MCQs on Indian River System | Geography MCQs For Competitive Exams & State PCS

The Indian River System is one of the most important topics in Geography for UPSC, SSC, Banking, Railways, and State PCS exams. Every year, multiple-choice questions (MCQs) from rivers, tributaries, dams, and river projects appear in competitive exams. For aspirants, mastering the river system is not just about memorizing names but also understanding their origins, courses, and contributions to Indian civilization.

This article provides MCQs on the Indian River System, carefully prepared and compiled in a student-friendly way. We will cover major rivers like Ganga, Yamuna, Brahmaputra, Godavari, Krishna, Narmada, and others. At the end, you will also find FAQs and a short summary to revise quickly before the exam.

Importance of the Indian River System in Geography Exams

Rivers are the lifeline of India. They influence agriculture, economy, transportation, irrigation, and culture. Questions from rivers are static GK but highly scoring.
For example:

Which river is called Dakshin Ganga?
Which dam is built on the Narmada River?
Which river flows through the Rift Valley?

Such MCQs are frequent in State PCS, UPSC Prelims, SSC CGL, Railway NTPC, Defence exams, and even in Teaching exams like CTET.

Classification of Indian Rivers

Before practicing MCQs, let’s revise the basics:

1. Himalayan Rivers

Perennial rivers (water throughout the year).
Fed by glaciers and rainfall.
Examples: Ganga, Yamuna, Brahmaputra, Indus.

2. Peninsular Rivers

Seasonal rivers (depend on monsoon).
Flow through plateaus with shorter courses.
Examples: Godavari, Krishna, Cauvery, Mahanadi, Narmada, Tapi.

MCQs on Indian River System (With Answers & Explanations)

MCQ Set 1: Ganga and Yamuna Rivers

Which city is located at the confluence of Ganga and Yamuna?
a) Haridwar
b) Prayagraj
c) Varanasi
d) Patna
Answer: b) Prayagraj – known as Triveni Sangam.
Which river is the longest tributary of Ganga?
a) Yamuna
b) Ghaghara
c) Kosi
d) Gandak
Answer: a) Yamuna – it is the largest tributary by length.

MCQ Set 2: Brahmaputra River

Brahmaputra river enters India through which state?
a) Arunachal Pradesh
b) Assam
c) Nagaland
d) Sikkim
Answer: a) Arunachal Pradesh – known as Siang/Dihang.
Which is the largest riverine island on Brahmaputra?
a) Elephanta
b) Majuli
c) Sagar Island
d) Munroe
Answer: b) Majuli – world’s largest river island.

MCQ Set 3: Peninsular Rivers

Which river is called Dakshin Ganga?
a) Krishna
b) Godavari
c) Cauvery
d) Mahanadi
Answer: b) Godavari – longest river in Peninsular India.
Which river flows through the Rift Valley?
a) Narmada & Tapi
b) Krishna & Kaveri
c) Mahanadi & Subarnarekha
d) Ganga & Yamuna
Answer: a) Narmada & Tapi – unique west-flowing rivers.

MCQ Set 4: Dams & Projects

Sardar Sarovar Dam is built on which river?
a) Narmada
b) Tapi
c) Godavari
d) Krishna
Answer: a) Narmada.
Hirakud Dam is located on which river?
a) Mahanadi
b) Godavari
c) Krishna
d) Ganga
Answer: a) Mahanadi – one of the longest earthen dams.

MCQ Set 5: Miscellaneous

Which river flows only in Rajasthan?
a) Luni
b) Chambal
c) Sabarmati
d) Banas
Answer: a) Luni – originates from Aravalli hills.
Which river is also called Vriddh Ganga?
a) Krishna
b) Godavari
c) Kaveri
d) Narmada
Answer: b) Godavari.

Quick Revision Notes

Longest river in India: Ganga (2525 km).
Longest Peninsular river: Godavari.
Largest river basin: Ganga Basin.
West-flowing rivers: Narmada, Tapi, Mandovi, Zuari.
World’s largest delta: Sunderbans (Ganga-Brahmaputra).

Tips to Prepare Indian River System for Exams

Use maps to visualize river courses.
Remember mnemonics for tributaries (like Yamuna → Chambal, Sindh, Betwa, Ken).
Revise dams and projects – often asked in State PCS.
Attempt previous year papers to understand the pattern.
Create a one-page river chart for last-minute revision.

Summary

The Indian River System is an evergreen topic for Geography in competitive exams. From Ganga and Yamuna to Godavari and Narmada, rivers hold great importance for both our civilization and exam preparation. Practicing MCQs regularly builds confidence and improves recall speed during the exam.

This guide by Randheer Singh is designed in a simple, exam-oriented way so that aspirants can learn, practice, and revise quickly.

FAQs on Indian River System MCQs

Q1. Which is the largest river in India by length?
Ans: The Ganga River (2525 km).

Q2. Which river is called Dakshin Ganga?
Ans: Godavari River.

Q3. Which two rivers form the Sunderban Delta?
Ans: Ganga and Brahmaputra.

Q4. Which river flows through the Thar Desert?
Ans: Luni River.

Q5. How to study rivers effectively for exams?
Ans: Focus on origin, tributaries, dams, states covered, and unique facts like deltas or rift valleys.