CM, Governors & Schemes — Set 11

Correct Answer: A. Ravishankar Shukla

Ravishankar Shukla became the first Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh when the state was formed on 1 November 1956 under the States Reorganisation Act. He had previously served as Chief Minister of the Central Provinces and Berar before MP's formation. Ravishankar Shukla was a veteran Congress leader and freedom fighter from Chhattisgarh region (now a separate state). He passed away in December 1956 shortly after becoming the first CM, just weeks after MP was formed. Bhagwantrao Mandloi succeeded him.

Correct Answer: B. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)

Shyama Prasad Mukherjee founded the Bharatiya Jana Sangh in 1951, which was the predecessor of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The BJP has governed Madhya Pradesh for long periods including under Chief Ministers Sunderlal Patwa (1990-1992), Uma Bharti, Babulal Gaur, and most notably Shivraj Singh Chouhan (2005-2018, 2020 onwards). Shyama Prasad Mukherjee was a noted politician and educationist who also served as a minister in Nehru's cabinet before founding Jana Sangh. Though he was from West Bengal, his political legacy shaped central Indian politics significantly.

Correct Answer: B. 1963-1967

D.P. Mishra (Dwarka Prasad Mishra) served as Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh from 1963 to 1967 during the Indira Gandhi era of Congress politics. He was one of the most powerful Congress politicians from MP and had influence in national politics. D.P. Mishra played a key role in bringing Indira Gandhi to power in the Congress party. After the 1967 elections, he lost the CM position but remained a powerful figure. He is remembered for various developmental initiatives during his tenure.

Correct Answer: C. Establishing Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs) nationally

Arjun Singh, who served as Chief Minister of MP from 1980-1985, later became Union Minister for Human Resource Development under Rajiv Gandhi and Narasimha Rao governments. During his tenure as HRD Minister, he is credited with establishing the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya (JNV) scheme - residential schools for meritorious rural children - which has now spread to nearly every district in India. He also served as Governor of Punjab and later as Union Minister again under Manmohan Singh. Arjun Singh was a powerful Congress leader from Vindhya region of MP.

Correct Answer: B. Rajiv Gandhi Watershed Mission and decentralized rural governance

Digvijaya Singh served as Chief Minister of MP from 1993 to 2003 (two consecutive terms) and is particularly associated with the Rajiv Gandhi Watershed Mission, which addressed water conservation and soil management at the grassroots level. His government also focused on Panchayati Raj (rural self-governance) and decentralization of power to village bodies. The watershed programs under his government transformed agricultural practices in rain-deficit districts. He is also known for controversial decisions during his tenure that became subjects of political debate after the BJP won power in 2003.

Correct Answer: B. Improving the status of the girl child through financial incentives for birth registration, education, and marriage support

Ladli Laxmi Yojana was launched by the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government in Madhya Pradesh in 2007 to improve the status of the girl child. Under the scheme, a deposit of Rs 1,18,000 is made in the name of a girl child, which can be accessed at various life stages - for school fees, and a lump sum at marriage. The scheme aims to combat the practice of sex-selective abortion, improve female literacy, and reduce early marriage. The scheme was so successful that it was adopted by many other states and the central government has launched similar programs. The scheme is now in its Ladli Laxmi 2.0 version.

Correct Answer: D. Saraswati Devi Saxena

Saraswati Devi Saxena was the first woman Governor of Madhya Pradesh. MP has had several women Governors over the years. The Governor of MP serves as the constitutional head of state and is appointed by the President of India. The Raj Bhawan (Governor's residence) in Bhopal is a historic building. Some notable Governors of MP include Haribhau Upadhyaya, Kailash Nath Katju (who later became CM), and in recent times Anandiben Patel, Ram Naresh Yadav, and Mangubhai Patel.

Correct Answer: B. PM-KISAN (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi)

The Mukhyamantri Kisan Kalyan Yojana (MKKP) provides an additional Rs 4,000 per year to eligible farmers in Madhya Pradesh over and above the Rs 6,000 per year they receive under the central government's PM-KISAN scheme. This means farmers registered in MKKP receive a combined total of Rs 10,000 per year from both the state and central schemes. The MKKP is directly transferred to farmers' bank accounts in two installments. This scheme is part of MP's larger effort to support agricultural income and farmer welfare in the state.

Correct Answer: B. 100% electrification of villages and improving power supply quality

The Atal Jyoti Abhiyan was launched in Madhya Pradesh to achieve 100% village electrification and improve the quality and reliability of power supply across the state. The scheme was named after former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee who had strong connections to MP. Under the scheme, new power transmission lines, transformers, and metering were installed in villages. MP has significantly improved its power sector under various schemes and has achieved near-universal electrification. The state also achieved a significant improvement in its agricultural feeder separation program which helped improve power supply to farms.

Correct Answer: B. Ram Janmabhoomi movement and Vishwa Hindu Parishad activities

Uma Bharti, a bhojpuri-speaking spiritual orator from Tikamgarh district of MP, rose to national prominence through the Ram Janmabhoomi movement and her association with the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and BJP's Hindutva politics. She was one of the prominent faces of the Ayodhya movement in the late 1980s and early 1990s. She became Chief Minister of MP after the BJP's landslide victory in 2003 but resigned in 2004 after being convicted in a criminal case (later acquitted). She later served as Union Minister in the Modi government. Uma Bharti remains a powerful political and religious figure in central India.