Rivers in India

Rivers in India

Rivers in India are one of the most important natural resources that support life, agriculture, economy, culture and civilization. They provide water for drinking, irrigation, hydropower, navigation and industry. Indian rivers are broadly classified into Himalayan rivers and Peninsular rivers. Major river systems include the Ganga, Yamuna, Brahmaputra, Indus, Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri, Narmada and Tapti.
Rivers have shaped Indian history and continue to influence settlement patterns, agriculture, climate and cultural traditions. Understanding India's rivers is essential for competitive exams, geography studies, and environmental awareness.

1. How many major river systems are there in India?
   A: Two — Himalayan and Peninsular.
2. Name the longest river in India.
   A: Ganga (2525 km).
3. Which river is known as the "Sorrow of Bihar"?
   A: Kosi River.
4. Which river is called the "Dakshin Ganga"?
   A: Godavari River.
5. Which river flows through the Thar Desert?
   A: Luni River.
6. Name the largest river island in India.
   A: Majuli (on Brahmaputra).
7. Which river forms the Sundarbans delta?
   A: Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna.
8. Which river is known as the "Sorrow of Bengal"?
   A: Damodar River.
9. Which is the longest west-flowing river in India?
   A: Narmada.
10. Which river originates from Gangotri Glacier?
    A: Ganga.
11. Name the river also called Tsangpo in Tibet.
    A: Brahmaputra.
12. Which river forms the Jog Falls?
    A: Sharavathi River.
13. Kaveri River originates from which place?
    A: Talakaveri (Karnataka).
14. What is the origin of the Krishna River?
    A: Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra.
15. Which river has the largest basin in India?
    A: Ganga Basin.
16. Which river is shared between India and Pakistan under the Indus Water Treaty?
    A: Indus river system.
17. Which river is called the "Sorrow of Assam"?
    A: Brahmaputra.
18. The Chambal River is famous for which sanctuary?
    A: National Chambal Sanctuary.
19. Which river flows through the city of Varanasi?
    A: Ganga.
20. Name the river that forms the Dhuandhar Falls.
    A: Narmada.
21. Name the three major Himalayan river systems.
    A: Indus, Ganga, Brahmaputra.
22. Which river’s tributary is Beas?
    A: Indus.
23. Yamuna originates from which glacier?
    A: Yamunotri Glacier.
24. Which river joins Ganga at Allahabad (Prayagraj)?
    A: Yamuna.
25. Bhagirathi and Alaknanda join at Devprayag to form which river?
    A: Ganga.
26. Brahmaputra enters India through which state?
    A: Arunachal Pradesh.
27. Indus river originates in which region?
    A: Tibet (Lake Manasarovar).
28. Which river is known for frequent floods in Assam?
    A: Brahmaputra.
29. Teesta is a tributary of which river?
    A: Brahmaputra.
30. What is the length of the Brahmaputra in India?
    A: Approximately 916 km.
31. Ganga drains into which water body?
    A: Bay of Bengal.
32. Which Himalayan river forms a deep gorge in Arunachal Pradesh?
    A: Brahmaputra.
33. Ganga originates from which glacier?
    A: Gangotri Glacier.
34. Ravi is a tributary of which river?
    A: Indus.
35. Sutlej flows into India from which pass?
    A: Shipki La Pass.
36. Which river flows between Vindhya and Satpura ranges?
    A: Narmada (Peninsular, but important comparison).
37. Which river is known as the "lifeline of North India"?
    A: Ganga.
38. Ghaghara is a tributary of which river?
    A: Ganga.
39. Ramganga is a tributary of which river?
    A: Ganga.
40. Indus river flows into which sea?
    A: Arabian Sea.
41. Peninsular rivers are mostly fed by what?
    A: Rainfall.
42. Name two major west-flowing rivers.
    A: Narmada and Tapi.
43. Which is the longest peninsular river?
    A: Godavari.
44. Godavari flows into which water body?
    A: Bay of Bengal.
45. Name the main tributary of Krishna in Karnataka.
    A: Tungabhadra.
46. Kaveri flows into which sea?
    A: Bay of Bengal.
47. Sabarmati flows through which major city?
    A: Ahmedabad.
48. Mahanadi River forms a delta in which state?
    A: Odisha.
49. Damodar is a tributary of which river?
    A: Hugli.
50. Tapti originates from which region?
    A: Satpura Range.
51. Which river forms the Sardar Sarovar Dam?
    A: Narmada.
52. Luni River ends in which lake?
    A: Rann of Kutch.
53. What is another name for the Godavari?
    A: Vriddha Ganga.
54. Which river flows through the Jog Falls?
    A: Sharavathi.
55. Periyar is the longest river of which state?
    A: Kerala.
56. Which river is the water source for Chennai?
    A: Kaveri.
57. Pennar River flows mainly through which state?
    A: Andhra Pradesh.
58. Vaigai flows in which state?
    A: Tamil Nadu.
59. Which river flows through the city of Hyderabad?
    A: Musi River.
60. Which river is famous for the Hirakud Dam?
    A: Mahanadi.
61. Bhakra-Nangal Dam is built on which river?
    A: Sutlej.
62. Tehri Dam is on which river?
    A: Bhagirathi.
63. Sardar Sarovar Dam is on which river?
    A: Narmada.
64. Hirakud Dam is on which river?
    A: Mahanadi.
65. Nagarjuna Sagar Dam is on which river?
    A: Krishna.
66. Idukki Dam is on which river?
    A: Periyar.
67. Rihand Dam is on which river?
    A: Rihand (tributary of Son).
68. Farakka Barrage is on which river?
    A: Ganga.
69. Bhima is a tributary of which river?
    A: Krishna.
70. Hemavati is a tributary of?
    A: Kaveri.
71. Which river is linked by the Polavaram project?
    A: Godavari.
72. Which river is famous for the Sivasamudram Falls?
    A: Kaveri.
73. Which river has Asia’s longest barrage?
    A: Mahanadi (Hirakud Dam).
74. Ukai Dam is built on which river?
    A: Tapti.
75. Gandhi Sagar Dam is on which river?
    A: Chambal.
76. Tungabhadra Dam is in which state?
    A: Karnataka.
77. Which river forms Dhubri Plains?
    A: Brahmaputra.
78. Which river forms the Satpura–Vindhya rift valley?
    A: Narmada.
79. Which river flows through Hogenakkal Falls?
    A: Kaveri.
80. Mullaperiyar Dam is on which river?
    A: Periyar.
81. The only major river flowing from east to west in Rajasthan is?
    A: Luni.
82. Name the river that forms India’s deepest gorge.
    A: Kali Gandaki (Nepal to India region).
83. Which river forms the Brahmaputra Valley?
    A: Brahmaputra.
84. Which river is called "Vridha Ganga"?
    A: Godavari.
85. Gomti is a tributary of which river?
    A: Ganga.
86. Which river is also called Reva?
    A: Narmada.
87. Hooghly is a distributary of which river?
    A: Ganga.
88. Which river flows along India–Bangladesh border?
    A: Ganga and Brahmaputra systems.
89. Barak River flows mainly in which state?
    A: Assam and Manipur.
90. Which river flows near India’s only active volcano, Barren Island?
    A: No river (trick question).
91. Jhelum is a tributary of which river?
    A: Indus.
92. Which river is the main source of water for Delhi?
    A: Yamuna.
93. Which river is famous for the Bhitarkanika wetlands?
    A: Brahmani-Baitarani system.
94. Which river is sacred to Sikhs?
    A: Beas.
95. Which river is known for its rich alluvial soil in north India?
    A: Ganga.
96. Betwa is a tributary of which river?
    A: Yamuna.
97. Son River is a tributary of?
    A: Ganga.
98. Ghaggar River is also known as the?
    A: Saraswati (in ancient texts).
99. Which river drains into the Gulf of Mannar?
    A: Vaigai.
100. Which river is associated with the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project?
     A: Godavari.

Rivers in India play a vital role in shaping the country’s geography, economy, climate, agriculture, and culture. From the snow-fed Himalayan rivers to the rain-fed Peninsular rivers, each river system supports millions of people and countless ecosystems.
Understanding their origin, course, tributaries, dams, and importance is essential for competitive examinations such as SSC, UPSC, State PSC, Railways, Defence and other government exams.

FAQs

1. Which river is the lifeline of India?

A: The Ganga is widely considered the lifeline of India.

2. Which river is the deepest in India?

A: Brahmaputra.

3. Which river forms the largest delta in the world?

A: Ganga-Brahmaputra Delta.

4. Which Indian river is the cleanest?

A: Umngot River (Meghalaya).

5. Which river system is younger — Himalayan or Peninsular?

A: Himalayan river system.

6. Which river flows entirely in India?

A: Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri, Mahanadi, Narmada, Tapti.

7. What is the only inland river in India?

A: Luni River.

8. Which state has the maximum number of rivers?

A: Kerala.

9. Which river is most prone to flooding?

A: Brahmaputra.

10. What is the primary source of Himalayan rivers?

A: Glaciers and snowmelt.

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