UPSC CIVIL SERVICES EXAMINATION

PRELIMS SPECIAL

1995 - 2018

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

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River Systems in India

CHAPTER LISTING

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Unit Chapter

World Geography

Physical Geography

Geomorphology

Climatology

Oceanography

Biogeography

Social Geography

Economic Geography

Indian Geography

Physical Geography

Basics of India

Physical features

River systems

Climate

Agriculture

Vegetation and Fauna

Social Geography

Economic Geography

L4-L7

L1 – L3

L8

L9

L10

L11

L12-L13

L14-L15

CHAPTER LISTING

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Q 149-159

Chapter Topics

River Systems in India

Himalayan Rivers

Peninsular Rivers

Hydropower Projects & Dams

Interlinking of Rivers

Q. The correct sequence of the eastward flowing rivers of the peninsular India from north to

south is : [2002]

(a) Subarnarekha, Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Pennar, Cauvery and Vagai

(b) Subarnarekha, Mahanadi, Krishna, Godavari, Cauvery, Vagai and Pennar

(c) Mahanadi, Subarnarekha, Godavari, Krishna, Cauvery, Pennar and Vagai

(d) Mahanadi, Subarnarekha, Krishna, Godavari, Cauvery, Vagai and Pennar

QUESTION 149

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Peninsular River Systems

QUESTION 149

• Peninsula rivers are much older than the Himalayan rivers.• They are non-perennial rivers with a maximum discharge in

the rainy season.• The rivers are characterized by broad and shallow valleys.• The main water divide in peninsular rivers is formed by the

Western Ghats, which run from north to south close to thewestern coast.

• The velocity of water in the rivers and the load carryingcapacity of the streams is low due to low gradient.

• Most of the major rivers of the peninsula such as theMahanadi, the Godavari, the Krishna and the Cauvery floweastwards and drain into the Bay of Bengal. These riversmake deltas at their mouths.

• But the west flowing rivers of Narmada and Tapi as well asthose originating from the Western Ghats and falling in theArabian Sea form estuaries in place of deltas.

Q. The correct sequence of the eastward flowing rivers of the peninsular India from north to

south is : [2002]

(a) Subarnarekha, Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Pennar, Cauvery and Vagai

(b) Subarnarekha, Mahanadi, Krishna, Godavari, Cauvery, Vagai and Pennar

(c) Mahanadi, Subarnarekha, Godavari, Krishna, Cauvery, Pennar and Vagai

(d) Mahanadi, Subarnarekha, Krishna, Godavari, Cauvery, Vagai and Pennar

Answer: a

QUESTION 149

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

east. Why? [2013 - I]

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

(c) 1 and 3

(d) None

QUESTION 150

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QUESTION 150

• Narmada is the largest west flowing river of thepeninsular India and flows westwards through a riftvalley between the Vindhyan Range on the north andthe Satpura Range on the south.

• It rises from Maikala range nearAmarkantak in Madhya Pradesh, at an elevation ofabout 1057 m.

• Narmada basin extends over states of MadhyaPradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh.

• It is bounded by the Vindhyas on the north, Maikalarange on the east, Satpuras on the south and by theArabian Sea on the west.

• Its total length from its source in Amarkantak to itsestuary in the Gulf of Khambhat is 1,310 km.

• The river slopes down near Jabalpur where it cascades(a small waterfall, especially one in a series) 15 m intoa gorge to form the Dhuan Dhar (Cloud of Mist) Falls.

Narmada River

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

east. Why? [2013 - I]

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

(c) 1 and 3

(d) None

Answer: a

QUESTION 150

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Q. Consider the following statements: [2009]

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

QUESTION 151

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QUESTION 151

There are three major rivers rise in Kerala and flow eastwards:• Kabani• Bhavani• Pambar

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East Flowing Rivers in Kerala

There are many west flowing rivers in Madhya Pradesh including:• Narmada• Tapti (Tapi)• Mahi

West Flowing Rivers in Madhya Pradesh

Q. Consider the following statements: [2009]

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

Answer: d

QUESTION 151

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Q. Which one of the following statements is not correct ? [2006]

(a) Mahanadi River rises in Chhattisgarh

(b) Godavari River rises in Maharashtra

(c) Cauvery River rises in Andhra Pradesh

(d) Tapti River rises in Madhya Pradesh

Answer: c

QUESTION 152

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QUESTION 152

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River Origin River Origin

Sabarmati Dhebar Lake (Aravalli),Udaipur

Mahi Vindhya Range, MP

Narmada Amarkantak, MP Tawa Betul (Satpura), MP

Tapi Betul (Mahadev Hills), MP Periyar Western Ghats, Kerala

Mahanadi Dandakaranya Hills, CHG Godavari Nasik, MH

Penganga Ajanata Hills, MH Krishna Mahabaleshwar, MH

Tungabhadra Confluence of Tunga and Bhadra, KRN

Bhima Balaghat Range, MH

Kaveri Brahmagiri Hills, KRN Vaigai Palni Hills, TN

Q. Which one of the following rivers originates in Amarkantak? [2007]

(a) Damodar

(b) Mahanadi

(c) Narmada

(d) Tapi

Answer: c

QUESTION 153

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Q. 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 rivers flowing towards Bay of

Bengal, the other one flows towards Arabian Sea? [2009]

(a) Amarkantak

(b) Badrinath

(c) Mahabaleshwar

(d) Nasik

Answer: a

QUESTION 154

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QUESTION 154

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Radial Drainage in Amarkantak

Q. Consider the following rivers: [2015-I]

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

QUESTION 155

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QUESTION 155

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Q. Consider the following rivers: [2015-I]

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

Answer: d

QUESTION 155

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Q. What is the correct sequence of the rivers–Godavari, Mahanadi, Narmada and Tapi in the

descending order of their lengths? [2003]

(a) Godavari–Mahanadi–Narmada–Tapi

(b) Godavari–Narmada–Mahanadi–Tapi

(c) Narmada–Godavari–Tapi-Mahanadi

(d) Narmada–Tapi–Godavari–Mahanadi

QUESTION 156

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QUESTION 156

• The Mahanadi basin extends over states of Chhattisgarh and Odisha and comparatively smaller portions ofJharkhand, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.

• The Mahanadi follows a total course of 900 km.• The Mahanadi is one of the major rivers of the peninsular rivers, in water potential and flood producing

capacity, it ranks second to the Godavari.• It is one of the most-active silt-depositing streams in the Indian subcontinent.• At Sambalpur the Hirakud Dam (one of the largest dams in India) on the river has formed a man-made lake

35 miles (55 km) long.

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Mahanadi River

• The Krishna is the second largest east flowing river of the Peninsula. The Krishna Basin extends over AndhraPradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka having a total area of ~2.6 lakh Sq.km.

• The Krishna River rises from the Western Ghats near Jor village of Satara district of Maharashtra at analtitude of 1,337 m just north of Mahabaleshwar.

• The total length of river from origin to its outfall into the Bay of Bengal is 1,400 km.• The Krishna forms a large delta with a shoreline of about 120 km. The Krishna delta appears to merge with

that formed by the Godavari and extends about 35 km into the sea.

Krishna River

QUESTION 156

• The Godavari is the largest river system of the Peninsular India and is revered as Dakshina Ganga.• The Godavari basin extends over states of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Odisha in addition

to smaller parts in Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Union territory of Puducherry (Yanam).• The basin is bounded by Satmala hills, the Ajanta range and the Mahadeo hills on the north, by the Eastern

Ghats on the south and the east and by the Western Ghats on the west.• The Godavari River rises from Trimbakeshwar in the Nashik district of Maharashtra about 80 km from the

Arabian Sea at an elevation of 1,067 m.• The total length of Godavari from its origin to outfall into the Bay of Bengal is 1,465 km.

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Godavari River

• The Cauvery River rises at Brahmagiri range near Cherangala village of Kodagu (Coorg) district of Karnataka.The total length of the river from origin to outfall is 800 km.

• The Cauvery basin extends over states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Union Territory of Puducherry.• Its upper catchment area receives rainfall during summer by the south-west monsoon and the lower

catchment area during winter season by the retreating north-east monsoon.• It is, therefore almost a perennial river with comparatively less fluctuations in flow and is very useful for

irrigation and hydroelectric power generation.

Kaveri River

QUESTION 156

• The Tapti (also known as the Tapi) is the second largest west flowing river of the Peninsular India and is known as ‘the twin’ or ‘the handmaid’ of the Narmada.

• It originates near Multai reserve forest in Madhya Pradesh at an elevation of 752 m.• Flows for about 724 km before outfalling into the Arabian Sea through the Gulf of Cambay [Gulf of

Khambhat].• The basin extends over states of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat having an area of ~ 65,000

Sq.km• Situated in the Deccan plateau, the basin is bounded by the Satpura range on the north, Mahadev hills on

the east, Ajanta Range and the Satmala hills on the south and by the Arabian Sea on the west.• The hilly region of the basin is well forested while the plains are broad and fertile areas suitable for

cultivation.• The river also flows in a linear rift valley like Narmada.

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Tapti River

Q. What is the correct sequence of the rivers–Godavari, Mahanadi, Narmada and Tapi in the

descending order of their lengths? [2003]

(a) Godavari–Mahanadi–Narmada–Tapi

(b) Godavari–Narmada–Mahanadi–Tapi

(c) Narmada–Godavari–Tapi-Mahanadi

(d) Narmada–Tapi–Godavari–Mahanadi

Answer: b

QUESTION 156

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

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

Choose the appropriate code from below: [2004]

(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

QUESTION 157

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QUESTION 157

• Western coast of India is a submerging coast. Hence it is more conducive for estuary formations.• West flowing rivers flow for much shorter length than east flowing rivers, thus bringing less sediment

load.• Lush green western ghats reduces possibility of excessive erosion in river channels.

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West flowing rivers do not form deltas because:

Deltas Estuary

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

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

Choose the appropriate code from below: [2004]

(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

Answer: c

QUESTION 157

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

[1998]

(a) Damodar

(b) Mahanadi

(c) Sone

(d) Yamuna

Answer: a

QUESTION 158

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Q. Consider the following rivers: [1996]

1. Kishenganga

2. Ganga

3. Wainganga

4. Penganga

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

(a) 1, 2, 3, 4

(b) 2, 1, 3, 4

(c) 2, 1, 4, 3

(d) 1, 2, 4, 3

QUESTION 159 (Do It Yourself)

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