Why is Madhya Pradesh considered a central state of India?

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Madhya Pradesh Narmada River at Maheshwar, Madhya Pradesh, India.

Madhya Pradesh is considered a central state of India primarily due to its geographical location in the heart of the country. The name itself reflects this position: madhya translates to "central," and pradesh means "region" or "state".1

Situated in a transitional area between the Indo-Gangetic Plain to the north and the Deccan plateau to the south, the state is landlocked with no coastline or international borders. It is bordered by several other Indian states, including Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Rajasthan.12