GK Questions On Rivers Of India With Answers

Have you ever observed that rivers are like the veins of our nation? India has more than 400 rivers, which spread across large areas called river basins. The rivers play an important role in India. They offer us clean drinking water and help in agriculture. Do you consider yourself a geography expert on India? Well, here's a quick test for you to prove your geography skills and score a perfect twenty.

GK Quiz On Rivers Of India

Here are multiple-choice questions for you on the rivers of India:

Q1. Which river flows entirely within India?

a) Ganga

b) Godavari

c) Yamuna

Ans.: a) Ganga

Explanation: The Ganga is the most famous and sacred river in India. This river originates from the Gangotri glacier. The river flows for a distance of more than 2,500 kilometres on the plain land and finally empties into the sea.

Q2. Which river is often called the "Dakshin Ganga" or the Ganges of the South?

a) Krishna

b) Kaveri

c) Godavari

Ans.: c) Godavari

Explanation: The Godavari river is the second largest river in India, next only to the Ganga. Due to its immense size and importance to the people of South India, the river became known as the “Dakshin Ganga".

Q3. Which of these rivers flows towards the west and empties into the Arabian Sea?

a) Narmada

b) Mahanadi

c) Godavari

Ans.: a) Narmada

Explanation: Most of the large rivers in India run from their origin to the eastern direction and end in the Bay of Bengal since the landscape is inclined in that direction. However, the Narmada River is an exception; it runs westward from its origin and empties into the Arabian Sea.

Q4. What is the name of the longest tributary of the Ganga?

a) Gomti

b) Yamuna

c) Kosi

Ans.: b) Yamuna

Explanation: The Yamuna is the largest tributary of the Ganga. The point where Yamuna joins the Ganga is one of the most revered places called Sangam, located in Prayagraj.

Q5. Which river is famously called the "Sorrow of Bihar" because it floods badly every year and changes its path?

a) Gandak

b) Son

c) Kosi

Ans.: c) Kosi

Explanation: The Kosi originates from the high hills of Nepal and flows through the plains of Bihar. Kosi river carries so much amount of sand and mud that it obstructs its own course. This leads to flooding of Kosi River, causing destruction of property; hence the name "Sorrow of Bihar."

Q6. On which river is the famous Bhakra Nangal Dam located?

a) Satluj

b) Beas

c) Ravi

Ans.: a) Satluj

Explanation: Satluj is one of the important rivers of Punjab. The Bhakra Nangal Dam is constructed on this river for the storage of massive amounts of water for irrigation and generation of power for millions of households.

Q7. Which river enters India through a deep gorge in Arunachal Pradesh after flowing through Tibet as the Tsangpo?

a) Indus

b) Brahmaputra

c) Teesta

Ans.: b) Brahmaputra

Explanation: The Brahmaputra river originates from Tibet. In Tibet it is known as Tsangpo. After turning sharply to the mountains, it enters northeastern India.

Q8. Which beautiful river flows right next to the historic city of the Taj Mahal in Agra?

a) Yamuna

b) Ganga

c) Chambal

Ans.: a) Yamuna

Explanation: If you ever go see the beautiful white marble Taj Mahal, you will notice a big river flowing right behind it. That is the Yamuna river, which adds to the amazing view of the monument.

Q9. What is the main river that flows through the famous valley of Kashmir and has beautiful houseboats on its lakes?

a) Chenab

b) Jhelum

c) Indus

Ans.: b) Jhelum

Explanation: The Jhelum river is the heartbeat of Kashmir. It flows through Srinagar and fills up the famous Dal Lake, where tourists enjoy staying on floating wooden houseboats.

Q10. Which river is known for creating the majestic Jog Falls, which is one of the highest waterfalls in India?

a) Sharavati

b) Kaveri

c) Periyar

Ans.: a) Sharavati

Explanation: The Sharavati river flows through the lush green forests of Karnataka. At one point, the river drops down a very steep cliff, creating the spectacular Jog Falls which thousands of people visit every year.

Q11. Which river basin is the biggest in India, covering almost one-fourth of the total country area?

a) Indus Basin

b) Ganga Basin

c) Godavari Basin

Ans.: b) Ganga Basin

Explanation: A river basin is the total area of land where water drains into a main river and its branches. Since the Ganga has so many tributaries, its basin is gigantic and supports nearly half of India's population with water.

Q12. Which river has its origin point near the famous Mahabaleshwar hill station in Maharashtra?

a) Krishna

b) Tapti

c) Tungabhadra

Ans.: a) Krishna

Explanation: The Krishna river starts as a small spring in the pretty hills of Mahabaleshwar. From there, it flows all the way across Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh before meeting the sea.

Q13. The famous Hirakud Dam, which is one of the longest man-made dams in the world, is built on which river?

a) Mahanadi

b) Damodar

c) Krishna

Ans.: a) Mahanadi

Explanation: The Mahanadi is the main river of Odisha state. To stop the river from flooding the towns and to help farmers get water throughout the year, India built the massive Hirakud Dam across it.

Q14. Which of these rivers originates from the Amarkantak plateau in Madhya Pradesh, just like the Narmada river does?

a) Betwa

b) Son

c) Ken

Ans.: b) Son

Explanation: The Amarkantak hills are pretty special because two different rivers start close to each other there. While Narmada runs towards the west side, the Son river flows towards the north-east to join the Ganga.

Q15. Which river is often called the "Sorrow of Bengal" because it used to cause huge floods before dams were built?

a) Hooghly

b) Damodar

c) Mahananda

Ans.: b) Damodar

Explanation: Just like the Kosi in Bihar, the Damodar river used to bring havoc to West Bengal with sudden floods. Later, the government built a bunch of dams under the Damodar Valley project to tame the river.

Q16. Which river flows through the famous city of Hyderabad, the capital of Telangana?

a) Musi

b) Krishna

c) Godavari

Ans.: a) Musi

Explanation: The Musi river is a tributary of the bigger Krishna river. It runs right through the middle of Hyderabad city, dividing the historic old city from the newer areas.

Q17. What is the name of the river that forms the famous "Dhuandhar Falls" where water hits marble rocks?

a) Tapti

b) Narmada

c) Mahi

Ans.: b) Narmada

Explanation: Near Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh, the Narmada river narrows down and crashes over huge white marble rocks. The mist looks like smoke rising up, so people call it Dhuandhar, which means "smoke cascade".

Q18. Which river is the longest one in the desert state of Rajasthan, even though it mostly stays dry in summers?

a) Luni

b) Banas

c) Chambal

Ans.: a) Luni

Explanation: The Luni River originates from the Aravalli ranges. It then passes through the Thar Desert. But it does not even meet the sea. Rather, it drains itself in the salt marshes of the Rann of Kutch.

Q19. Which two main rivers join together at Devprayag to finally form the holy Ganga river?

a) Alaknanda and Bhagirathi

b) Mandakini and Yamuna

c) Dhauleganga and Alaknanda

Ans.: a) Alaknanda and Bhagirathi

Explanation: Before becoming Ganga, it flows as different mountain streams. The names of the two major streams are Alaknanda and Bhagirathi. These two streams join at a beautiful mountain town, which is known as Devprayag, and thereafter the river is called the Ganga.

Q20. Which river is the largest one flowing through the coastal state of Goa?

a) Zuari

b) Mandovi

c) Periyar

Ans.: b) Mandovi

Explanation: Mandovi river is the lifeline for Goa. The capital city of Goa, Panaji, is situated alongside the Mandovi River and so are the renowned Dudhsagar waterfalls.