Rivers and Lakes Questions and Answers – Page 7

Correct Answer: Option C — Jhelum The Jhelum River is called Vitasta in ancient Sanskrit texts. It rises at Verinag in the Kashmir Valley, flows through Srinagar and Wular Lake, and later joins the Chenab in Pakistan. Ancient Greek writers knew the river as Hydaspes, the site associated with the battle between Alexander and King Porus. - Option A — Chenab: The Chenab was known in ancient sources as Asikni or Chandrabhaga, not Vitasta. - Option B — Sutlej: The ancient Sanskrit name of the Sutlej was Shutudri or Shatadru. - Option D — Beas: The Beas was known as Vipasha in Sanskrit and Hyphasis to the Greeks. Exam Takeaway: Vitasta is Jhelum; Hydaspes is its Greek name.

Correct Answer: Option C — Vembanad Lake Vembanad Lake in Kerala is closely associated with the state’s famous snake-boat races. The Nehru Trophy Boat Race is held on Punnamada Lake near Alappuzha, which forms part of the wider Vembanad backwater system. - Option A — Chilika Lake: Chilika is Odisha’s coastal lagoon, known mainly for migratory birds, fisheries and brackish-water biodiversity. - Option B — Loktak Lake: Loktak in Manipur is famous for floating phumdis and Keibul Lamjao National Park. - Option D — Bhimtal Lake: Bhimtal is a freshwater Himalayan lake in Uttarakhand, associated with tourism and boating rather than Kerala’s snake-boat festival. Exam Takeaway: Nehru Trophy Boat Race is held on Punnamada, part of the Vembanad system.

Correct Answer: Option B — Ganga Haridwar in Uttarakhand is situated on the Ganga River and is commonly used as a starting gateway for journeys into the Garhwal Himalaya, including the Char Dham circuit. At Haridwar the Ganga emerges from the Himalayan foothills and enters the northern plains. - Option A — Yamuna: The Yamuna is associated with Yamunotri but does not flow through Haridwar. - Option C — Alaknanda: The Alaknanda flows through the Garhwal Himalaya and meets Bhagirathi at Devprayag. - Option D — Bhagirathi: The Bhagirathi is the headstream associated with Gangotri and becomes the Ganga after meeting Alaknanda. Exam Takeaway: Haridwar is the gateway city on the Ganga; Char Dham rivers lie farther upstream.

Correct Answer: Option C — Narmada Dhuandhar Falls is formed by the Narmada River at Bhedaghat near Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh. Here the river passes through a narrow gorge of marble rocks and descends with force, producing a cloud of fine spray that resembles smoke. The name Dhuandhar refers to this smoke-like mist. - Option A — Chambal: The Chambal flows through the ravine region and joins the Yamuna; it does not form Dhuandhar Falls. - Option B — Betwa: The Betwa is a Yamuna tributary associated with Vidisha and Orchha. - Option D — Ken: The Ken flows through Bundelkhand and Panna, joining the Yamuna in Uttar Pradesh. Exam Takeaway: Dhuandhar Falls and Marble Rocks at Bhedaghat belong to the Narmada.

Correct Answer: Option A — Ganga The Ganga has the largest drainage basin within India. Its river system covers a vast part of the northern plains and receives major tributaries from the Himalayas and Peninsular uplands. The basin supports extensive agriculture, settlements, transport corridors and major urban centres before the river continues into Bangladesh. - Option B — Brahmaputra: The Brahmaputra has a very large transboundary basin, but much of it lies in Tibet and Bangladesh. - Option C — Indus: Most of the Indus basin and the river’s lower course lie outside India. - Option D — Narmada: The Narmada has an important west-flowing basin, but its drainage area is far smaller than that of the Ganga. Exam Takeaway: Ganga has India’s largest drainage basin.

Correct Answer: Option B — Gomti (Gujarat) Dwarka in Gujarat is associated with the local Gomti channel, which meets the Arabian Sea near the Dwarkadhish Temple and Gomti Ghat. This small coastal Gomti is distinct from the much larger Gomti River of Uttar Pradesh. - Option A — Sabarmati: The Sabarmati flows through Ahmedabad and enters the Gulf of Khambhat. - Option C — Narmada: The Narmada reaches the Arabian Sea near Bharuch through the Gulf of Khambhat. - Option D — Tapi: The Tapi flows past Surat and also enters the Gulf of Khambhat. Exam Takeaway: Dwarka is associated with the local Gomti at Gomti Ghat, not Uttar Pradesh’s Gomti.

Correct Answer: Option B — Chambal The Gandhi Sagar, Rana Pratap Sagar and Jawahar Sagar dams form major stages of the Chambal Valley development system in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. The Chambal rises near Janapav in Madhya Pradesh, flows through the southeastern Rajasthan region and later joins the Yamuna in Uttar Pradesh. - Option A — Luni: The Luni drains western Rajasthan and ends in the Rann of Kutch. - Option C — Banas: The Banas is a tributary of the Chambal and is associated with the Bisalpur Dam. - Option D — Mahi: The Mahi flows through Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Gujarat and is associated with Mahi Bajaj Sagar. Exam Takeaway: Gandhi Sagar–Rana Pratap Sagar–Jawahar Sagar form the Chambal project chain.

Correct Answer: Option B — Godavari Nashik in Maharashtra is situated on the Godavari River. The river rises at Trimbakeshwar in Nashik district and flows through Nashik city before continuing eastward across Peninsular India. Ram Kund and the Kumbh gathering at Nashik are important cultural associations of the Godavari. - Option A — Tapi: The Tapi rises near Multai and flows west through Maharashtra toward Surat. - Option C — Pravara: The Pravara is a tributary of the Godavari and is associated with the Ahmednagar region. - Option D — Mula: The Mula belongs to a different Maharashtra river system and is associated mainly with Pune and Ahmednagar areas. Exam Takeaway: Nashik and Trimbakeshwar are key Godavari locations.

Correct Answer: Option C — Ganga The Yamuna, Ghaghara, Gandak, Kosi and Son are major tributaries of the Ganga river system. Himalayan tributaries such as the Ghaghara, Gandak and Kosi bring large seasonal flows, while the Son approaches from the Peninsular uplands. - Option A — Brahmaputra: Its important tributaries include Dibang, Lohit, Subansiri and Manas. - Option B — Godavari: Its tributaries include Pranhita, Indravati, Manjira and Sabari. - Option D — Indus: Its major tributary system includes Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas and Sutlej. Exam Takeaway: Yamuna–Ghaghara–Gandak–Kosi–Son belong to the Ganga system.

Correct Answer: Option B — Indus The Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas and Sutlej form the principal eastern tributary group of the Indus river system. These rivers drain the northwestern Himalayan region and Punjab plains before their waters ultimately join the Indus. Their historical names and interrelationships are common competitive-exam topics. - Option A — Beas: The Beas is one tributary within the Indus system, not the parent river system. - Option C — Ganga: Ganga tributaries include Yamuna, Ghaghara, Gandak, Kosi and Son. - Option D — Brahmaputra: Major Brahmaputra tributaries include Dibang, Lohit, Subansiri and Manas. Exam Takeaway: Jhelum–Chenab–Ravi–Beas–Sutlej are the five major Indus tributaries.