India
Madhya Pradesh Launches Quiz Campaign with Royal Enfield Bikes, Tractors as Prizes
By Shruti Tomar
The Madhya Pradesh government recently held two quiz competitions as part of its Farmers Welfare Year celebrations. Participants included farmers and students, and winners received prizes worth lakhs of rupees, including Royal Enfield motorbikes, tractors and e‑scooters. Shri Ram Tiwari, convener of the culture department’s Veer Bharat Nyas, said the aim was to raise awareness of government initiatives. He noted that 2026 is being celebrated as the farmer welfare year and that the Kisan Kalyan Swabhiman Parv programme launched this competition for farmers.
Two quizzes were organised. The first focused on Lord Krishna and the state’s Krishna Pathey initiative, covering the 14 Vidyas and 64 Kalas of Lord Krishna. The second targeted farmers. Over 16,000 farmers answered all 40 questions correctly in an online quiz held in March, with results announced on 27 October. This quiz covered governance and welfare schemes such as MSP, PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, procurement processes and new agricultural infrastructure projects.
Tiwari said 102 students from schools, colleges and universities will receive ₹1 lakh each. He also highlighted that several Muslim students participated and won, reflecting interest in India’s cultural heritage.
Prizes were awarded through a lottery system. A total of 165 farmers from 55 districts won tractors, Royal Enfield motorcycles and e‑scooters, worth ₹6.5 crore. Winners will be felicitated during the state’s Foundation Day celebrations on 1 November.
A government official noted that women are already covered through the Ladli Behna Yojana, which provides ₹1,250 a month to beneficiaries, and that the initiative offers a new communication channel for youth and farmers. He added that a farmer winning a motorcycle in a village creates more recall than a hoarding.
Another official said the student quiz was part of the government’s cultural outreach. He explained that several schemes in Madhya Pradesh are launched in the name of Lord Krishna, and the quiz helps young people learn about Krishna’s connection to the state, especially Ujjain.
Political analyst Girish Upadhyay said such initiatives create stronger recall than conventional welfare outreach. He noted that a prize won on stage can turn a winner into a brand ambassador for the scheme in his village, potentially influencing behaviour such as natural farming or water conservation.
Opposition leader KK Mishra criticised the government’s efforts, saying that while distributing tractors and motorcycles is fine, the state should focus on real issues faced by farmers, such as fertiliser availability, timely compensation for crop losses and fair prices for agricultural produce.