Geography · General Awareness

Indian Rivers and Waterways

2,831 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

Two important rivers - one with its source in Jharkhand (and known by a different name in Odisha), and another, with its source in Odisha - merge at a place only a short distance from the coast of Bay of Bengal before flowing into the sea. This is an important site of wildlife and biodiversity and a protected area. Which one of the following could it be?

  1. Bhitarkanika

  2. Chandipur-on-sea

  3. Gopalpur-on-sea

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

The deltaic region formed by the alluvial deposits of river Brahmani, Baitarani and Dhamara (Bhitarkanika) and the Mahanadi deltaic area, comprising of about 3000 Sq. Km. forms the proposed Bhitarkanika Biosphere Reserve. This deltaic region is a unique bioclimatic zone in a typical geographic situation in the coastal region of Bay of Bengal. It is located in the Kendrapara District of the State of Orissa. The proposed Bhitarkanika Biosphere Reserve covers erstwhile Kanika and Kujang Zamindari area. It includes at present three protected areas namely Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary, Bhitarkanika National Park and the Gahirmatha Marine Wildlife Sanctuary. The Mahanadi flows through the states of Chhattisgarh, Orissa, and Jharkhand.

Multiple choice

The Brahmaputra, Irrawady and Mekong rivers originate in Tibet and flow through narrow and parallel mountain ranges in their upper reaches. Of these rivers, Brahmaputra makes a “U” turn in its course to flow into India. This “U” turn is due to

  1. Uplift of folded Himalayan series.

  2. Syntaxial bending of geologically young Himalayas.

  3. Geo-tectonic disturbance in the tertiary folded mountain chains.

  4. Both (1) and (2) above.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Brahmaputra originates near Mt. Kalias and is known to take a U-turn near Mount Namcha Barwa. This U-turn is also known as Great Bend. The U turn is because of the 1800 bend of the Himalyan structural trends.

Multiple choice

Major Floods were mostly observed in the river system with Seonath as its tributary. Which of the following dams was constructed to encounter such a situation?

  1. Indira Sagar Dam

  2. Hirakud Reservoir

  3. Sardar Sarovar Dam

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

Explanation: Hirakud dam is built across Mahanadi river in the state of Odisha. It is one of the longest dam in the world. The major tributaries of Mahanadi are Seonath, Jonk, Hasdo, Mand, Ib, Ong, Tel, etc. The Seonath River is the longest tributary of Mahanadi. 

Multiple choice

Where does the Mahi river fall?

  1. Gulf of Kuchchh

  2. Ranna of Kuchchh

  3. Gulf of Khambhat

  4. Little Rann of Kuchchh
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Explanation: The Gulf of Khambhat (also known as the Gulf of Cambay) is an inlet of the Arabian Sea along the West coast of India, in the state of Gujarat. It is about 130 kilometres in length and divides the Kathiawar peninsula to the West from the Eastern part of Gujarat state. The Narmada, Tapti, Mahi and Sabarmati rivers drain into it.

Multiple choice

Which one of the following pairs is not correctly matched ? Types of waterfall : Names of waterfalls

  1. Caprock fall : Gersoppa falls

  2. Scarp fall : Dasam falls

  3. Knickpoint fall : Dhunwadhar falls

  4. Hanging Valley fall : Johna falls

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

Gersoppa (Jog) Falls is a plunge waterfall caused by the river Sharavathi, not a caprock fall. Caprock falls are typically formed where a hard rock layer overlies a softer one, like Niagara.

Multiple choice

Assertion (A) : The Himalayan rivers are older than the mountain ranges they cross.

Reason (R) : The Himalayan rivers cut their channels deeply and incisively.

  1. Both A and R are individually true and R is the correct explanation of A

  2. Both A and R are individually true but R is NOT the correct explanation of A

  3. A is true but R is false

  4. A is false but R is true

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

Himalayan rivers are indeed antecedent (older than the mountains), and they do cut deep gorges. However, the reason they are older is due to the tectonic uplift of the Himalayas occurring after the river courses were established, not simply because they cut deeply.

Multiple choice

Which set of two rivers given below together forms the world' s largest delta before their waters flow into the respective seas?

  1. Seine and Rhine

  2. Danube and the Thames

  3. Euphrates and the Nile

  4. Ganges and the Brahmaputra
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers converge to form the Sundarbans delta, which is the largest river delta in the world. The other pairs listed do not form a single combined delta of this scale.

Multiple choice

Which of the following rivers does not drain into the Arabian Sea?

  1. Narmada

  2. Mahanadi

  3. Tapti

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

The Mahanadi does not drain into the Arabian Sea. The rivers mainly flowing into the Arabian Sea are the Karnataka Coastal Rivers, Kerala Coastal Rivers, Goa Coastal Rivers, Maharashtra Coastal Rivers, Tapti River Basin, Narmada River Basin, Mahi River Basin, Sabarmati-Tapti River Basin and Indus River Basin.