Geography ยท General Awareness

Indian Rivers and Waterways

2,563 Questions

This topic covers major Indian rivers, their basins, hydroelectric projects, and historical water management systems. Questions on river geography are essential for SSC, banking, railways, UPSC, and state exams. Solving these questions builds mapping and factual accuracy for test takers.

River hydroelectric projectsMajor river basinsAncient water managementInterlinking of riversMythological Indian rivers

Indian Rivers and Waterways Questions

Multiple choice

Which of the following is not a National Waterway?

  1. The Ganga river between Allahabad and Haldia

  2. The Brahmaputra river between Sadiya and Dhubri

  3. The West Coast Canal

  4. Kottapurma-Komman, Udyogamandal and Champakkara canals

  5. The East-West Canal
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct answer. The East-West Canal is an inland waterway.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements about waterways is/are incorrect?

a. They are most suitable for carrying heavy and bulky goods. b. They are a fuel-efficient and environment friendly mode of transport. c. India has inland waterways of length 3,700 km.

  1. a only

  2. b only

  3. c only

  4. a and b

  5. b and c
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

This statement is incorrect. Hence, correct answer. India has inland waterways of total length 14,500 km. 3,700 km are navigable by mechanised boats.

Multiple choice

The Kosi river flows in

  1. Tamil Nadu

  2. Bihar

  3. Andhra Pradesh

  4. Assam
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The Kosi River is a major tributary of the Ganges that flows primarily through the state of Bihar. It is known for its frequent flooding and the devastating Kosi floods that have affected Bihar.

Multiple choice

Name the Longest River Bridge in India (5575 Metres)

  1. Sethu Samudram

  2. Krishna Barrage

  3. Mahatma Gandhi Sethu (PATNA)

  4. Narmada
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Mahatma Gandhi Setu (Bridge) in Patna, Bihar is India's longest river bridge spanning the Ganges at 5,575 meters. Completed in 1982, it connects Patna to Hajipur and is a vital link on National Highway 19. Sethu Samudram is a shipping channel project, Krishna Barrage is in Andhra Pradesh, and Narmada is a river/bridge project in Gujarat.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is the India's longest dam?

  1. Kosi

  2. Nagarjuna Sagar

  3. Hirakud

  4. Bhakra
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Hirakud Dam built across the Mahanadi River in Odisha is India's longest dam, stretching approximately 26 km. It was completed in 1957 and serves multiple purposes including irrigation, hydroelectric power generation, and flood control. Nagarjuna Sagar is the tallest dam, while Bhakra is one of the highest gravity dams.

Multiple choice

Delhi is situated on the banks of

  1. Ganges

  2. Yamuna

  3. Krishna

  4. Tapti
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Delhi is located on the banks of the Yamuna River. The Yamuna is the longest and the second-largest tributary river of the Ganges in northern India.

Multiple choice

Ayodhya is located on the banks of the river

  1. Gomati

  2. Ghaghra

  3. Saryu

  4. Yamuna
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Ayodhya, an ancient city in Uttar Pradesh, is situated on the banks of the Saryu River. The river holds great religious significance in Hinduism and is frequently mentioned in the epic Ramayana.

Multiple choice

The area between rivers Beas and Satluj is known as

  1. Malwa

  2. Doaba

  3. Majha

  4. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The region lying between the Beas and Satluj rivers in Punjab is called the Doaba region. The word 'Doaba' is derived from Persian, where 'Do' means two and 'Ab' means water or river, signifying the land between two rivers.

Multiple choice

The Amarkantak hill is the source of two rivers flowing in two different directions (west and east). They are

  1. Narmada and Tapi

  2. Narmada and Mahanadi

  3. Tapi and Betwa

  4. Tapi and Son
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The Amarkantak plateau is a significant drainage divide. The Narmada river originates here and flows west toward the Arabian Sea, while the Son river (a tributary of the Ganga) flows north/east. Although the Mahanadi originates nearby in the Sihawa hills, it is often grouped with this region in general geography contexts.

Multiple choice

Ganga is navigable between

  1. Haridwar and Kanpur

  2. Allahabad and Varanasi

  3. Patna and Calcutta

  4. Allahabad and Haldia
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The National Waterway 1 (NW-1) is the longest navigable stretch of the Ganga river system, running from Allahabad (Prayagraj) in Uttar Pradesh to Haldia in West Bengal.

Multiple choice

Which one of the following characteristic is NOT relevant to Ganga river?

  1. It is a braided river with numerous channels

  2. It has multiple inter-twined sand-bars

  3. It has extensive gully erosion

  4. It deposits enormous sediment annually into the Bay of Bengal
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Extensive gully erosion is the defining characteristic of the Chambal River basin, which creates 'badlands'. The Ganga is characterized by its braided nature, sandbars, and massive sediment load, but not by extensive gully erosion.