followed in 2011.

Question 4

Which units merged to form Madhya Pradesh in 1956, and what happened to Vidarbha?

Accepted Answer

Madhya Bharat, Vindhya Pradesh, Bhopal and the Hindi-speaking districts of the former Central Provinces and Berar (the Mahakoshal region) merged on 1 November 1956. Marathi-speaking Vidarbha went to Bombay State, in line with the linguistic reorganisation principle.

Question 5

Write a short note on the Lokayukt of Madhya Pradesh.

Accepted Answer

The Lokayukt is a statutory ombudsman created under the Madhya Pradesh Lokayukt and Up-Lokayukt Adhiniyam, 1981, and began functioning in February 1982. It examines complaints of corruption and maladministration against ministers, legislators and public servants. Its recommendations are advisory, so its impact depends on government action on its reports.

Question 6

Describe the three-tier Panchayati Raj structure in Madhya Pradesh.

Accepted Answer

The Madhya Pradesh Panchayat Raj Evam Gram Swaraj Adhiniyam, 1993, in force from January 1994, sets up Gram Panchayats at village level, Janpad Panchayats at block level and Zila Panchayats at district level, with the Gram Sabha as the base. The state emphasises the Gram Sabha's role in planning and beneficiary selection and has raised women's reservation in local bodies to 50 per cent. The State Election Commission, formed on 1 February 1994, conducts the polls.

Question 7

What is PESA and how has Madhya Pradesh implemented it?

Accepted Answer

The Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 gives Gram Sabhas in Fifth Schedule areas authority over natural resources, minor forest produce and local disputes. Madhya Pradesh notified its PESA Rules on 15 November 2022, Janjatiya Gaurav Divas, to make the Gram Sabha's powers operational in Scheduled Areas.

Question 8

Discuss the impact of the 2000 bifurcation on Madhya Pradesh. (~200 words)

Accepted Answer

On 1 November 2000 sixteen south-eastern districts became Chhattisgarh under the Madhya Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2000. MP lost its position as India's largest state by area, becoming second to Rajasthan. It lost part of its forest cover and several mineral and power-producing areas, and with them some revenue bases. The state's tribal population share fell but remained large, and its politics and administration had to be reorganised around Bhopal, Indore, Gwalior and Jabalpur. Over time the state recovered through agricultural growth, irrigation expansion and infrastructure. The bifurcation is best read as a redistribution of resources followed by a period of adjustment, with MP retaining the most tigers and the largest forest cover in India even after the split.

Question 9

"Legal protection for tribal communities in Madhya Pradesh outpaces implementation." Examine with reference to the Fifth Schedule, PESA and the Forest Rights Act. (~200 words)

Accepted Answer

The framework is strong: the Fifth Schedule gives the Governor protective powers and a Tribal Advisory Council in Scheduled Areas, PESA (1996) empowers Gram Sabhas over natural resources, and the Forest Rights Act (2006) recognises individual and community rights. Implementation lags. MP notified its PESA Rules only in November 2022, twenty-six years after the Act. Forest rights claims face high rejection and slow processing, community rights are under-recognised, and displacement by dams and protected areas continues. Vulnerable groups such as the Baiga, Bharia and Sahariya PVTGs face health and livelihood gaps, with sickle cell disease a major concern. Closing the gap needs trained Gram Sabhas, transparent claim procedures, coordination between forest, revenue and tribal departments and monitoring of rehabilitation.

Practice — Polity, Formation & Administration of Madhya Pradesh

Sign in to save attempts to your dashboard and track your accuracy over time

Find a verified tutor

Join a live course

Browse coaching centres

About

Categories

Support

Documentation

Get Study Tips & Updates

Download Our App

Download for iOS

Download for Android

Popular Cities