Question

Mapping the Major Rivers of India

India is home to several significant river systems that play a crucial role in the country’s geography, culture, agriculture, and economy. Rivers in India are classified into two primary types: Himalayan Rivers and Peninsular Rivers.

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1. Himalayan Rivers

Himalayan rivers are perennial rivers, meaning they are fed by glaciers and rainfall and flow throughout the year. They originate in the Himalayan mountains and have longer courses. These rivers carry massive amounts of water, eroding rocks and transporting sediments, making them ideal for agriculture in the northern plains.

Major Himalayan Rivers:

1. Ganga (Ganges River)

   • Origin: Gangotri Glacier, Uttarakhand.
   • Length: ~2,525 km.
   • Significance: The holiest river in India, it is vital for irrigation and agriculture. It flows through northern India and Bangladesh, eventually emptying into the Bay of Bengal.
   • Tributaries: Yamuna, Son, Ghaghara, Gandak, Kosi.
   • Cities along the river: Haridwar, Allahabad (Prayagraj), Varanasi, Kolkata.

2. Yamuna River

   • Origin: Yamunotri Glacier, Uttarakhand.
   • Length: ~1,376 km.
   • Significance: The longest tributary of the Ganga; vital for Delhi's water supply.
   • Cities along the river: Delhi, Agra, Mathura.

3. Brahmaputra River

   • Origin: Angsi Glacier, Tibet (China), known as the Yarlung Tsangpo in Tibet.
   • Length: ~2,900 km.
   • Significance: It flows through Tibet, enters India in Arunachal Pradesh, and continues through Assam before entering Bangladesh. It is prone to floods during the monsoon.
   • Tributaries: Dibang, Lohit, Teesta.
   • Cities along the river: Guwahati, Dibrugarh.

4. Indus River

   • Origin: Tibetan Plateau (near Lake Mansarovar).
   • Length: ~3,180 km (in India, 1,114 km).
   • Significance: It flows through Ladakh in India and continues into Pakistan. It is an essential river for agriculture in Pakistan and has historical significance as the cradle of the Indus Valley Civilization.
   • Tributaries: Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, Sutlej.

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2. Peninsular Rivers

Peninsular rivers are seasonal rivers dependent on rainfall, and their flow decreases significantly during the dry season. They originate in the peninsular plateau and have relatively short and swift courses.

Major Peninsular Rivers:

1. Godavari River

   • Origin: Trimbakeshwar, Maharashtra.
   • Length: ~1,465 km.
   • Significance: Known as the "Dakshin Ganga" or Ganga of the South, it is the second-longest river in India. It flows eastward across the Deccan plateau and empties into the Bay of Bengal.
   • Tributaries: Pravara, Manjira, Penganga, Sabari.
   • Cities along the river: Nashik, Nanded, Rajahmundry.

2. Krishna River

   • Origin: Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra.
   • Length: ~1,290 km.
   • Significance: It flows through Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh, supporting agriculture and hydropower.
   • Tributaries: Bhima, Tungabhadra, Musi.
   • Cities along the river: Sangli, Vijayawada.

3. Kaveri (Cauvery) River

   • Origin: Talakaveri, Karnataka.
   • Length: ~800 km.
   • Significance: Known as the "Ganga of the South," it is vital for irrigation in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
   • Tributaries: Kabini, Bhavani, Amravati.
   • Cities along the river: Mysuru, Tiruchirappalli.

4. Narmada River

   • Origin: Amarkantak, Madhya Pradesh.
   • Length: ~1,312 km.
   • Significance: One of the major west-flowing rivers in India, it flows through Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat, finally emptying into the Arabian Sea.
   • Tributaries: Hiran, Tawa, Sher.
   • Cities along the river: Jabalpur, Bharuch.

5. Tapti River

   • Origin: Satpura Range, Madhya Pradesh.
   • Length: ~724 km.
   • Significance: Another major west-flowing river, it parallels the Narmada, flowing through Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat before emptying into the Arabian Sea.
   • Tributaries: Purna, Girna, Gomai.
   • Cities along the river: Surat, Burhanpur.

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3. Coastal Rivers

These rivers are smaller and flow along the eastern and western coasts of India. They are generally short and receive heavy rainfall during the monsoon season.

Notable Coastal Rivers:

• Subarnarekha (Flows through Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Odisha).
• Mahanadi (Originates in Chhattisgarh and flows into the Bay of Bengal).
• Periyar (Originates in Kerala and flows into the Arabian Sea).

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4. Major River Systems and Their Basins

1. Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna System:

• The largest river basin in India, including the rivers Ganga, Brahmaputra, and Meghna, which flow into Bangladesh.
• Area covered: Northern India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh.
• Significance: Major agricultural and densely populated regions of India rely on this river system.

2. Indus River System:

• Includes five major tributaries: Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej.
• Area covered: Punjab in India and Pakistan.
• Significance: The river system sustains agriculture in the Punjab region.

3. Godavari River System:

• The second-largest river basin, covering parts of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Odisha.

4. Krishna River System:

• Flows through Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh.
• Significance: Supports irrigation, hydropower projects like Almatti Dam, Srisailam Dam, and Nagarjuna Sagar Dam.

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Impact of Major Rivers on India

1. Agriculture:

   • Rivers like the Ganga, Godavari, and Krishna are lifelines for irrigation in India, supporting millions of hectares of farmland.

2. Hydropower:

   • Rivers are the source of significant hydropower generation through dams like Bhakra Nangal (Sutlej), Tehri (Bhagirathi, Ganga), Sardar Sarovar (Narmada).

3. Cultural and Religious Significance:

   • The Ganga and Yamuna are revered in Indian culture and religion, with many pilgrimages and festivals centered around them (e.g., Kumbh Mela).

4. Biodiversity:

   • River systems like the Sundarbans Delta (Ganga-Brahmaputra) support rich biodiversity, including mangroves and the Bengal tiger.

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Statement-Based MCQs on Rivers of India

1. Consider the following statements:

   1. The Ganga River originates from the Gangotri Glacier and is the longest river within India.
   2. The Brahmaputra flows through Tibet, India, and Bangladesh before merging with the Ganga.
   3. The Narmada and Tapti rivers are both east-flowing rivers that drain into the Bay of Bengal.

   Which of the above statements is/are correct? a) 1 and 2 only
   b) 2 only
   c) 1, 2, and 3
   d) 1 and 3 only

   Answer: a) 1 and 2 only
   Explanation: Statement 3 is incorrect as both the Narmada and Tapti are west-flowing rivers that drain into the Arabian Sea.

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2. Consider the following statements:

   1. The Godavari River is also known as the "Dakshin Ganga" due to its significance in southern India.
   2. The Yamuna River merges with the Ganga at Prayagraj, forming the Triveni Sangam.
   3. The Krishna River flows westward into the Arabian Sea.

   Which of the above statements is/are correct? a) 1 and 2 only
   b) 1, 2, and 3
   c) 2 and 3 only
   d) 1 and 3 only

   Answer: a) 1 and 2 only
   Explanation: Statement 3 is incorrect as the Krishna River flows eastward into the Bay of Bengal.

Answer 1

1. Match the following rivers with their respective origins:

Rivers	Origins
1. Ganga	a) Yamunotri Glacier, Uttarakhand
2. Yamuna	b) Amarkantak Plateau, Madhya Pradesh
3. Narmada	c) Gangotri Glacier, Uttarakhand
4. Brahmaputra	d) Angsi Glacier, Tibet
5. Godavari	e) Trimbakeshwar, Maharashtra

Options:
a) 1-c, 2-a, 3-b, 4-d, 5-e
b) 1-a, 2-b, 3-c, 4-e, 5-d
c) 1-d, 2-c, 3-b, 4-a, 5-e
d) 1-c, 2-e, 3-d, 4-b, 5-a

Answer: a) 1-c, 2-a, 3-b, 4-d, 5-e

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2. Match the following rivers with their respective major tributaries:

Rivers	Major Tributaries
1. Ganga	a) Tawa, Hiran
2. Yamuna	b) Bhima, Tungabhadra
3. Krishna	c) Son, Gandak, Ghaghara
4. Narmada	d) Kabini, Bhavani
5. Kaveri	e) Chambal, Sindh, Betwa

Options:
a) 1-c, 2-e, 3-b, 4-a, 5-d
b) 1-d, 2-c, 3-a, 4-b, 5-e
c) 1-e, 2-b, 3-c, 4-d, 5-a
d) 1-a, 2-d, 3-e, 4-b, 5-c

Answer: a) 1-c, 2-e, 3-b, 4-a, 5-d

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3. Match the following rivers with the seas or oceans they flow into:

Rivers	Seas/Oceans
1. Godavari	a) Arabian Sea
2. Brahmaputra	b) Bay of Bengal
3. Narmada	c) Indian Ocean
4. Tapti	d) Arabian Sea
5. Krishna	e) Bay of Bengal

Options:
a) 1-b, 2-b, 3-a, 4-d, 5-e
b) 1-c, 2-d, 3-b, 4-a, 5-c
c) 1-e, 2-c, 3-a, 4-d, 5-b
d) 1-b, 2-b, 3-a, 4-d, 5-b

Answer: d) 1-b, 2-b, 3-a, 4-d, 5-b

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4. Match the following rivers with the states they primarily flow through:

Rivers	States
1. Kaveri	a) Gujarat, Maharashtra
2. Krishna	b) Karnataka, Tamil Nadu
3. Godavari	c) Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh
4. Tapti	d) Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh
5. Yamuna	e) Uttarakhand, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh

Options:
a) 1-b, 2-d, 3-c, 4-a, 5-e
b) 1-d, 2-b, 3-a, 4-c, 5-e
c) 1-a, 2-b, 3-c, 4-d, 5-e
d) 1-b, 2-c, 3-d, 4-a, 5-e

Answer: a) 1-b, 2-d, 3-c, 4-a, 5-e

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5. Match the following rivers with their famous dams:

Rivers	Dams
1. Narmada	a) Nagarjuna Sagar Dam
2. Krishna	b) Sardar Sarovar Dam
3. Kaveri	c) Bhakra Nangal Dam
4. Sutlej	d) Mettur Dam
5. Yamuna	e) Tehri Dam

Options:
a) 1-b, 2-a, 3-d, 4-c, 5-e
b) 1-a, 2-b, 3-c, 4-e, 5-d
c) 1-c, 2-e, 3-b, 4-d, 5-a
d) 1-d, 2-c, 3-b, 4-a, 5-e

Answer: a) 1-b, 2-a, 3-d, 4-c, 5-e