The Indian River System is one of the most important topics studied in geography. Every year, questions are asked from it in all the competitive exams, all the candidates who are preparing for UPSC, JKPSC, JKSSB, banking, and railway exams. This is a must topic to be studied for the examination. These MCQs have been carefully researched and curated and serve as a very good means for last-minute revisions. All the candidates who are searching for a crisp material torevise the topic of river systems this is a perfect piece of material of them.
Q1. Of the following peninsular rivers, which one runs in a westward direction and forms an estuary at its mouth before it drains into the Arabian Sea?
Mahanadi
Godavari
Krishna
Narmada
Answer: Narmada
Rationale: Most of the large peninsular rivers like Godavari and Krishna flow towards east to the Bay of Bengal. Narmada and Tapi are exceptions; they flow in the west through rift valleys. The Narmada and Tapi form estuary instead of delta at their mouth.
Q2. The well-known ‘Sagar Island’ is located at the mouth of which major river of India?
Brahmaputra
Indus
Ganga (Hooghly)
Mahanadi
Answer: Ganga (Hooghly)
Rationale: Sagar Island is a well-known pilgrimage site located at the mouth of the Hooghly River, a distributary of the Ganga, located just before the river meets the Bay of Bengal. This site lies in the Ganga-Brahmaputra Delta system.
Q3. Which river is also referred to as ‘Sorrow of Bihar’ due to frequent shifting of channels and floods?
Damodar
Gandak
Kosi
Ghaghara
Answer: Kosi
Simple Talk Explanation: Kosi River is known to shift its course regularly and cause the worst flooding in Bihar. It transports huge volumes of silt from the Himalayas, leading to frequent channel shifting, hence the name “Sorrow of Bihar.”
Q4. Before entering India and Bangladesh, what is the upstream course of river Brahmaputra known as, in Tibet?
Dihang
Manas
Yarlung Tsangpo
Padma
Answer: Yarlung Tsangpo
Simple Talk Explanation: The Brahmaputra begins in Tibet, where it is called the Yarlung Tsangpo. After taking a sharp U-turn around Namcha Barwa, it enters India as Siang/Dihang and becomes the Brahmaputra in Assam.
Q5. Which river is the longest tributary of the Ganga?
Son
Damodar
Yamuna
Kosi
Answer: Yamuna
Explanation: The Yamuna is the longest and most significant tributary of the Ganga. The two rivers meet at Prayagraj (Allahabad), an important pilgrimage site.
Q6. The Indus River originates from which famous lake in the Tibetan Plateau?
Chilika Lake
Wular Lake
Mansarovar Lake
Pangong Tso
Answer: Mansarovar Lake
Explanation: The Indus River, along with the Sutlej and Brahmaputra, originates near the holy Mansarovar Lake in the Kailash Range of the Tibetan Plateau.
Q7. Which major peninsular river forms the famous Jog Falls, one of the highest plunge waterfalls in India?
Narmada
Godavari
Sharavathi
Kaveri
Answer: Sharavathi
Simple Talk Explanation: The majestic Jog Falls are created by the Sharavathi River in Karnataka. Though not very long, it forms one of the highest waterfalls in India.
Q8. The river Luni is unique among major Indian rivers because of which characteristic?
It is the only river that flows northwards.
It flows into the Bay of Bengal.
It is a perennial (year-round) river.
It is an inland drainage river, and it never meets the sea.
Answer: It is an inland drainage river, and it never meets the sea.
Simple Talk Explanation: The Luni River rises in the Aravallis and ends in the marshy Rann of Kutch, forming an inland drainage basin instead of reaching the sea.
Q9. The Hirakud Dam, recognized as one of the longest earth dams on Earth, is constructed on which river?
Krishna
Damodar
Mahanadi
Godavari
Answer: Mahanadi
Simple Talk Explanation: The Hirakud Dam is built on the Mahanadi River in Odisha. It provides flood control, irrigation, and hydropower.
Q10. The Doodhganga, a tributary of a major river, flows through the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Which major river does it join?
Chenab
Jhelum
Ravi
Indus
Answer: Jhelum
Simple Talk Explanation: The Doodhganga joins the Jhelum River near Srinagar. The Jhelum is one of the major western tributaries of the Indus system.
Q11. The city of Hyderabad is located on the banks of which river?
Godavari
Krishna
Musi
Tungabhadra
Answer: Musi
Simple Talk Explanation: Hyderabad, the capital of Telangana, lies on the banks of the Musi River, a tributary of the Krishna River.
Q12. What is the name of the distributary branch of the Ganga River that runs entirely through West Bengal and flows through Kolkata?
Padma
Jamuna
Hooghly
Meghna
Answer: Hooghly
Simple Talk Explanation: The Ganga splits near Farakka. Its western distributary, the Hooghly River, flows through Kolkata and meets the Bay of Bengal.
Q13. What are the names of the two big rivers that flow through rift valleys in India?
Ganga and Yamuna
Mahanadi and Godavari
Narmada and Tapi (Tapti)
Krishna and Kaveri
Answer: Narmada and Tapi (Tapti)
Simple Talk Explanation: The Narmada and Tapi flow westward through rift valleys formed by faulting in the Earth’s crust, unlike most east-flowing peninsular rivers.
Q14. The Bhavani, Amravathi, and Hemavathi are the main tributaries of which South Indian river?
Godavari
Krishna
Kaveri
Periyar
Answer: Kaveri
Simple Talk Explanation: The Kaveri River flows through Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Bhavani, Amravathi, and Hemavathi are its major tributaries.
Q15. The Dharwar Craton, a very ancient shield area in peninsular India, is primarily drained by which river system?
Indus
Ganga
Godavari
Krishna
Answer: Krishna
Brief Explanation: The Krishna River drains the central Deccan Plateau, covering parts of the Dharwar Craton, one of India’s oldest geological regions.
Q16. The Indus Water Treaty (1960) allocated the waters of which three eastern rivers exclusively to India?
Indus, Chenab, and Jhelum
Sutlej, Ravi, and Chenab
Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej
Jhelum, Beas, and Ravi
Answer: Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej
Brief Explanation: Under the Indus Water Treaty, the eastern rivers Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej were allocated to India, while Pakistan received the western rivers Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab.
Q17. Which river originates in Vembanad Lake and flows entirely within the state of Kerala?
Bharathappuzha
Periyar
Pamba
Meenachil
Answer: Pamba
Simple Talk Explanation: The Pamba River originates in the Western Ghats and flows through Kerala into Vembanad Lake. It is sacred for the Sabarimala Temple located on its banks.
Q18. The river Chambal is famous for making deep ravines and badland topography throughout its course. The Chambal is a tributary of which river?
Narmada
Mahi
Ganga
Yamuna
Answer: Yamuna
Simple Talk Explanation: The Chambal River creates rugged ravines and joins the Yamuna River. It flows through Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.
Q19. What is the combined name of the Ganga (Padma) and the Brahmaputra (Jamuna) when it reaches Bangladesh and approaches the Bay of Bengal?
Surma
Barak
Meghna
Jamuna
Answer: Meghna
Simple Talk Explanation: In Bangladesh, the Ganga becomes the Padma, and the Brahmaputra becomes the Jamuna. After merging, they flow into the Bay of Bengal as the Meghna River.
Q20. Which river system is called the ‘Dakshin Ganga’ (Ganga of the South) due to its long length and importance in South India?
Krishna
Godavari
Kaveri
Mahanadi
Answer: Godavari
Simple Talk Explanation: The Godavari is the longest river in Peninsular India and is often called the ‘Dakshin Ganga’ because of its large basin and cultural significance.
Conclusion:
All of the above-mentioned MCQs are ideal for cracking any competitive exam in 2025–2026. Candidates should go through them carefully and prepare strategically for success.
