In the year 2020–21, which of the following districts held the first position in the production of cotton in Madhya Pradesh?

Question

UnlockIAS · Accepted Answer

Correct — B, Khargone. Khargone (the former West Nimar district) lies in MP's Nimar cotton belt, where fertile black (regur) soil supports the state's largest cotton output; in 2020–21 it held the top position among MP's districts for cotton production.

Why the other options are wrong — (a) Damoh lies in the Bundelkhand/Sagar tract of MP, an area more associated with foodgrain (wheat/gram) farming than cotton.  (c) Mandla is a forested, tribal-majority district of eastern MP (Maikal hills/Narmada valley), not part of the cotton belt.  (d) Panna is known chiefly for diamond mining and its tiger reserve, not for cotton cultivation.

Concept: Cotton in Madhya Pradesh is concentrated in the Nimar region (Khargone, Barwani, Khandwa, Burhanpur) and parts of the Malwa Plateau, where black cotton soil (regur), formed from weathered Deccan trap basalt, retains moisture well and suits the crop. Khargone has been MP's leading cotton-producing district.

State PCS 2023 Q80 — Madhya Pradesh GK PYQ with Answer

State PCS 2023 Q80 — Madhya Pradesh GK PYQ with Answer