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Rivers Drainage Systems MCQs
High-yield multiple choice questions asked in previous years (UPSC, SSC CGL, JKSSB, RRB & State PSCs).
High-Yield Concept Capsule & Key Facts
📌 Core physical geography component in UPSC, SSC, CDS, NDA, and State PSC exams.
Himalayan Antecedent River Drainage Systems
- • Indus System: Originates from Bokhar Chu glacier near Lake Manasarovar in Tibet (Sengge Zangbo); major tributaries in India: Jhelum, Chenab (largest tributary), Ravi, Beas, Satluj (originates at Rakas Lake). Regulated by the Indus Waters Treaty (1960).
- • Ganga System: Longest river in India (2,525 km); formed by confluence of Bhagirathi (from Gangotri Glacier at Gaumukh) and Alaknanda (from Satopanth Glacier) at Devprayag. Five Prayags: Vishnuprayag (Alaknanda + Dhauliganga), Nandaprayag (+ Nandakini), Karnaprayag (+ Pindar), Rudraprayag (+ Mandakini), Devprayag (+ Bhagirathi). Major right bank tributary: Yamuna (from Yamunotri, joins at Prayagraj).
- • Brahmaputra System: Originates at Chemayungdung glacier in Tibet where it is called Yarlung Tsangpo; enters Arunachal Pradesh through Dihang gorge; joins Dibang and Lohit to become Brahmaputra in Assam; features Majuli (world's largest riverine island); joins Ganga (Padma) in Bangladesh to form Meghna, creating the Sundarbans Delta.
Peninsular River Systems (East-Flowing vs West-Flowing)
- • East-Flowing (Drain into Bay of Bengal, form Deltas): Godavari (Dakshin Ganga / Vridha Ganga - 1,465 km, originates at Trimbakeshwar in Nashik; longest peninsular river); Krishna (originates near Mahabaleshwar; tributaries Tungabhadra, Koyna, Bhima); Mahanadi (Sihawa in Chhattisgarh; Hirakud Dam); Cauvery / Kaveri (Talakaveri in Brahmagiri range; Shivanasamudra falls, dispute between TN, Karnataka, Kerala, Puducherry).
- • West-Flowing (Drain into Arabian Sea, form Estuaries): Narmada (originates at Amarkantak plateau; flows through marble rock rift valley between Vindhya and Satpura ranges; Dhuandhar falls, Sardar Sarovar Dam); Tapi / Tapti (originates at Multai in Betul district of MP; flows parallel in rift valley south of Satpura); Sabarmati, Mahi (crosses Tropic of Cancer twice), Sharavathi (Jog Falls in Karnataka).
| River System | Origin Source | Length | Major Tributaries / Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ganga | Devprayag (Bhagirathi + Alaknanda) | 2,525 km | Yamuna, Son, Gandak, Kosi ('Sorrow of Bihar') |
| Godavari (Dakshin Ganga) | Trimbakeshwar (Nashik, MH) | 1,465 km | Pranhita, Penganga, Indravati, Manjira |
| Brahmaputra | Chemayungdung Glacier (Tibet) | 2,900 km | Majuli river island, Subansiri, Teesta, Lohit |
| Narmada | Amarkantak Plateau (MP) | 1,312 km | Rift valley between Vindhyas & Satpuras; Estuary |
| Krishna | Mahabaleshwar (Maharashtra) | 1,400 km | Tungabhadra, Bhima, Ghataprabha, Koyna |
| Kaveri (Cauvery) | Talakaveri (Brahmagiri, Karnataka) | 800 km | Perennial river; Shivanasamudra & Hogenakkal falls |
Showing 15 Practice Questions
Q1SSC CGL 2023Easy
At which sacred confluence do the rivers Bhagirathi and Alaknanda unite to officially form the River Ganga?
Q2UPSC CSE PrelimsEasy
Which peninsular river is the longest in India (1,465 km) and famously referred to as 'Dakshin Ganga' or 'Vridha Ganga'?
Q3JKSSB FAA 2022Easy
The Narmada River, which flows westward into the Arabian Sea, originates from which plateau region?
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Q4CDS 2022Easy
Majuli, recognized by Guinness World Records as the world's largest inhabited freshwater riverine island, is situated on which river in Assam?
Q5JKSSB VLW 2023Easy
Which of the following rivers flows through a structural rift valley between the Vindhya and Satpura mountain ranges?
Q6SSC CGL Tier-1Easy
Which river is notorious as the 'Sorrow of Bihar' due to frequent course shifts and devastating seasonal floods?
Q7JKPSC KAS PrelimsMedium
The largest tributary of the Indus River in terms of volume of water discharge is the:
Q8NDA 2022Medium
Which Indian river crosses the Tropic of Cancer twice during its flow?
Q9SSC CHSLEasy
The famous Jog Falls (Gersoppa Falls), one of the highest plunge waterfalls in India, is situated on which river in Karnataka?
Q10JKSSB Sub-InspectorEasy
Hirakud Dam, one of the longest earthen dams in the world, is constructed across which river in Odisha?
Q11UPSC CSE PrelimsMedium
Which of the following is an inland drainage river that loses itself in the marshy Rann of Kutch without reaching the sea?
Q12JKSSB Patwari 2024Easy
The Cauvery River originates from Talakaveri in which mountain range in Karnataka?
Q13CDS 2021Medium
The Teesta River, a major tributary of the Brahmaputra (Jamuna) in Bangladesh, originates from:
Q14SSC CGLMedium
Which of the following rivers is a direct right-bank tributary of the Ganga that originates in the peninsular plateau (Amarkantak)?
Q15JKSSB Junior AssistantEasy
Sardar Sarovar Dam, a landmark multi-purpose gravity dam project, is built on which river?
Frequently Asked Questions (Rivers Drainage Systems)
Q: At which confluence (Prayag) does the Bhagirathi River unite with the Alaknanda to become the Ganga?
At Devprayag in Tehri Garhwal district of Uttarakhand, the crystal-green Bhagirathi River and the turbulent Alaknanda River unite, and the downstream combined river is officially named the Ganga.
Q: Why do the Narmada and Tapi rivers flow westward and form estuaries instead of deltas?
The Narmada and Tapi flow through narrow tectonic fault troughs (rift valleys) bounded by the Vindhya and Satpura mountain ranges. Because of the steep structural gradient and rocky terrain, they carry minimal sediment load and empty their fast-moving waters into the Arabian Sea via funnel-shaped estuaries without forming broad depositional deltas.
Q: Which river in India is called the 'Sorrow of Bihar' and why?
The Kosi River is known as the 'Sorrow of Bihar' because of its heavy sediment and silt discharge descending from the Himalayas, causing unpredictable avulsions (frequent river course shifting) and catastrophic annual floods across northern Bihar.
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