Can a state leader move the Prime Meridian from Greenwich to Ujjain?

Countries & Cities · Published 29 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Mohan Yadav, the 19th Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, has made headlines for his ambitious vision of global timekeeping. Beyond his administrative duties, the lawyer-turned-politician is navigating a complex landscape of industrial expansion, disaster management, and intense political scrutiny, all while championing his state's historical significance on the world stage.

Born in Ujjain in 1965, Mohan Yadav rose through the ranks of student politics before joining the Bharatiya Janata Party. After serving as an MLA and a cabinet minister, he was appointed Chief Minister in December 2023. His early tenure was marked by decisive, sometimes controversial, policy shifts, including a ban on the open sale of non-vegetarian food and strict regulations on loudspeaker usage at public sites. His administration has also utilized aggressive measures, such as the use of bulldozers against individuals accused of attacking party workers.

Yadav’s governance style blends traditional administrative focus with bold, often provocative, public statements. He has actively pursued economic development, recently securing investment proposals exceeding ₹11,000 crore from international trips to Dubai and Spain. Domestically, he has prioritized industrial growth in Bhopal, while simultaneously overseeing flood preparedness and disaster relief efforts. His administration emphasizes proactive planning, including the use of mock drills and river-level monitoring to mitigate the impact of monsoon seasons in vulnerable districts.

Despite these efforts, his leadership has faced significant friction. Opposition parties have criticized his administration over various incidents, including a theatrical welcome event featuring a crane-suspended performer dressed as Hanuman. More seriously, he has faced allegations of a ₹45-crore land scam involving his relatives, which emerged in June 2026. Perhaps most notably, Yadav sparked international debate by claiming India established global time standards centuries ago, announcing an ambition to shift the Prime Meridian from Greenwich to Ujjain, citing an ancient timekeeping instrument located in the city.

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