Mahanadi
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Overview
The Mahanadi rises near Sihawa in Chhattisgarh and flows east into Odisha, where the Hirakud dam stands on it and it builds a large delta around Cuttack before reaching the Bay of Bengal.
It is one of the four big east-flowing peninsular rivers that form deltas, with the Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri. A Mahanadi water disputes tribunal was set up in 2018.
Geography and key facts
- Source: near Sihawa (Chhattisgarh)
- Hirakud dam in Odisha
- Delta near Cuttack, on the Bay of Bengal
- About 860 km long
- Water disputes tribunal: 2018
Why it matters for UPSC
A common trap is its source: the Mahanadi rises in Chhattisgarh, not at Amarkantak (2006, 2007). Questions also ask the length order of peninsular rivers (2003) and the north-to-south order of east-flowing rivers (2002).
Note for UPSC
Rises near Sihawa (Chhattisgarh) and forms a large delta in Odisha; Hirakud dam is on it.
Prelims asks about tributaries, the states a river flows through, its basin and the projects on it, so trace the course on the map.
Asked in PYQs
- UPSC Prelims 2025 · Q17With reference to ancient India (600–322 BC), consider the following pairs : Territorial region : River flowing in the region I. Asmaka : Godavari II. Kamboja : Vipas III…
- UPSC Prelims 2016 · Q85Recently, linking of which of the following rivers was undertaken?…
- UPSC Prelims 2007 · Q82Which one among the following rivers originates at Amarkantak?…
- UPSC Prelims 2006 · Q70Which one of the following statements is not correct?…
- UPSC Prelims 2003 · Q78What is the correct sequence of the rivers—Godavari, Mahanadi, Narmada and Tapti in the descending order of their lengths?…
- UPSC Prelims 2002 · Q89The correct sequence of the eastward flowing rivers of the peninsular India from north to south is…
- UPSC Prelims 1998 · Q67Which one of the following east-flowing rivers of India has a rift valley due to down-warping?…
- UPSC Prelims 1997 · Q23The Alamatti Dam is on the river…
Questions from our Prelims bank whose text names Mahanadi.
Key facts
- Type
- River
- States / UTs on its course
- Odisha, Chhattisgarh
- River system
- Peninsular
- Basin
- Mahanadi
- Extent on map
- 20.3°–21.7°N, 81.4°–86.7°E
- Asked in Prelims
- 8 questions · 2025, 2016, 2007, 2006, 2003, 2002, 1998, 1997
From the Map Explorer data; positions are for orientation.