Madhya Pradesh

views updated May 21 2018

Madhya Pradesh State in central India; the capital is Bhopal. Other major cities include Gwalior and Indore. In the 16th and 17th centuries, the indigenous Gonds ruled the region. In the 18th century, the Marathas assumed control. The British occupied it in 1820, and from 1903 to 1950 it was known as Central Provinces and Berar. In 1956, Madhya Bharat, Vindhya Pradesh, and Bhopal incorporated to form the new state of Madhya Pradesh. Lying between the Deccan and Gangetic plains, it has the largest area of any state in India. Agriculture dominates the economy. Major crops include wheat, rice, and cotton. Madhya Pradesh is rich in mineral resources, such as bauxite, iron ore, and manganese. Bhopal has many chemical and electrical industries. In 2000 the state of Chhatisgarh was created out of part of Madhya Pradesh. Area: 308,245sq km (119,013sq mi). Pop. (2001) 60,385,118.