In Indian river geography, from which Indian state does the Narmada River originate at the Amarkantak plateau?

Introduction / Context:
The Narmada River is one of the most important west flowing rivers of India and a frequently asked topic in Indian geography examinations. Understanding the origin, course, and drainage pattern of major rivers is essential for questions related to irrigation, hydroelectric projects, regional planning, and physiography. This question tests your knowledge of the exact Indian state where the Narmada originates, which is a straightforward but fundamental piece of information about the river system.

Given Data / Assumptions:

The question is about the Narmada River, a major west flowing river in central India.
Only the state of origin is asked, not the full course or delta region.
The options provided are four Indian states from different regions of the country.
Basic textbook information about Indian rivers is assumed to be known to the candidate.

Concept / Approach:
To answer such questions, you should recall the source of each major river and associate it with a physical feature or plateau. The Narmada is closely linked with the Amarkantak plateau region. Knowing the location of Amarkantak on the political map of India will directly lead you to the correct state. The approach is therefore recall based rather than computational, but it reinforces the habit of connecting physical geography (plateaus and ranges) with political geography (states).

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify this by recalling additional facts about the Narmada River. Many major projects such as the Sardar Sarovar Dam are on the Narmada, but the river itself is often described as the lifeline of central India and specifically associated with Madhya Pradesh. When you see multiple references to Narmada valley projects in Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat, it reinforces that the source region lies in Madhya Pradesh, with the river then continuing westwards to the Arabian Sea.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Common Pitfalls:
One common mistake is confusing Narmada with other central Indian rivers such as the Tapti or with rivers associated with Deccan plateaus. Another pitfall is relying only on rough mental maps without knowing the exact location of Amarkantak. To avoid such errors, it is useful to memorise a small table of major Indian rivers, their sources, directions of flow, and the states they traverse. This will help you answer not only this question but many similar questions quickly in competitive exams.

Final Answer:
The correct answer is Madhya Pradesh, because the Narmada River originates from the Amarkantak plateau located in that state.