Welcome to Ujiyari’s Madhya Pradesh current affairs edition for 18 July 2026, prepared for MPPSC State Service, Forest Service and allied examinations. Today’s notes cover agrarian relief through the extension of the Bhavantar Bhugtan Yojana to paddy, the accelerating Simhastha 2028 infrastructure push in Ujjain, targeted millet and labour welfare transfers, the latest Project Cheetah milestone at Kuno, and the run-up to the Monsoon Session of the Vidhan Sabha. Each item is paired with a Prelims fact table and a Mains angle so you can revise state-specific and India-wide dimensions together.
1. Bhavantar Bhugtan Yojana Extended to Paddy Crop
Why in News: In mid-July 2026, Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav announced that paddy would be brought under the Bhavantar Bhugtan Yojana, so that growers are compensated for the gap between the Minimum Support Price and the prevailing mandi price.
Background: The Bhavantar Bhugtan Yojana is a price-deficit payment scheme first launched by Madhya Pradesh in 2017 for select crops, under which the government pays farmers the difference between the notified MSP and the average market price rather than physically procuring the produce. Extending the model to paddy, a major kharif crop in the Mahakoshal and eastern MP belts, is intended to protect cultivators when market rates dip below support levels and to reduce distress sales. This connects to the wider national debate on MSP delivery mechanisms and the Shanta Kumar Committee’s concern that only a small share of farmers benefit from physical procurement.
MP Relevance:
- Prelims: Bhavantar Bhugtan Yojana is a price-deficit compensation scheme of the Madhya Pradesh government, now extended to paddy.
- Mains: Evaluate price-deficit payment schemes versus physical MSP procurement as instruments for farmer income security in Madhya Pradesh.
| Prelims Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Scheme | Bhavantar Bhugtan Yojana |
| Newly covered crop | Paddy (kharif) |
| Mechanism | Pays gap between MSP and market price |
| First launched | 2017 (Madhya Pradesh) |
| Announcing authority | CM Dr. Mohan Yadav |
| Target beneficiaries | Paddy-growing farmers |
2. Simhastha 2028 Preparations Gather Pace in Ujjain
Why in News: In July 2026, the state government continued fast-tracking Simhastha 2028 works, with a cabinet-level committee clearing a fresh batch of development projects worth about Rs 491.66 crore across the Ujjain region.
Background: Simhastha (Kumbh) is held at Ujjain on the banks of the Kshipra river once every twelve years and is expected to draw more than 40 crore devotees in 2028. Preparatory works exceeding Rs 25,000 crore span river cleaning such as the Kanh Closed Duct Diversion, new and upgraded ghats, road widening, and heritage redevelopment including the Omkareshwar temple complex. The government has directed that eligible citizens who voluntarily part with land for these works be prioritised under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. This connects to the theme of mega-event driven urban infrastructure and river rejuvenation in Madhya Pradesh.
MP Relevance:
- Prelims: Simhastha 2028 will be held at Ujjain on the Kshipra river; the Kanh Closed Duct Diversion targets pollution abatement.
- Mains: Discuss how mega religious congregations like Simhastha can be leveraged for sustainable urban and river infrastructure in Madhya Pradesh.
| Prelims Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Event | Simhastha (Kumbh) 2028 |
| Host city / river | Ujjain / Kshipra |
| Fresh projects cleared | About Rs 491.66 crore |
| Total preparatory outlay | Over Rs 25,000 crore |
| Key river project | Kanh Closed Duct Diversion |
| Housing linkage | Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana priority |
3. Rani Durgavati Shri Anna Protsahan Yojana Bonus to Millet Growers
Why in News: During the July 2026 state-level paddy programme, the Chief Minister transferred a bonus of about Rs 2.84 crore to the bank accounts of some 3,941 Kodo-Kutki growers under the Rani Durgavati Shri Anna Protsahan Yojana.
Background: “Shri Anna” is the government’s branding for millets, and the Rani Durgavati Shri Anna Protsahan Yojana provides an incentive bonus to growers of coarse grains such as Kodo and Kutki, which are cultivated largely by tribal farmers in districts like Dindori and Mandla. Named after the 16th-century Gondwana queen Rani Durgavati, the scheme aligns with the wider push to revive nutri-cereals for both nutrition security and tribal livelihoods. This connects to the International Year of Millets legacy and India’s promotion of climate-resilient coarse grains.
MP Relevance:
- Prelims: The Rani Durgavati Shri Anna Protsahan Yojana gives a bonus to Kodo-Kutki (millet) growers in Madhya Pradesh.
- Mains: Assess the role of millet promotion schemes in strengthening tribal livelihoods and nutrition security in Madhya Pradesh.
| Prelims Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Scheme | Rani Durgavati Shri Anna Protsahan Yojana |
| Focus crops | Kodo and Kutki (millets) |
| Bonus transferred | About Rs 2.84 crore |
| Beneficiaries | Around 3,941 growers |
| Named after | Rani Durgavati of Gondwana |
| Primary regions | Tribal districts (Dindori, Mandla belt) |
4. Sambal 2.0 Relief for Labour Families
Why in News: Alongside the paddy programme in July 2026, the state transferred about Rs 365 crore in financial assistance to more than 16,754 labourer families under the Chief Minister Jan Kalyan (Sambal) 2.0 Scheme.
Background: The Mukhyamantri Jan Kalyan (Sambal) Yojana is a welfare programme for registered unorganised-sector workers in Madhya Pradesh, offering benefits such as accident and natural-death assistance, maternity support and other social-security payouts. The Sambal 2.0 relaunch expanded verification and delivery of these entitlements to eligible families. This connects to the constitutional Directive Principles on social security and to the national e-Shram registration drive for unorganised workers.
MP Relevance:
- Prelims: The Mukhyamantri Jan Kalyan (Sambal) Yojana targets unorganised-sector workers in Madhya Pradesh.
- Mains: Examine state-level social-security schemes for informal workers as a complement to the national e-Shram framework.
| Prelims Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Scheme | CM Jan Kalyan (Sambal) 2.0 |
| Target group | Unorganised-sector labour families |
| Amount transferred | About Rs 365 crore |
| Families covered | Over 16,754 |
| Core benefits | Accident, death, maternity aid |
| National linkage | e-Shram worker registration |
5. Kuno Reaches 50 Cheetahs as Project Expands
Why in News: As of mid-2026, Kuno National Park is home to around 50 cheetahs, comprising adults and India-born cubs, reinforcing Madhya Pradesh’s status as the country’s Project Cheetah hub.
Background: Project Cheetah, launched in September 2022, reintroduced the cheetah to India at Kuno National Park in Sheopur district after the species was declared extinct in the country in 1952. Following imports from Namibia and later Botswana, and successful breeding, the population has grown to include a large number of India-born cubs. The state is also developing a second and third habitat, including the Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary and the Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve at Nauradehi, to disperse the population. This connects to India’s wildlife reintroduction policy and metapopulation management.
MP Relevance:
- Prelims: Kuno National Park in Sheopur district is the main site of Project Cheetah; Gandhi Sagar is a secondary habitat.
- Mains: Analyse the ecological and management challenges of building a viable cheetah metapopulation across multiple Madhya Pradesh landscapes.
| Prelims Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Site | Kuno National Park, Sheopur |
| Approximate cheetah count | Around 50 |
| Project launched | September 2022 |
| Source countries | Namibia and Botswana |
| Second habitat | Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary |
| Third habitat | Veerangana Durgavati (Nauradehi) Tiger Reserve |
6. Run-up to the Monsoon Session of the Vidhan Sabha
Why in News: In mid-July 2026, preparations intensified for the Monsoon Session of the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly, with the government readying key legislative business for the sitting beginning around 20 July.
Background: The Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly (Vidhan Sabha) is a unicameral house of 230 elected members that meets in Bhopal. The Monsoon Session typically takes up supplementary budget demands, new bills and starred and unstarred questions, and is a focal point for opposition scrutiny on farm prices, law and order and welfare delivery. Sessions are summoned by the Governor on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers under Article 174 of the Constitution. This connects to the working of state legislatures and the role of the Governor in convening sessions.
MP Relevance:
- Prelims: The Madhya Pradesh Vidhan Sabha is unicameral with 230 seats; sessions are summoned by the Governor under Article 174.
- Mains: Discuss the legislative and oversight functions performed by a State Assembly during its Monsoon Session.
| Prelims Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Legislature | MP Vidhan Sabha (unicameral) |
| Total seats | 230 |
| Session | Monsoon Session, from around 20 July |
| Venue | Bhopal |
| Summoned by | Governor under Article 174 |
| Presiding officer | Speaker of the Assembly |
Practice MCQs
Q1. The Bhavantar Bhugtan Yojana of Madhya Pradesh, recently extended to paddy, is best described as which of the following?
- (a) A scheme for physical procurement of grain at MSP
- (b) A price-deficit payment scheme that pays the gap between MSP and market price
- (c) A crop insurance scheme against yield loss
- (d) A subsidy scheme for farm inputs
Answer: (b) Under the Bhavantar Bhugtan Yojana the state compensates farmers for the difference between the notified MSP and the prevailing market price, rather than procuring the crop physically.
Q2. Simhastha 2028, whose preparations are being fast-tracked, will be held on the banks of which river?
- (a) Narmada
- (b) Betwa
- (c) Kshipra
- (d) Chambal
Answer: (c) Simhastha (Kumbh) at Ujjain is held on the banks of the Kshipra river, once every twelve years.
Q3. The Rani Durgavati Shri Anna Protsahan Yojana provides a bonus to growers of which category of crop?
- (a) Sugarcane
- (b) Cotton
- (c) Millets such as Kodo and Kutki
- (d) Oilseeds
Answer: (c) “Shri Anna” refers to millets, and the scheme incentivises Kodo-Kutki growers, largely tribal farmers in Madhya Pradesh.
Q4. Kuno National Park, central to Project Cheetah, is located in which district of Madhya Pradesh?
- (a) Sheopur
- (b) Mandla
- (c) Dindori
- (d) Seoni
Answer: (a) Kuno National Park lies in Sheopur district and is the primary reintroduction site under Project Cheetah, launched in September 2022.
Q5. Under which Article of the Constitution does the Governor summon a session of the State Legislative Assembly?
- (a) Article 168
- (b) Article 174
- (c) Article 200
- (d) Article 213
Answer: (b) Article 174 empowers the Governor to summon, prorogue and dissolve the House, acting on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers.
