Geography · 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 statements is/are correct?

a. Large rivers flowing on the Peninsular plateau have their origin in the Western Ghats. b. Large Rivers with origins in western ghats drain in the Arabian sea. c. The Narmada and Tapi are two large rivers which are exceptions as they discharge their waters in the Bay of Bengal.

  1. a only

  2. b only

  3. c only

  4. a, b and c

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

This is the correct answer as this statement is correct.

Multiple choice

Which of the following rivers forms an estuary?

  1. Ganga

  2. Brahmaputra

  3. Indus

  4. Kaveri

  5. Narmada

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct answer. An estuary is a partly enclosed coastal body of brackish water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea. The Narmada forms an estuary.

Multiple choice

On which river is Aswam Dam?

  1. Ganges

  2. Thames

  3. Missisippi

  4. Nile
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The Aswan High Dam is a massive embankment dam situated across the Nile River in Aswan, Egypt.

Multiple choice

'Bhakra Dam' Project is on the river

  1. Satluj

  2. Ganga

  3. Ravi

  4. Beas
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Bhakra Dam is a massive concrete gravity dam built on the Satluj River in the Bilaspur district of Himachal Pradesh.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements are correct?

a. Krishna-Godavari dispute is due to the objections between Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh governments. b. It is regarding the diversion of more water at Koyna by the Karnataka government for a multipurpose project. c. The multipupose project at Kyna would reduce downstream flow in Andhra Pradesh with adverse consequences for agriculture and industry.

  1. a, b and c

  2. a and b

  3. b and c

  4. a and c

  5. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct answer as the dispute if because of the multipurpose project at Koyna in Maharasthra. The objections are of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka against Maharashtra. The agriculture and industry of both Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka will be adversely affected.

Multiple choice

Narmada Bachao Andolan or Save Narmada Movement is a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) that mobilised tribal people, farmers, environmentalists and human rights activists against which of the following dams?

  1. Hirakud dam

  2. Ranjit Sagar dam

  3. Dantiwara dam

  4. Sukhi dam

  5. Sardar Sarovar Dam
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct answer as Narmada Bachao Andolan or Save Narmada Movement is against the Sardar Sarovar Dam being built across the Narmada river in Gujarat.

Multiple choice

In which of the following regions of India are diversion channels like 'guls' or 'kuls' made for agriculture?

a. Mounatnious regions b. Western Himalayas c. Flood palins of Bengal d. Rajasthan

  1. a and b

  2. a, b and c

  3. a, b and d

  4. b and d

  5. a and d
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct answer. In hilly and mountainous regions, people built diversion channels like the ‘guls’ or ‘kuls’ of the Western Himalayas for agriculture.

Multiple choice

Rainwater, or palar pani is considered the purest form of natural water in which of the following regions?

  1. Himachal Pradesh

  2. Rajasthan

  3. Bengal

  4. Bihar

  5. Karnataka
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

In the semi-arid and arid regions of Rajasthan, particularly in Bikaner, Phalodi and Barmer, almost all the houses traditionally had underground tanks or tankas for storing drinking water. The rainwater is called Palar pani in these areas and is considered the purest form of natural water, which is stored in the tankas.

Multiple choice

Sometimes dams create conflicts between people wanting different uses and benefits from the same water resources. In which of the following states did agitated farmers almost cause a riot over the higher priority given to water supply in urban areas?

  1. Punjab

  2. Rajasthan

  3. Haryana

  4. Gujarat

  5. Andhra Pradesh
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct answer. In Gujarat, the Sabarmati-basin farmers were agitated and almost caused a riot over the higher priority given to water supply in urban areas.