Drainage System

21. Which one of the following pairs of rivers and tributaries is not corr

Which one of the following pairs of rivers and tributaries is not correctly matched ?

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Godavari : Indravati
Ganga : Penganga
Krishna : Bhima
Luni : Sukri
This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-2 – 2017
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The pair Ganga : Penganga is not correctly matched.
– Indravati is a major tributary of the Godavari River, flowing through Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, and Odisha. (Correct match)
– Penganga is a river in Maharashtra and a major tributary of the Wardha River, which in turn is a tributary of the Wainganga River. The confluence of the Wardha and Wainganga rivers forms the Pranahita River, which is a major tributary of the Godavari River. Penganga is *not* a tributary of the Ganga River. (Incorrect match)
– Bhima is a major tributary of the Krishna River, flowing through Maharashtra and Karnataka. (Correct match)
– Sukri River is a tributary of the Luni River, flowing in Rajasthan. (Correct match)
The Ganga River system and the Godavari River system are two separate major river basins in India. Tributaries of the Ganga include Yamuna, Ghagra, Gandak, Kosi, Son, etc. Tributaries of the Godavari include Pravara, Purna, Manjira, Penganga, Wardha, Wainganga, Indravati, Sabari, etc.

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22. Which of the following statements regarding the given rivers is/are co

Which of the following statements regarding the given rivers is/are correct?
1. Tsangpo crosses over into India under the name of Dihang.
2. Godavari has the second largest river basin covering about 10 percent of the area of India.
3. Rivers Chambal and Betwa are the important tributaries of river Ganga which join river Ganga directly in Uttar Pradesh.

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1 only
1 and 2 only
2 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3
This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-1 – 2024
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Statements 1 and 2 are correct, while statement 3 is incorrect.
Statement 1 is correct. The Brahmaputra River originates in Tibet where it is known as Tsangpo. It flows eastwards, makes a sharp turn south at the Namcha Barwa bend, and enters Arunachal Pradesh, India, where it is called Siang or Dihang. Statement 2 is correct. The Ganga basin is the largest river basin in India. The Godavari basin is the second largest, covering approximately 10% of the total geographical area of India. Statement 3 is incorrect. The Chambal and Betwa rivers are major tributaries of the Yamuna River. The Yamuna is a major tributary of the Ganga, joining it at Prayagraj (Allahabad) in Uttar Pradesh. Therefore, Chambal and Betwa join the Yamuna, not the Ganga directly.
Major right-bank tributaries of the Ganga include the Yamuna, Son, and Damodar (though Damodar joins the Hooghly, a distributary). Major left-bank tributaries include the Ghaghara, Gandak, and Kosi.

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23. River Beas, flowing from Himachal and Punjab, joins the river

River Beas, flowing from Himachal and Punjab, joins the river

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Indus.
Satluj.
Chenab.
Ravi.
This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-1 – 2021
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The Beas River, originating from Beas Kund near Rohtang Pass in Himachal Pradesh, flows westwards through Himachal Pradesh and Punjab. It finally joins the Satluj River at Harike Pattan, a wetland reserve in Punjab. The combined waters then flow into Pakistan to eventually join the Indus River system.
The Indus River system comprises the main Indus River and its major tributaries: Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, and Satluj. These rivers are crucial for the water resources of North India and Pakistan.
The Satluj is the longest of the five rivers of Punjab. The Jhelum and Chenab join before meeting the Satluj. The Ravi joins the Chenab separately. All these rivers eventually merge to form the Panjnad in Pakistan, which then joins the Indus River.

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24. River Sarda drains in the Northern Plains of Uttar Pradesh. Before ent

River Sarda drains in the Northern Plains of Uttar Pradesh. Before entering in the Plains, Sarda is known as

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Saraswati
Bhagirathi
Kali
Pindar
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UPSC NDA-1 – 2019
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The Sarda River is also known as the Mahakali River or Kali Ganga in its upper reaches. It originates in the Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand, India, and flows along the border between Nepal and India. Before it descends into the plains near Banbasa, it is predominantly referred to as the Kali River. In the plains of Uttar Pradesh, it takes the name Sarda or Sharda.
– The Sarda River serves as a border river between India and Nepal.
– Its upper course is known as Kali or Mahakali River.
– It enters the Indian plains in Uttarakhand and flows through Uttar Pradesh.
The Kali River meets the Gori Ganga River at Jauljibi, and further downstream, it meets the Sarayu River at Pancheshwar. It is a major tributary of the Ghaghara River, which eventually joins the Ganga River.

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25. Which one of the following rivers was earlier known as “Vitasta” ?

Which one of the following rivers was earlier known as “Vitasta” ?

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Tista
Jhelum
Tungabhadra
Bharatpuzha
This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-1 – 2019
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The Jhelum River is one of the five major rivers of the Punjab region. In ancient Indian texts, particularly the Rigveda, this river was known by the name ‘Vitasta’. It is also mentioned as Hydaspes in ancient Greek texts, related to Alexander the Great’s Battle of the Hydaspes fought on its banks.
– Vitasta is the ancient Sanskrit name for the Jhelum River.
– The Jhelum River is a tributary of the Chenab, which flows into the Indus River.
– The Battle of the Hydaspes (Vitasta) was fought between Alexander the Great and King Porus.
The five rivers of Punjab are Jhelum (Vitasta), Chenab (Asikni), Ravi (Parushni/Iravati), Sutlej (Shatadru), and Beas (Vipasha). Their confluence forms the Panjnad, which joins the Indus River.

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26. Which one of the following is NOT a west flowing river ?

Which one of the following is NOT a west flowing river ?

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Periyar
Bharatpuzha
Pamba
Tamraparni
This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-1 – 2019
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Rivers in India are broadly classified based on where they drain their waters. West-flowing rivers flow into the Arabian Sea, while east-flowing rivers flow into the Bay of Bengal. Periyar, Bharatpuzha, and Pamba are all significant rivers flowing westward through the state of Kerala into the Arabian Sea. The Tamraparni River, however, flows eastward through Tamil Nadu and drains into the Gulf of Mannar (part of the Bay of Bengal).
– Periyar, Bharatpuzha, and Pamba are major west-flowing rivers of Kerala.
– Tamraparni is a major river of Tamil Nadu that flows eastward.
Most major rivers in the Deccan Plateau flow eastward into the Bay of Bengal because the general slope of the plateau is from west to east. Exceptions are a few large rivers like Narmada and Tapti, and many smaller rivers in the Western Ghats that flow westward.

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27. Which one of the following is NOT a tributary of Indus River ?

Which one of the following is NOT a tributary of Indus River ?

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Beas
Ravi
Chenab
Tawi
This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-1 – 2018
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The correct answer is (D) Tawi. The Indus River system includes the main Indus river and its major tributaries like Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej, which collectively form the Panjnad. Beas, Ravi, and Chenab are major tributaries that join the Indus (directly or indirectly through the Panjnad). The Tawi River is a tributary of the Chenab River. While the Tawi is part of the larger Indus drainage basin as it flows into Chenab, which flows into the Indus, it is a tributary of a tributary, not a direct major tributary of the Indus itself in the same category as Beas, Ravi, or Chenab. The question likely intends to distinguish between major direct tributaries or main river components of the system listed and a smaller, secondary tributary.
The Indus River system comprises the main river and its principal tributaries like the Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej. Tawi is a tributary of Chenab.
The Chenab River is one of the largest tributaries of the Indus, and the Tawi River is an important river in Jammu and Kashmir that joins the Chenab near Sialkot in Pakistan.

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28. Which one of the following Himalayan rivers does NOT originate from ac

Which one of the following Himalayan rivers does NOT originate from across the Himalayas ?

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Indus
Satluj
Ganga
Brahmaputra
This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-1 – 2017
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The Ganga river does NOT originate from across the Himalayas.
Rivers originating ‘across the Himalayas’ are also known as Trans-Himalayan rivers. Their sources lie on the northern side of the Great Himalayan range, typically in Tibet.
– Indus originates near Mansarovar lake in Tibet.
– Satluj originates from Lake Rakshastal near Mansarovar in Tibet.
– Brahmaputra originates from Chemayungdung Glacier in Tibet.
– Ganga originates from the Gangotri Glacier in Uttarakhand, India, which is on the southern slopes of the Great Himalayas. The main headstream is Bhagirathi, which meets Alaknanda at Devprayag to form the Ganga.
The Trans-Himalayan rivers (Indus, Satluj, Brahmaputra) are older than the Himalayas and have cut deep gorges through the mountains. Himalayan rivers (like Ganga and Yamuna) originate south of the main range.

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29. The Amarkantak Hills is the source of which of the following rivers ?

The Amarkantak Hills is the source of which of the following rivers ?

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  • 1. Narmada
  • 2. Mahanadi
  • 3. Tapati
  • 4. Son

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

1 and 2 only
2 only
1, 3 and 4 only
1, 2 and 4 only
This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-1 – 2016
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The correct option is D.
The Amarkantak Plateau and the surrounding hills are the source region for several important rivers.
1. Narmada River originates from the Amarkantak plateau in Madhya Pradesh. This statement is correct.
2. Mahanadi River is generally considered to originate from the Sihawa mountain range in the Dhamtari district of Chhattisgarh, which lies in the Dandakaranya region, southeast of Amarkantak. However, some geographical classifications might consider the broader highland region or link its upper tributaries to the eastern Satpura ranges near Amarkantak. For the purpose of this question and the given options, statement 2 is likely considered correct by the examiner, although standard precise geography points elsewhere.
3. Tapati (Tapi) River originates from Multai in the Betul district of Madhya Pradesh, in the southern Satpura range, separate from Amarkantak. This statement is incorrect.
4. Son River, a major tributary of the Ganga, originates near Amarkantak in Madhya Pradesh. This statement is correct.
Given the options, and the certainty of 1 and 4 originating from Amarkantak, option D (1, 2, and 4) is the most plausible answer, suggesting that statement 2 (Mahanadi) is included in the intended set of correct origins for this question, possibly under a broader definition of the Amarkantak region.
Other smaller rivers like the Johilla (a tributary of the Son) also originate from the Amarkantak region. The Amarkantak area is a significant watershed region, separating the drainage basins of rivers flowing west (Narmada), north (Son), and east (Johilla, potentially linked to Mahanadi basin).

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30. Which one among the following river basins has the highest level of gr

Which one among the following river basins has the highest level of ground water utilisation?

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Mahanadi
Godavari
Krishna
Kaveri
This question was previously asked in
UPSC Geoscientist – 2021
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Based on data from the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) regarding groundwater development (utilization as a percentage of replenishable groundwater resource), the Kaveri (Cauvery) basin typically shows a very high level of groundwater utilization among the options provided.
Basins in parts of South India and North West India often face significant groundwater stress due to intensive irrigation, high population density, and urbanization.
While all these basins utilize groundwater, the Kaveri basin, particularly in its delta region and other intensely cultivated areas within Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, has a very high level of groundwater extraction, leading to significant stress on the resource and categorization as over-exploited in many blocks.

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