Major Rivers of India
Delhi Police Exams - GK Section
Introduction: Lifelines of India
Rivers are called the lifelines of civilization. They provide water for drinking, irrigation, industries and lay the foundation of agriculture & settlement patterns.
India is blessed with a vast river system divided into two major groups:
- Himalayan Rivers – Perennial, flowing throughout the year
- Peninsular Rivers – Seasonal, dependent on rainfall
Memory Trick: High = Himalayan (Snow-fed), Pen = Peninsular (Rain-fed)
Classification of Rivers in India
| Category | Examples | Main Source | Nature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Himalayan Rivers | Ganga, Yamuna, Brahmaputra, Indus | Snow & Rain | Perennial |
| Peninsular Rivers | Godavari, Krishna, Narmada, Tapi, Mahanadi, Kaveri | Rainfall | Seasonal |
A. Himalayan Rivers System
1. The Ganga River System
| Source | Gangotri Glacier (Bhagirathi) & Alaknanda (join at Devprayag) |
| Main Tributaries | Yamuna, Ghaghara, Gandak, Kosi, Son |
| Flow Path | Uttarakhand → UP → Bihar → West Bengal |
| End Point | Forms a delta with Brahmaputra (Sundarbans Delta) |
| Delta Name | Ganga–Brahmaputra Delta (World’s Largest) |
2. The Yamuna River
| Source | Yamunotri Glacier (Uttarakhand) |
| Tributaries | Chambal, Betwa, Ken, Sind |
| Cities Along River | Delhi, Agra, Mathura |
| Merges With | Ganga at Prayagraj (Allahabad) |
3. The Brahmaputra River
| Origin | Tibet (as Tsangpo) |
| Enters India | Arunachal Pradesh (as Dihang) |
| Tributaries | Subansiri, Manas, Dhansiri, Teesta |
| Flows Through | Assam → Bangladesh (joins Ganga to form Padma) |
| Delta | Joins with Ganga forming Sundarbans Delta |
B. Peninsular River System
1. Godavari – “Dakshin Ganga”
| Source | Nasik (Trimbakeshwar, Maharashtra) |
| Length | ~1465 km (longest peninsular river) |
| Flows Through | Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh |
| Tributaries | Manjira, Indravati, Sabari, Pranhita |
| Outflow | Bay of Bengal |
2. Krishna River
| Source | Mahabaleshwar (Maharashtra) |
| Tributaries | Koyna, Bhima, Tungabhadra |
| Flows Through | Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh |
| Joins | Bay of Bengal |
3. Mahanadi River
| Source | Sihawa Hills (Chhattisgarh) |
| Flows Through | Chhattisgarh, Odisha |
| Joins | Bay of Bengal |
| Project | Hirakud Dam (one of India's longest dams) |
4. Kaveri River
| Source | Brahmagiri Hills (Karnataka) |
| Flows Through | Karnataka, Tamil Nadu |
| Tributaries | Bhavani, Hemavati, Amaravati |
| Joins | Bay of Bengal |
| Known As | Ganga of South |
5. Narmada & Tapi Rivers
| River | Type | Flow Direction | Empties Into |
|---|---|---|---|
| Narmada | Rift valley river | West-flowing | Arabian Sea |
| Tapi | Rift valley river | West-flowing | Arabian Sea |
6. Other Important Peninsular Rivers
| River | Source | Joins | Special Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sabarmati | Aravalli Hills | Arabian Sea | Flows through Ahmedabad |
| Mahi | MP | Arabian Sea | Crosses Tropic of Cancer twice |
| Periyar | Kerala | Arabian Sea | Major hydroelectric river of South |
India’s River Map (Conceptual Overview)
J&K
↓
Indus System
↓
Ganga ← Yamuna → Chambal
↓
Brahmaputra → Assam
↓
Godavari – Krishna – Mahanadi → Bay of Bengal
Narmada – Tapi → Arabian Sea
Memory Tricks & Key Recap
Key Tricks:
For Major East-Flowing Rivers:
MKGK: Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri
For West-Flowing Rivers:
NTPS: Narmada, Tapi, Periyar, Sabarmati
For Delta Formation:
Ganga, Godavari, Mahanadi, Krishna, Kaveri form deltas
No Delta (West Flow):
Narmada, Tapi, Mandovi, Sabarmati don’t form deltas
Quick Recap:
Ganga’s origin is Gangotri Glacier
Godavari is called Dakshin Ganga
Narmada and Tapi flow westwards into Arabian Sea
Ganga-Brahmaputra forms world’s largest delta
Hirakud Dam is on Mahanadi river
Practice Questions (Delhi Police PYQ-style)
The river Ganga originates from which glacier?
Options: A) Yamunotri Glacier B) Gangotri Glacier C) Siachen Glacier D) Zemu Glacier
Category: River Sources
Show Answer
B) Gangotri Glacier
Which of the following rivers is known as “Dakshin Ganga”?
Options: A) Krishna B) Godavari C) Mahanadi D) Kaveri
Category: River Nicknames
Show Answer
B) Godavari
The Brahmaputra River is known as ____ in Tibet.
Options: A) Yarlung Tsangpo B) Dihang C) Jamuna D) Luit
Category: River Local Names
Show Answer
A) Yarlung Tsangpo
Narmada River flows into which of the following seas?
Options: A) Bay of Bengal B) Arabian Sea C) Indian Ocean D) None of these
Category: River Outflow
Show Answer
B) Arabian Sea
The largest delta in the world is formed by —
Options: A) Mahanadi and Godavari B) Ganga and Brahmaputra C) Krishna and Kaveri D) Narmada and Tapi
Category: Deltas
Show Answer
B) Ganga and Brahmaputra
Which of the following rivers does not form a delta?
Options: A) Godavari B) Krishna C) Narmada D) Mahanadi
Category: Delta Formation
Show Answer
C) Narmada
Hirakud Dam is built on which river?
Options: A) Godavari B) Krishna C) Mahanadi D) Kaveri
Category: River Projects
Show Answer
C) Mahanadi
Summary Table
| River | Source | Flow Direction | Joins | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ganga | Gangotri Glacier | East | Bay of Bengal | Perennial |
| Yamuna | Yamunotri Glacier | East | Ganga | Perennial |
| Brahmaputra | Tibet | East | Ganga (Padma) | Perennial |
| Godavari | Nasik | East | Bay of Bengal | Seasonal |
| Krishna | Mahabaleshwar | East | Bay of Bengal | Seasonal |
| Mahanadi | Sihawa Hills | East | Bay of Bengal | Seasonal |
| Kaveri | Brahmagiri Hills | East | Bay of Bengal | Seasonal |
| Narmada | Amarkantak Hills | West | Arabian Sea | Rift Valley |
| Tapi | Satpura Hills | West | Arabian Sea | Rift Valley |
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