Drainage System of India — GK Questions with Answers

1. Which of these west-flowing rivers flows between two mountain ranges? (UPPCS 2012)
   1. Sharavati
   2. Narmada
   3. Mahi
   4. Sabarmati
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   Answer: (B) Narmada

   The Narmada flows in a rift valley between the Vindhya and Satpura.

2. Correctly matched pairs — 1. Kapildhara — Godavari 2. Jog — Sharavati 3. Shivasamudram — Kaveri (IAS 2008)
   1. 1 and 2
   2. 2 and 3
   3. 1 and 3
   4. All three
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   Answer: (B) 2 and 3

   Kapildhara is on the Narmada.

3. Which river is not a tributary of the Yamuna? (UPPCS 2010)
   1. Betwa
   2. Chambal
   3. Ken
   4. Ramganga
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   Answer: (D) Ramganga

   The Ramganga joins the Ganga directly (near Kannauj).

4. Which of these has the largest catchment area? (UPPCS 2009)
   1. Narmada
   2. Mahanadi
   3. Godavari
   4. Krishna
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   Answer: (C) Godavari

   Godavari ≈ 3.13 lakh sq km.

5. The Ganga tributary that rises in the plains? (UP Lower 2008)
   1. Son
   2. Sarda / Saryu
   3. Gomti
   4. Ramganga
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   Answer: (C) Gomti

   The Gomti rises in the plains near Pilibhit.

6. Which river rises at Amarkantak? (IAS 2007)
   1. Damodar
   2. Mahanadi
   3. Narmada
   4. Tapi
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   Answer: (C) Narmada

   The Narmada (and Son) rise at Amarkantak; the Mahanadi at Sihawa, the Tapi at Multai.

7. Correct descending order of length? (IAS 2003)
   1. Godavari-Mahanadi-Narmada-Tapi
   2. Godavari-Narmada-Mahanadi-Tapi
   3. Narmada-Godavari-Tapi-Mahanadi
   4. Narmada-Tapi-Godavari-Mahanadi
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   Answer: (B) Godavari-Narmada-Mahanadi-Tapi

   1,465 > 1,312 > 851 > 724 km.

8. Which pair is not correctly matched? (IAS 2010)
   1. Gobind Sagar — Sutlej
   2. Kolleru lake — Krishna
   3. Ukai reservoir — Tapi
   4. Wular lake — Jhelum
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   Answer: (B) Kolleru lake — Krishna

   Kolleru lies between the Godavari and Krishna deltas.

9. Statements — 1. Kerala has no east-flowing rivers. 2. Madhya Pradesh has no west-flowing rivers. Correct? (IAS 2009)
   1. 1 only
   2. Both 1 and 2
   3. 2 only
   4. Neither 1 nor 2
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   Answer: (D) Neither 1 nor 2

   In Kerala the Kabini-Bhavani flow east; in MP the Narmada-Tapi flow west.

10. Which are tributaries of the Godavari? 1. Vamsadhara 2. Indravati 3. Pranhita 4. Penner (IAS 2015)
    1. 1, 2 and 3
    2. 2, 3 and 4
    3. 1, 2 and 4
    4. 2 and 3 only
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    Answer: (D) 2 and 3 only

    The Vamsadhara and Penner are independent rivers.

11. Why does the Brahmaputra take a U-turn just before entering India? (IAS 2011)
    1. Uplift of folded ranges
    2. Syntaxial bending of the geologically young Himalaya
    3. Tectonic disturbance in Tertiary fold mountains
    4. Both (a) and (b)
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    Answer: (B) Syntaxial bending of the geologically young Himalaya

    Near Namcha Barwa the Himalayan ranges themselves bend sharply.

12. India's first river-linking project, whose foundation stone was laid in December 2024?
    1. Parbati-Kalisindh-Chambal
    2. Ken-Betwa
    3. Mahanadi-Godavari
    4. Damanganga-Pinjal
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    Answer: (B) Ken-Betwa

    From the Daudhan dam (Ken) to Barua Sagar (Betwa).

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