Geography › Indian Rivers & Water Resources – UPSC Prelims PYQs

49 questions · 1996–2026 · answers as per the UPSC key

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Identify the river of the Indian sub-continent on the basis of the following information :

  1. It has an antecedent drainage system.
  2. It flows through three countries.
  3. It originates in the Tibetan Plateau and is an important river for irrigation.
  4. It does not form distributaries.

Select the answer from the following :

(a) Brahmaputra
(b) Indus
(c) Sutlej
(d) Teesta
Show answer
Answer: (c) Sutlej

With reference to the Himalayan rivers joining the Ganga downstream of Prayagraj from West to East, which one of the following sequences is correct ?

(a) Ghaghara – Gomati – Gandak – Kosi
(b) Gomati – Ghaghara – Gandak – Kosi
(c) Ghaghara – Gomati – Kosi – Gandak
(d) Gomati – Ghaghara – Kosi – Gandak
Show answer
Answer: (b) Gomati – Ghaghara – Gandak – Kosi

Consider the following statements :

  1. Jhelum River passes through Wular Lake.
  2. Krishna River directly feeds Kolleru Lake.
  3. Meandering of Gandak River formed Kanwar Lake.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
Show answer
Answer: (a) Only one

Which one of the following is a part of the Congo Basin?

(a) Cameroon
(b) Nigeria
(c) South Sudan
(d) Uganda
Show answer
Answer: (a) Cameroon

Consider the following pairs :

  1. Ghataprabha — Telangana
  2. Gandhi Sagar — Madhya Pradesh
  3. Indira Sagar — Andhra Pradesh
  4. Maithon — Chhattisgarh

Reservoirs

How many pairs given above are not correctly matched ?

(a) Only one pair
(b) Only two pairs
(c) Only three pairs
(d) All four pairs
Show answer
Answer: (c) Only three pairs

With reference to the Indus river system, of the following four rivers, three of them pour into one of them which joins the Indus direct. Among the following, which one is such river that joins the Indus direct?

(a) Chenab
(b) Jhelum
(c) Ravi
(d) Sutlej
Show answer
Answer: (d) Sutlej

Consider the following rivers :

  1. Brahmani
  2. Nagavali
  3. Subarnarekha
  4. Vamsadhara

Which of the above rise from the Eastern Ghats?

(a) 1 and 2
(b) 2 and 4
(c) 3 and 4
(d) 1 and 3
Show answer
Answer: (b) 2 and 4

Consider the following pairs : Famous place River

  1. Pandharpur : Chandrabhaga
  2. Tiruchirappalli : Cauvery
  3. Hampi : Malaprabha

Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3

What is common to the places known as Aliyar, Isapur and Kangsabati?

(a) Recently discovered uranium deposits
(b) Tropical rain forests
(c) Underground cave systems
(d) Water reservoirs
Show answer
Answer: (d) Water reservoirs

With reference to river Teesta, consider the following statements :

  1. The source of river Teesta is the same as that of Brahmaputra but it flows through Sikkim.
  2. River Rangeet originates in Sikkim and it is a tributary of river Teesta.
  3. River Teesta flows into Bay of Bengal on the border of India and Bangladesh.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

(a) 1 and 3 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Answer: (b) 2 only

Which of the following is/are tributary/tributaries of Brahmaputra?

  1. Dibang
  2. Kameng
  3. Lohit

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3

Recently, linking of which of the following rivers was undertaken?

(a) Cauvery and Tungabhadra
(b) Godavari and Krishna
(c) Mahanadi and Sone
(d) Narmada and Tapti
Show answer
Answer: (b) Godavari and Krishna

Consider the following rivers :

  1. Vamsadhara
  2. Indravati
  3. Pranahita
  4. Pennar

Which of the above are tributaries of Godavari?

(a) 1, 2 and 3
(b) 2, 3 and 4
(c) 1, 2 and 4
(d) 2 and 3 only
Show answer
Answer: (d) 2 and 3 only

Consider the following rivers :

  1. Barak
  2. Lohit
  3. Subansiri

Which of the above flows/flow through Arunachal Pradesh?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Answer: (b) 2 and 3 only

The Narmada river flows to the west, while most other large peninsular rivers flow to the east. Why?

  1. It occupies a linear rift valley.
  2. It flows between the Vindhyas and the Satpuras.
  3. The land slopes to the west from Central India.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) None
Show answer
Answer: (a) 1 only

Rivers that pass through Himachal Pradesh are

(a) Beas and Chenab only
(b) Beas and Ravi only
(c) Chenab, Ravi and Satluj only
(d) Beas, Chenab, Ravi, Satluj and Yamuna
Show answer
Answer: (d) Beas, Chenab, Ravi, Satluj and Yamuna

With reference to the river Luni,

which one of the following statements is correct?

(a) It flows into Gulf of Khambhat
(b) It flows into Gulf of Kuchchh
(c) It flows into Pakistan and merges with a tributary of Indus
(d) It is lost in the marshy land of the Rann of Kuchchh
Show answer
Answer: (d) It is lost in the marshy land of the Rann of Kuchchh

Which one of the following pairs is not correctly matched? Dam/Lake — River

(a) Govind Sagar : Satluj
(b) Kolleru Lake : Krishna
(c) Ukai Reservoir : Tapi
(d) Wular Lake : Jhelum
Show answer
Answer: (b) Kolleru Lake : Krishna

Which one of the following rivers does not originate in India ?

(a) Beas
(b) Chenab
(c) Ravi
(d) Sutlej
Show answer
Answer: (d) Sutlej

At

which one of the following places do two important rivers of India originate; while one of them flows towards north and merges with another important river flowing towards Bay of Bengal, the other one flows towards Arabian Sea ?

(a) Amarkantak
(b) Badrinath
(c) Mahabaleshwar
(d) Nasik
Show answer
Answer: (a) Amarkantak

Consider the following statements:

  1. There are no east flowing rivers in Kerala.
  2. There are no west flowing rivers in Madhya Pradesh.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Show answer
Answer: (d) Neither 1 nor 2

Consider the following statements :

  1. The Baglihar Power Project had been constructed within the parameters of the Indus Water Treaty.
  2. The project was completely built by the Union Government with loans from Japan and the World Bank.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Show answer
Answer: (a) 1 only

The Dul Hasti Power Station is based on which one of the following rivers ?

(a) Beas
(b) Chenab
(c) Ravi
(d) Sutlej
Show answer
Answer: (b) Chenab

Consider the following pairs: Tributary River – Main River

  1. Chambal : Narmada
  2. Sone : Yamuna
  3. Manas : Brahmaputra

Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

(a) 1, 2 and 3
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 3 only
Show answer
Answer: (d) 3 only

On which one of the following rivers is the Tehri Hydropower Complex located?

(a) Alaknanda
(b) Bhagirathi
(c) Dhauliganga
(d) Mandakini
Show answer
Answer: (b) Bhagirathi

Which of the following pairs are correctly matched? Waterfalls — River

  1. Kapildhara Falls : Godavari
  2. Jog Falls : Sharavati
  3. Sivasamudram Falls : Cauvery

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Answer: (b) 2 and 3 only

Which of the following pairs are correctly matched? Irrigation Project — State

  1. Damanganga : Gujarat
  2. Girna : Maharashtra
  3. Pamba : Kerala

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3

Where are Tapovan and Vishnugarh Hydroelectric Projects located?

(a) Madhya Pradesh
(b) Uttar Pradesh
(c) Uttarakhand
(d) Rajasthan
Show answer
Answer: (c) Uttarakhand

With

which one of the following rivers is the Omkareshwar Project associated?

(a) Chambal
(b) Narmada
(c) Tapi
(d) Bhima
Show answer
Answer: (b) Narmada

Assertion (A): River Kalinadi is an east-flowing river in the southern part of India.

Reason (R): The Deccan Plateau is higher along its western edge and gently slopes towards the Bay of Bengal in the east.

(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
(b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A
(c) A is true but R is false
(d) A is false but R is true
Show answer
Answer: (d) A is false but R is true

Which one among the following rivers originates at Amarkantak?

(a) Damodar
(b) Mahanadi
(c) Narmada
(d) Tapi
Show answer
Answer: (c) Narmada

Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists :

  1. Indravati
  2. Narmada
  3. Shipra
  4. Tapti

List-I (Town) A. Betul B. Jagdalpur C. Jabalpur D. Ujjain

List-II (River)

(a) A-1 B-4 C-2 D-3
(b) A-4 B-1 C-2 D-3
(c) A-4 B-1 C-3 D-2
(d) A-1 B-4 C-3 D-2
Show answer
Answer: (b) A-4 B-1 C-2 D-3

From north towards south,

which one of the following is the correct sequence of the given rivers in India?

(a) Shyok - Spiti - Zaskar - Satluj
(b) Shyok - Zaskar - Spiti - Satluj
(c) Zaskar - Shyok - Satluj - Spiti
(d) Zaskar - Satluj - Shyok - Spiti
Show answer
Answer: (b) Shyok - Zaskar - Spiti - Satluj

Gandhi Sagar Dam is a part of which one of the following?

(a) Chambal Project
(b) Kosi Project
(c) Damodar Valley Project
(d) Bhakra Nangal Project
Show answer
Answer: (a) Chambal Project

Consider the following statements:

  1. Damodar Valley Corporation is the first multipurpose river valley project of independent India.
  2. Damodar Valley Corporation includes thermal and gas power stations.

Which of these statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Show answer
Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2

Assertion (A): West-flowing rivers of Peninsular India have no deltas.

Reason (R): These rivers do not carry any alluvial sediment.

(a) Both A and R are individually true and R is the correct explanation of A
(b) Both A and R are individually true but R is not the correct explanation of A
(c) A is true but R is false
(d) A is false but R is true
Show answer
Answer: (c) A is true but R is false

What is the correct sequence of the rivers—Godavari, Mahanadi, Narmada and Tapti in the descending order of their lengths?

(a) Godavari—Mahanadi—Narmada—Tapti
(b) Godavari—Narmada—Mahanadi—Tapti
(c) Narmada—Godavari—Tapti—Mahanadi
(d) Narmada—Tapti—Godavari—Mahanadi
Show answer
Answer: (b) Godavari—Narmada—Mahanadi—Tapti

The correct sequence of the eastward flowing rivers of the peninsular India from north to south is

(a) Subarnarekha, Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Pennar, Cauvery and Vagai
(b) Subarnarekha, Mahanadi, Godavari, Cauvery, Vagai, Pennar
(c) Mahanadi, Subarnarekha, Godavari, Krishna, Cauvery, Pennar and Vagai
(d) Mahanadi, Subarnarekha, Krishna, Godavari, Cauvery, Vagai and Pennar
Show answer
Answer: (a) Subarnarekha, Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Pennar, Cauvery and Vagai

Which one of the following statements is not true?

(a) Ghaggar’s water is utilised in the Indira Gandhi Canal
(b) Narmada rises from Amarkantak region
(c) Nizam Sagar is situated on the Manjira River
(d) Penganga is a tributary of the Godavari
Show answer
Answer: (a) Ghaggar’s water is utilised in the Indira Gandhi Canal

Assertion (A): The frequency of floods in North Indian plains has increased during the last couple of decades.

Reason (R): There has been reduction in the depth of river valleys due to deposition of silt.

(a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
(b) Both A and R are true, but R is not a correct explanation of A
(c) A is true, but R is false
(d) A is false, but R is true
Show answer
Answer: (a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A

In the given figure, the site of the Tehri dam has been labelled as

(a) A
(b) B
(c) C
(d) D
Show answer
Answer: (c) C
This question uses a table or figure from the original paper that is not reproduced here.

Match List I with List II

and select the correct answer using the codes given below the Lists:

List I (Rivers) I. Cauvery II. Krishna III. Narmada IV. Chambal

List II (Dams) A) Alamatti B) Mettur C) Gandhi Sagar D) Sardar Sarovar

(a) I-A, II-D, III-B, IV-C
(b) I-B, II-A, III-D, IV-C
(c) I-B, II-A, III-C, IV-D
(d) I-A, II-C, III-D, IV-B
Show answer
Answer: (b) I-B, II-A, III-D, IV-C

Which one of the following is the correct sequence of the states (labelled 1, 2, 3 and 4) of India shown on the map in descending order in terms of their available ground-water resources for irrigation? The original map is not available for this question.

(a) 3, 4, 1, 2
(b) 3, 4, 2, 1
(c) 4, 3, 1, 2
(d) 4, 3, 2, 1
Show answer
Answer: (d) 4, 3, 2, 1

Which one of the following east-flowing rivers of India has a rift valley due to down-warping?

(a) Damodar
(b) Mahanadi
(c) Sone
(d) Yamuna
Show answer
Answer: (a) Damodar

The Alamatti Dam is on the river

(a) Godavari
(b) Cauvery
(c) Krishna
(d) Mahanadi
Show answer
Answer: (c) Krishna

The canal carrying capacity of Farakka is

(a) 75,000 cusecs
(b) 70,000 cusecs
(c) 40,000 cusecs
(d) 35,000 cusecs
Show answer
Answer: (c) 40,000 cusecs

In the map shown in the given figure, rivers labelled as 1, 2, 3 and 4 are respectively

(a) Kosi, Gomati, Ghaghara and Gandak
(b) Kosi, Ganga, Gomati and Ghaghara
(c) Gandak, Ganga, Gomati and Ghaghara
(d) Teesta, Gomati, Ghaghara and Kosi
Show answer
Answer: (a) Kosi, Gomati, Ghaghara and Gandak
This question uses a table or figure from the original paper that is not reproduced here.

Which one of the following rivers thrice forks into two streams and reunites a few miles farther on, thus forming the islands of Srirangapattnam, Sivasamudram and Srirangam?

(a) Cauvery
(b) Tungabhadra
(c) Krishna
(d) Godavari
Show answer
Answer: (a) Cauvery

Consider the following rivers: I. Kishenganga II. Ganga III. Wainganga IV. Penganga

The correct sequence of these rivers when arranged in the north-south direction is —

(a) I, II, III, IV
(b) II, I, III, IV
(c) I, II, IV, III
(d) I, III, IV, II
Show answer
Answer: (c) I, II, IV, III