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Topics / Geography

Indian Geography Drainage System

Asked 23 times in UPSC Prelims · first asked 1996 · last asked 2025

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With 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. Avanti - Mahanadi IV. Kosala - Sarayu. How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

2025Geography
AOnly one
BOnly two
COnly three
DAll the four

Explanation

In ancient India (600-322 BC), the pairs Kamboja - Vipas and Kosala - Sarayu are correctly matched. Kamboja was located near the Vipas River (Beas River), and Kosala was situated along the Sarayu River (Ghaghara River). The other pairs, Asmaka - Godavari and Avanti - Mahanadi, are not accurately matched as Asmaka was near the Godavari River, and Avanti was not located along the Mahanadi River.

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

2024Geography
AGhaghara – Gomati – Gandak – Kosi
BGomati – Ghaghara – Gandak – Kosi
CGhaghara – Gomati – Kosi – Gandak
DGomati – Ghaghara – Kosi – Gandak

Explanation

The correct sequence of Himalayan rivers joining the Ganga downstream of Prayagraj from West to East is Gomati, Ghaghara, Gandak, and Kosi. Gomati River joins the Ganga first, followed by Ghaghara, then Gandak, and finally Kosi. This sequence is based on the geographical flow and confluence pattern of these rivers in the region.

Consider the following information: Waterfall - Region - River: 1. Dhuandhar - Malwa - Narmada 2. Hundru - Chota Nagpur - Subarnarekha 3. Gersoppa - Western Ghats - Netravati. In how many of the above rows is the given information correctly matched?

2024Geography
AOnly one
BOnly two
CAll three
D

Explanation

Each of the waterfalls mentioned in the question is correctly matched with its respective region and river except for the second row. Hundru waterfall is located in Chota Nagpur but it is not on the Subarnarekha River; rather, it is on the Swarnarekha River. Therefore, only one of the rows has the given information correctly matched.

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?

2023Geography
AOnly one
BOnly two
CAll three
D

Explanation

Jhelum River passes through Wular Lake, making the statement correct. However, Krishna River does not directly feed Kolleru Lake, and the meandering of Gandak River did not form Kanwar Lake.

Consider the following pairs: Reservoirs - States: 1. Ghataprabha - Telangana 2. Gandhi Sagar - Madhya Pradesh 3. Indira Sagar - Andhra Pradesh 4. Maithon - Chhattisgarh. How many pairs given above are not correctly matched?

2022Geography
AOnly one pair
BOnly two pairs
COnly three pairs
DAll four pairs

Explanation

Ghataprabha Reservoir is located in Karnataka, not Telangana. Gandhi Sagar Reservoir is situated in Madhya Pradesh. Indira Sagar Reservoir is in Madhya Pradesh, not Andhra Pradesh. Maithon Reservoir is located in Jharkhand, not Chhattisgarh. Therefore, three out of the four pairs given are not correctly matched.

Gandikota canyon of South India was created by which one of the following rivers?

2022Geography
ACauvery
BManjira
CPennar
DTungabhadra

Explanation

The Gandikota canyon in South India was formed by the Pennar River. The Pennar River flows through the rocky terrain of the Eastern Ghats and has carved out this impressive canyon over time through erosion and weathering processes.

Which one of the following ancient towns is well-known for its elaborate system of water harvesting and management by building a series of dams and channelizing water into connected reservoirs?

2021Geography
ADholavira
BKalibangan
CRakhigarhi
DRopar

Explanation

Dholavira, an ancient town of the Indus Valley Civilization, is renowned for its sophisticated water management system. The inhabitants of Dholavira built dams, reservoirs, and channels to harvest and store water efficiently, showcasing their advanced urban planning and engineering skills.

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?

2021Geography
AChenab
BJhelum
CRavi
DSutlej

Explanation

The Sutlej river is the one among the given options that joins the Indus river directly. The Sutlej, along with the Beas and Ravi rivers, joins the Indus river system in Pakistan.

Consider the following rivers: 1. Brahmani 2. Nagavali 3. Subarnarekha 4. Vamsadhara. Which of the above rise from the Eastern Ghats?

2021Geography
A1 and 2
B2 and 4
C3 and 4
D1 and 3

Explanation

Nagavali and Vamsadhara are the rivers that rise from the Eastern Ghats. These rivers originate in the Eastern Ghats mountain range and flow towards the Bay of Bengal.

Consider the following Pairs: Glacier - River: 1. Bandarpunch : Yamuna 2. Bara Shigri : Chenab 3. Milam : Mandakini 4. Siachen : Nubra 5. Zemu : Manas Which of the following pairs given above are correctly matched?

2019Geography
A1, 2 and 4
B1, 3 and 4
C2 and 5
D3 and 5

Explanation

In the given pairs, the correct matches are Bandarpunch with Yamuna, Bara Shigri with Chenab, and Siachen with Nubra. Therefore, option (a) - 1, 2 and 4 - is the correct answer. Additional Explanation: The Nubra River is sourced from the Siachen Glacier, the Chenab River is fed by the Bara Shigri Glacier, and the Yamuna River is linked to the Bandarpunch Glacier.

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

2016Geography
ACauvery and Tungabhadra
BGodavari and Krishna
CMahanadi and Sone
DNarmada and Tapti

Explanation

In recent times, the linking of the rivers Godavari and Krishna was initiated. This project, known as the Pattiseema project, involves transferring flood water from the Godavari river to the Polavaram right canal, which eventually flows into the Krishna river.

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.

2016Geography
A1 only
B2 and 3 only
C1 and 3 only
D1, 2 and 3

Explanation

In the Brahmaputra River system, the Dibang River and the Lohit River are tributaries that join the main river. Additionally, the Kameng River joins the Brahmaputra in Sonitpur. Therefore, all three rivers - Dibang, Kameng, and Lohit - are tributaries of the Brahmaputra.

Recently Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh governments signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the linking of two rivers as a link project. Which are these two rivers?

2006Geography
ABetwa and Chambal
BBetwa and Ken
CChambal and Son
DKen and Narmada

Explanation

The Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh governments recently agreed to link two rivers through a Memorandum of Understanding. The rivers being linked are Betwa and Ken. Both of these rivers are tributaries of the Yamuna.

The waterfall 'Victoria' is associated with the river:

2003Geography
AAmazon
BMissouri
CSt. Lawrence
DZambezi

Explanation

The famous Victoria Falls is connected to the Zambezi River, located in Africa.

Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists: List I (Rivers): A. Cauvery B. Krishna C. Narmada D. Chambal List II (Dams): 1. Alamatti 2. Mettur 3. Gandhi Sagar 4. Sardar Sarovar

1999Geography
AA-1; B-4; C-2; D-3
BA-2; B-1; C-4; D-3
CA-2; B-1; C-3; D-4
DA-1; B-3; C-4; D-2

Explanation

In this question, you were asked to match a list of rivers with a list of dams based on their locations. The correct answer is option (b), which pairs the rivers and dams as follows: Mettur Dam is on the Cauvery River in Tamil Nadu, Alamatti Dam is on the Krishna River in Karnataka, Sardar Sarovar Dam is on the Narmada River in Gujarat, and Gandhi Sagar Dam is on the Chambal River in Madhya Pradesh.

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

1998Geography
ADamodar
BMahanadi
CSone
DYamuna

Explanation

The Damodar River in India flows eastward through a rift valley that was created by down warping in the Chota Nagpur plateau area.

Match the rivers labelled A, B, C and D on the given map with their names given in the list and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists: List-II: 1. St. Lawrence, 2. Orinoco, 3. Mackenzie, 4. Amazon, 5. Yukon

1998Geography
AA-4; B-3; C-2; D-1
BA-5; B-3; C-1; D-2
CA-5; B-4; C-1; D-3
DA-3; B-1; C-4; D-2

Explanation

In the map showing North America and South America, the river marked as 'a' corresponds to Yukon, 'b' corresponds to Mackenzie, 'c' corresponds to St. Lawrence, and 'd' corresponds to Orinoco. The correct match for the rivers labelled A, B, C, and D with their names in the list is A-5 (Yukon), B-3 (Mackenzie), C-1 (St. Lawrence), and D-2 (Orinoco), which corresponds to option (b).

The Alamatti is on the river:

1997Geography
AGodavari
BKavery
CKrishna
DMahanadi

Explanation

The Alamatti dam is situated on the Krishna River in the state of Karnataka.

The canal-carrying capacity of Farakka is:

1997Geography
A75,000 Cusecs
B70,000 Cusecs
C40,000 Cusecs
D35,000 Cusecs

Explanation

The Farakka Barrage has a canal carrying capacity of 40,000 Cusecs, which is used to divert water from the Ganga river to the Hooghly river.

Consider the map given below (Myanmar region). The river shown on the map is:

1997Geography
AIrrawaddy
BMekong
CChao Phraya
DSalween

Explanation

The river shown on the map in the Myanmar region is the Salween river. It is situated in the eastern part of Myanmar, specifically at the Shan plateau. The basin of this river covers an area of 320,000 square kilometers. Additionally, the Salween river acts as a border between Burma and Thailand.

Which of the following groups of rivers originate from the Himachal mountains?

1996Geography
ABeas, Ravi and Chenab
BRavi, Chenab and Jhelum
CSutlej, Beas and Ravi
DSutlej, Ravi and Jhelum

Explanation

The rivers Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi have their origins in the Himachal Pradesh mountains.

River Cauvery has formed which islands during its journey?

1996Geography
ASrirangapatnam, Shivasamudram and Srirangam
BMajuli and Umananda
CMunroe and Pathiramanal
DSagar and Jambudweep

Explanation

The River Cauvery has created three significant islands along its path, namely Srirangapatnam, Shivasamudram in Karnataka, and Srirangam in Tamil Nadu. These islands are well-known pilgrimage sites with temples.

Which one of the following rivers originates in Brahmagiri range of Western Ghats?

1996Geography
AGanga
BKishanganga
CWainganga
DPenganga

Explanation

The river originating in the Brahmagiri range of the Western Ghats is the Ganga. The Kishenganga river is known as the Neelam river in Jammu and Kashmir, while the Ganga originates from the Gangotri glacier. The Wainganga river, on the other hand, starts in the Seoni district located in the Satpura range of Madhya Pradesh.