Welcome to the Madhya Pradesh Current Affairs edition for 09 July 2026, prepared for MPPSC Prelims and Mains aspirants. Today’s roundup covers the four-state Narmada NWDT payment pact signed in New Delhi that settles Sardar Sarovar and Indira Sagar dues, Madhya Pradesh becoming the first state to reconstitute its Waqf Board with two non-Muslim members under the amended Waqf Act, and the major Mohan Cabinet decisions of 8 July including the Mukhyamantri Scooty Yojana extension, the Data Centre 3.0 project and the Ken-Betwa Link Project rehabilitation package. Each item carries background, MPPSC relevance and a Prelims fact table.
1. Four States Sign Narmada NWDT Payment Pact, Settle Indira Sagar Dues
Why in News: On 7 July 2026, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Maharashtra signed a payment agreement in New Delhi to settle long-pending dues arising from the Narmada Water Disputes Tribunal (NWDT) Award, in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Jal Shakti Minister C. R. Patil.
Background: The agreement resolves nearly five decades of cost-sharing disputes among the Narmada beneficiary states, covering dues linked to the Sardar Sarovar Project in Gujarat and the Indira Sagar Project at Khandwa in Madhya Pradesh, along with rehabilitation costs, compensation for submerged land and construction liabilities. The Indira Sagar dam on the Narmada is one of the largest reservoirs in India by storage and lies entirely within Madhya Pradesh. The NWDT was constituted in 1969 under the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956, and gave its final award in 1979, allocating Narmada waters among the four states. Amit Shah called the pact a historic milestone achieved through consensus. This connects to Madhya Pradesh geography, inter-state river water disputes and cooperative federalism.
Madhya Pradesh Relevance: Prelims Narmada river, Indira Sagar (Khandwa), Sardar Sarovar, NWDT, Inter-State River Water Disputes Act 1956. Mains GS2 inter-state disputes and federalism; GS1 river systems and multipurpose projects.
| Prelims Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Signing date | 7 July 2026, New Delhi |
| States | Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra |
| Present | Amit Shah, C. R. Patil |
| MP project | Indira Sagar, Khandwa (Narmada) |
| Gujarat project | Sardar Sarovar |
| Tribunal | Narmada Water Disputes Tribunal (award 1979) |
| Statute | Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956 |
2. MP Becomes First State to Reconstitute Waqf Board With Two Hindu Members
Why in News: Through a gazette notification issued on 4 July 2026, Madhya Pradesh became the first state in the country to reconstitute its State Waqf Board under the amended Waqf law, inducting two non-Muslim members.
Background: The reconstituted 10-member board includes industrialist Manoj Malpani of Indore and Animesh Bhargava of Guna as the two Hindu members, with Sanwar Patel reappointed as Chairman. Other members include former Union Minister Najma Heptulla and several community representatives, along with the Commissioner of the Backward Classes and Minority Welfare Department. The appointments follow the 2025 amendment to the Waqf Act, 1995, which introduced a provision requiring at least two non-Muslim members in every State Waqf Board. Waqf refers to a permanent dedication of property for religious or charitable purposes under Islamic law, and State Waqf Boards manage and supervise such properties. This connects to Madhya Pradesh polity, minority-welfare administration and statutory bodies.
Madhya Pradesh Relevance: Prelims Waqf Act 1995 (amended 2025), State Waqf Board composition, non-Muslim members provision. Mains GS2 statutory bodies, management of religious endowments and welfare governance.
| Prelims Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Notification date | 4 July 2026 |
| Milestone | First state to reconstitute under amended Act |
| Board size | 10 members |
| Hindu members | Manoj Malpani (Indore), Animesh Bhargava (Guna) |
| Chairman | Sanwar Patel (reappointed) |
| Enabling law | Waqf Act, 1995 (amended 2025) |
| New provision | At least two non-Muslim members |
3. Mohan Cabinet Extends Mukhyamantri Scooty Yojana Till 2031
Why in News: On 8 July 2026, the Madhya Pradesh Cabinet chaired by CM Mohan Yadav in Bhopal extended the Mukhyamantri Scooty Yojana till 2031 with an outlay of about 495 crore rupees, as part of proposals worth over 2,300 crore rupees.
Background: Under the scheme, students who secure first position with at least 70 per cent marks in their first attempt in government higher secondary schools run by the School Education Department and the Tribal Affairs Department are eligible to receive scooters. The initiative aims to improve access to higher education, encourage merit and support mobility for meritorious students, especially girls and tribal students in remote areas. The Cabinet also cleared exemption of cess and additional stamp duty on records registered under the SVAMITVA Scheme and approved the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (Madhya Pradesh Amendment) Bill, 2026. This connects to Madhya Pradesh education policy, welfare schemes and governance.
Madhya Pradesh Relevance: Prelims Mukhyamantri Scooty Yojana, SVAMITVA Scheme, BNSS Madhya Pradesh Amendment Bill 2026. Mains GS2 education access and welfare-scheme delivery; GS1 women and tribal empowerment.
| Prelims Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Cabinet date | 8 July 2026, Bhopal |
| Scheme | Mukhyamantri Scooty Yojana |
| Extension | Till 2031 |
| Outlay | About 495 crore rupees |
| Eligibility | First rank, 70 percent, first attempt, govt schools |
| Total proposals | Over 2,300 crore rupees |
| Also cleared | SVAMITVA stamp exemption, BNSS MP Amendment Bill 2026 |
4. Cabinet Approves Data Centre 3.0 Project for Digital Governance
Why in News: In the same 8 July 2026 meeting, the Mohan Cabinet approved about 800 crore rupees for the expansion and modernisation of the State Data Centre under the Data Centre 3.0 project.
Background: The Data Centre 3.0 project covers enhancement of IT infrastructure, disaster-recovery capacity and development of associated non-IT infrastructure, strengthening the backbone of the state’s e-governance and digital service delivery. The Cabinet additionally sanctioned about 123 crore rupees for the continued operation of the Science Park, the Single Citizen Database Project and the Biotechnology Park till 2031. A Single Citizen Database aims to integrate scattered departmental records into one verified identity layer for faster and more transparent benefit delivery. This connects to Madhya Pradesh e-governance, digital infrastructure and administrative reform.
Madhya Pradesh Relevance: Prelims Data Centre 3.0, Single Citizen Database, Biotechnology Park. Mains GS2 e-governance, digital service delivery and citizen-centric administration; GS3 IT infrastructure.
| Prelims Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Cabinet date | 8 July 2026 |
| Project | State Data Centre 3.0 |
| Outlay | About 800 crore rupees |
| Focus | IT infrastructure, disaster recovery |
| Related sanction | About 123 crore rupees till 2031 |
| Covers | Science Park, Single Citizen Database, Biotech Park |
| Aim | Stronger e-governance and digital delivery |
5. Cabinet Clears Ken-Betwa Link Project Rehabilitation Package
Why in News: The 8 July 2026 Cabinet also approved about 202.50 crore rupees for the rehabilitation and resettlement of families affected by the Ken-Betwa Link Project and two irrigation projects in Panna district.
Background: The rehabilitation package covers families displaced by the Ken-Betwa Link Project along with the Runj Medium Irrigation Project and the Majhgawan Medium Irrigation Project in Panna district. The Ken-Betwa Link is India’s first interlinking-of-rivers project under the National Perspective Plan, transferring surplus water from the Ken river to the water-deficient Betwa basin across the Bundelkhand region of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. A key concern is that part of the submergence falls within the Panna Tiger Reserve, making rehabilitation and environmental balance central to the project. This connects to Madhya Pradesh geography, river interlinking, resettlement policy and Bundelkhand development.
Madhya Pradesh Relevance: Prelims Ken-Betwa Link, Ken and Betwa rivers, Panna Tiger Reserve, Bundelkhand. Mains GS3 river interlinking and environmental trade-offs; GS2 rehabilitation and resettlement.
| Prelims Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Cabinet date | 8 July 2026 |
| Package | About 202.50 crore rupees |
| Projects | Ken-Betwa Link, Runj and Majhgawan irrigation |
| District | Panna |
| Ken-Betwa status | India’s first river-interlinking project |
| Rivers | Ken to Betwa (Bundelkhand) |
| Ecology concern | Part of Panna Tiger Reserve submergence |
MPPSC Practice MCQs
Q1. The Narmada NWDT payment pact signed on 7 July 2026 was signed by Madhya Pradesh along with which set of states?
- (a) Gujarat, Rajasthan and Maharashtra
- (b) Gujarat, Chhattisgarh and Uttar Pradesh
- (c) Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh and Odisha
- (d) Rajasthan, Haryana and Punjab
Answer: (a) The pact was signed by Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Maharashtra in New Delhi to settle Narmada Award dues.
Q2. The Indira Sagar Project, whose dues the Narmada pact helps settle, is located in which Madhya Pradesh district?
- (a) Panna
- (b) Khandwa
- (c) Guna
- (d) Betul
Answer: (b) The Indira Sagar dam on the Narmada lies at Khandwa in Madhya Pradesh and is among the largest reservoirs in India.
Q3. Madhya Pradesh became the first state to reconstitute its Waqf Board with two non-Muslim members following an amendment to which Act?
- (a) Waqf Act, 1995
- (b) Religious Endowments Act, 1863
- (c) Charitable Endowments Act, 1890
- (d) Societies Registration Act, 1860
Answer: (a) The 2025 amendment to the Waqf Act, 1995 introduced the provision for at least two non-Muslim members in every State Waqf Board.
Q4. In the 8 July 2026 Cabinet, the Mukhyamantri Scooty Yojana was extended till which year?
- (a) 2028
- (b) 2029
- (c) 2031
- (d) 2035
Answer: (c) The Mohan Cabinet extended the Mukhyamantri Scooty Yojana till 2031 with an outlay of about 495 crore rupees.
Q5. The Ken-Betwa Link Project, for which the Cabinet cleared a rehabilitation package, is significant as which of the following?
- (a) India’s first river-interlinking project
- (b) India’s longest railway tunnel
- (c) India’s largest solar park
- (d) India’s first tidal power project
Answer: (a) The Ken-Betwa Link is India’s first interlinking-of-rivers project, transferring water from the Ken to the Betwa across Bundelkhand.
