Madhya Pradesh - Relief and Structure | Course for MPPSC Preparation - MPPSC (Madhya Pradesh) PDF Download

Relief and Structure of Madhya Pradesh

Area and Population:

• Madhya Pradesh is the second-largest state in India by area, after Rajasthan. It was the largest state until the creation of Chhattisgarh in 2000. 
• It is also the sixth-largest state in India by population. 

Borders:
Madhya Pradesh shares its borders with six states: 

• Chhattisgarh to the southeast 
• Maharashtra to the southwest 
• Gujarat to the west 
• Rajasthan to the northwest 
• Uttar Pradesh to the northeast 

The state does not have a coastline or share borders with any other countries. 

Geography:

• Madhya Pradesh covers an area of 3,08,254 square kilometers and is divided into 50 districts. 
• The landscape consists mainly of plains, with the Vindhya and Satpura mountain ranges. 
• Major Rivers
• The major rivers include: 
• Narmada and Tapti, which flow from east to west 
• Sone, Chambal, Mahanadi, Betwa, and Indravati, which flow from west to east 

Regions:

• Madhya Pradesh is divided into several regions based on culture and language: 
• Malwa in the northwest 
• Nimar in the southwest 
• Bundelkhand in the north 
• Baghelkhand in the northeast 
• Mahakoshal in the southeast 
• Vindhya and Satpura regions in the center 

Area-wise Divisions of Madhya Pradesh

• Bhopal 
• Gwalior 
• Chambal 
• Hoshangabad 
• Indore 
• Rewa 
• Jabalpur 
• Sagar 
• Ujjain 
• Shahdol 

Districts: The state comprises a total of 50 districts, each with its own unique characteristics. 
The districts are: 

• Anuppur 
• Balaghat 
• Alirajpur 
• Ashoknagar 
• Betul 
• Barwani 
• Bhopal (the capital city) 
• Burhanpur 
• Bhind 
• Chhatarpur 
• Chhindwara 
• Damoh 
• Datia 
• Dindori 
• Dewas 
• Dhar 
• Gwalior 
• Guna 
• Harda 
• Hoshangabad 
• Indore 
• Jabalpur 
• Katni 
• Jhabua 
• Khargone 
• Mandla 
• Khandwa 
• Mandsaur 
• Neemuch 
• Morena 
• Narsinghpur 
• Raisen 
• Panna 
• Ratlam 
• Rewa 
• Rajgarh 
• Sagar 
• Seoni 
• Satna 
• Sehore 
• Shajapur 
• Shahdol 
• Shivpuri 
• Sidhi 
• Sheopur 
• Singrauli 
• Umaria 
• Tikamgarh 
• Vidisha 
• Ujjain 

Overview: Madhya Pradesh, known for its rich cultural heritage and diverse geography, is organized into these divisions and districts to facilitate administration and governance. Each district has its own local government and administrative structure, ensuring effective management of resources and services.

Drainage System in Madhya Pradesh

• Madhya Pradesh is the origin for several major rivers in India, including the Narmada, Tapti (Tapi), Mahanadi, and Wainganga, which is a tributary of the Godavari. 
• The Chambal River forms the northern boundary of the state, separating it from Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. Other rivers in the state include tributaries of the Yamuna and the Son River, which is itself a tributary of the Ganges (Ganga). 

The principal river systems in Madhya Pradesh include: 

• Chambal
• Betwa
• Sindh
• Narmada
• Tapti
• Mahanadi
• Indravati

Other rivers flowing through Madhya Pradesh include: 

• Kanhan
• Ken
• Pench
• Penganga 

Topographical Condition of Madhya Pradesh

• The topography of Madhya Pradesh is characterized by the Narmada-Sone Valley, a long and narrow valley that runs east to west through the state. 
• This valley is divided into two parts: the upper part (Sone Valley) and the lower part (Narmada Valley). 

Narmada-Sone Valley

• Located in the upper part of the Narmada-Sone Valley. 
• Includes districts such as Shahdol and Sidhi. 
• Narrower than the Narmada Valley. 
• Contains alluvial soil, but the deposits are poorer and thinner compared to the Narmada Valley. 

Narmada Valley:

• Located in the lower part of the Narmada-Sone Valley. 
• Includes districts such as Jabalpur, Mandla, Narsinghpur, Hoshangabad, Raisen, Khandwa, Khargone, and Barwani. 
• More important for agricultural activities due to better alluvial deposits. 

Physiographic Regions

• Central Highlands: Located to the north of the Narmada-Sone Valley. 
• Satpura-Maikal Ranges: Situated to the south of the Narmada-Sone Valley. 
• Eastern Plateau: Located to the southeast of the Narmada-Sone Valley.

Central Highlands

• Also known as the Vindhyan Plateau. 
• Located in the northeastern part of the central highlands. 
• Main rivers: Ken, Sonar, Barna, and Tons. 
• Districts: Rewa, Panna, Satna, Damoh, and Sagar. 

Bundelkhand Plateau:

• Located to the northwest of the Rewa-Panna Plateau. 
• Districts: Datia, Chhatarpur, Panna, Tikamgarh, and parts of Guna and Shivpuri. 
• Average height: 350-450 m above MSL. 
• Main rivers: Betwa, Dhasan, and Jamner. 

Central India Plateau:

• Located to the west of the Bundelkhand Plateau. 
• Districts: Shivpuri, Morena, and Gwalior. 
• Average elevation: 450 m in highlands, 150-450 m above MSL in valleys. 
• Main rivers: Chambal, Kali Sindh, and Parvati. 

Malwa Plateau:

• Covers almost the entire western part of Madhya Pradesh. 
• Bounded by the Chambal River in the north and the Narmada River in the south. 
• Average elevation: 300-500 m above MSL. 
• Districts: Shajapur, Dewas, Indore, Ujjain, Dhar, Ratlam, and parts of Sehore and Jhabua. 
• Bhopal is situated at the eastern edge of the Malwa Plateau. 
• Main rivers: Shipra, Parvati, Kali Sindh, Gambhir, and Chambal. 
• Forms a water divide between the Ganga and Narmada basins. 
• Soil type: Black cotton soil from the weathering of basalts. 

Satpura-Maikal Ranges

• Located to the south of the Narmada-Sone Valley and north of the eastern plateau region. 
• Districts: Chhindwara, Betul, Seoni, Balaghat, Mandla, and parts of Khandwa and Khargone. 
• Average height: 300 m, with several high peaks. 
• Dhoopgarh: The highest peak in Madhya Pradesh, rising to 1360 m above MSL. 
• Satpura Ranges: Wider in the east, with a sharp slope on the southern face and a gentle slope on the northern side. 
• Maikal Ranges: Stretch in a semi-circle, including the Amarkantak Plateau, which is the origin of the Narmada and Sone rivers. 
• Main rivers: Johila, Macherwa, Denwa, and Choti Tawa, which join the Narmada River. 

Eastern Plateau:

• The eastern plateau region includes the Baghelkhand Plateau, which is situated between the Maikal ranges and the Chhattisgarh plain. This plateau has an elevation of about 1,033 meters above mean sea level (MSL).

The topography of Madhya Pradesh is divided into various agro-climatic zones based on climatic conditions and physical features. These zones include: 

• Northern Plain
• Narmada Valley
• Wainganga Valley
• Malwa Plateau
• Kaimur Plateau
• Nimar Plateau
• Vindhyan Plateau
• Jhabua Hills
• Satpura Hills
• Gird Region

Bundelkhand Region

• The elevation of Madhya Pradesh varies from about 300 to 3,900 feet (90 to 1,200 meters). In the northern part of the state, the land generally rises from south to north, while in the southern part, the elevation increases toward the west.
• Important ranges of hills in Madhya Pradesh include:
• Vindhya Range. Located in the west, with elevations reaching about 1,500 feet (460 meters).
• Kaimur Hills. A northern branch of the Vindhya Range, also with elevations around 1,500 feet (460 meters).
• Satpura Range, Mahadeo Range, and Maikala Range. These southern ranges have elevations of more than 3,000 feet (900 meters).
• The highest point in Madhya Pradesh is Dhupgarh Peak, which stands at 4,429 feet (1,350 meters) near Pachmarhi in south-central Madhya Pradesh.
• Northwest of the Vindhya Range is the Malwa Plateau, with elevations ranging from 1,650 to 2,000 feet (500 to 600 meters).
• Other notable features include: Rewa Plateau. Located in the rugged eastern region of the Vindhya Range. Bundelkhand Upland. Situated north of the Vindhyas. Madhya Bharat Plateau. Located in the extreme northwest. Baghelkhand Plateau. Found in the northeast region of the state.