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The state celebrated 2025 as the “Year of Industry” and organized the Global Investors Summit (GIS) for the first time in Bhopal, positioning itself as a top investment destination.
The government focused on promoting tourism, especially in religious and wildlife areas. Madhya Pradesh, already enjoying the status of ‘Tiger State’, will also be home to the third habitat for leopards – which will come up in Sagar district.
Forty-one years after the Bhopal gas tragedy, toxic waste lying at the defunct Union Carbide factory was taken out and burned at a facility in the Pithampur industrial town near Indore, in a month-long process that saw protests from local residents and environmentalists.
In July, 358 tonnes of hazardous material was burnt at the facility in Pithampur in Dhar district. While the removal of waste from the site of the world’s worst industrial disaster closed a decade-old chapter, concerns persist as about 900 tons of toxic ash generated during the combustion continued to accumulate in the industrial city, raising concerns.
Madhya Pradesh came into limelight after the death of 24 children. The deaths were mainly caused by the consumption of allopathic cough syrup sold under the Coldrif brand, which was found to contain 48.6% diethylene glycol, a highly toxic compound that causes kidney failure.
The deaths linked to Coldrif, manufactured by a Tamil Nadu-based pharma firm, highlight inadequate testing and regulatory shortcomings. Following the tragedy, the MP government banned the sale of Coldrif syrup and suspended officials.
Legal action was initiated against the manufacturer of the drug and a local doctor.
The government’s announcement in December of declaring Madhya Pradesh Naxal-free marked a historic turning point in the state’s decisive fight against left-wing extremism after nearly four decades.
The CM’s announcement came soon after the surrender of two top Naxalites, Deepak and Rohit, who carried a combined reward of Rs 43 lakh, before authorities in Balaghat district.
Yadav, who also holds the Home portfolio, was quick to praise the state police and central security forces for the “historic” achievement.
Yadav, who completed two years in office in mid-December, described it as the “last salute to Lal Salami” and said the state has been freed from the Maoist threat ahead of the Centre’s deadline to end Naxalism by March 2026.
The government announced a special package for the development of three already Naxal-hit districts – Balaghat, Mandla and Dindori – and said the surrendered Maoists would be given proper rehabilitation.
Hosting the Global Investment Summit, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in 2025 was a high point for the BJP government. The summit attracted investment commitments of approximately Rs 30.77 lakh crore with the potential to create over 21 lakh jobs.
The government also organized regional industry conferences at the divisional level besides business meetings in major cities in India and abroad to attract investments and showcase the industry-friendly policies of the state.
During the year, PM Modi launched 18 new industrial policies for the state.
The launch of metro rail services in Indore in May and similar trains in Bhopal by the end of the year is likely to bring about a change in the urban transport system in two major cities of Madhya Pradesh.
On conservation of wildlife and environment, the CM said the third cheetah habitat, Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve, will become functional in MP before the 2026 monsoon season.
The first cheetah habitat was opened in Kuno National Park (KNP) in Sheopur district in September 2022, and the second in Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary in Mandsaur district in April 2025.
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Referring to the cheetah project, Yadav said, “The entire state is open to cheetahs. Just imagine their increasing population in our state. Madhya Pradesh is the only place in the world where cheetah rehabilitation has been successful. Many other states tried such a project, but none succeeded.” KNP is home to 28 leopards, while Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary has two big cats. Eight cheetahs are expected to be brought to KNP from Botswana in January.
On the recent increase in tiger deaths in Madhya Pradesh, Yadav said, “When there are too many tigers, such incidents are inevitable. But we are trying to reduce the deaths.”
“Tigers are migrating from our area to other states and we are also exchanging wild animals. We are trying to ensure that our tigers do not face any hardship,” Yadav said.
According to the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), 52 tigers were lost in Madhya Pradesh during the year till December 13.
Cases of Dalit oppression were reported in the state. One of these incidents was reported from Katni district in October, where four people beat up a Dalit man and urinated on him for protesting against illegal mining.
To promote tourism, especially in religious places and wildlife sanctuaries, helicopter services were started in the state. These services were launched to provide affordable and sustainable connectivity between major cities and religious and tourist destinations.