The Madhya Pradesh Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Tuesday, 28 July, approved financial proposals totalling nearly ₹2,480 crore covering sports infrastructure, irrigation, information technology, women's empowerment, and farmer welfare. The decisions, confirmed through an official press release, mark one of the largest single-sitting expenditure approvals by the Yadav government since it assumed office.

Women's Hockey Trophy and Sports Push

Among the headline announcements was an in-principle approval of ₹18.74 crore to host the Women's Asian Hockey Champions Trophy in Bhopal this October. The tournament, to be jointly organised by Hockey India and the Department of Sports and Youth Welfare, will feature six Asian nations — India, China, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea, and Thailand. According to the release, the event is expected to showcase the state's modern sports infrastructure, stimulate tourism, and serve as an inspiration for local athletes.

Irrigation Projects for Farmers

The Cabinet sanctioned ₹111 crore for the continued operation of the Rihand Micro-Irrigation Project in Singrauli, which covers 38,000 hectares across 119 villages. A further ₹184 crore was approved for the Malhargarh Pressurised Major Lift Irrigation Project in Mandsaur, designed to irrigate 46,500 hectares. The government also reaffirmed its commitment to bonus payments for farmers above the minimum support price, reinforcing financial security for cultivators across the state.

Technology, IT Parks and Employment

Science and technology initiatives received a substantial allocation of ₹857 crore, including ₹85 crore for setting up a drone technology-based Centre of Excellence at IISER Bhopal. The Cabinet additionally cleared ₹595 crore to extend the operations of IT parks in Indore, Bhopal, Jabalpur, and Gwalior until 2031. These parks are projected to generate employment for nearly 8,000 youths, positioning Madhya Pradesh as a growing hub for digital infrastructure and innovation.

Women's Welfare and Employee Pensions

Women's empowerment received a dedicated allocation of ₹198 crore under Mission Shakti, while ₹982 crore was earmarked for employee welfare and pension schemes. The Cabinet also approved a new circle office for the Electrical Safety Inspectorate in Gwalior and sanctioned nine new judicial posts in Narayangarh, strengthening both administrative capacity and the state's legal framework.

What Comes Next

With approvals spanning agriculture, technology, sports, and social welfare in a single sitting, the Yadav Cabinet has signalled a broad-based development push ahead of what is expected to be a politically significant second half of the year. Implementation timelines and disbursement schedules for the larger allocations — particularly the IT park extensions and irrigation projects — will be closely watched by industry bodies and farmer groups alike.