1. Which is the longest river of India?
A) Ganga
B) Indus
C) Brahmaputra
D) Godavari
Answer: A
Explanation: The Ganga (2,525 km) is the longest river in India, though Indus is longer but mostly flows outside India.
2. Which river is known as the “Sorrow of Bihar”?
A) Gandak
B) Kosi
C) Son
D) Ghaghra
Answer: B
Explanation: Kosi causes devastating floods in Bihar almost every year.
3. Which is the main tributary of Yamuna joining at Allahabad (Prayagraj)?
A) Ghaghra
B) Gandak
C) Chambal
D) Son
Answer: C
Explanation: Chambal joins Yamuna near Allahabad, along with Betwa and Ken.
4. The Indus Water Treaty (1960) gives which rivers to India for use?
A) Indus, Jhelum, Chenab
B) Ravi, Beas, Sutlej
C) Ganga, Yamuna, Son
D) Brahmaputra, Teesta, Subansiri
Answer: B
Explanation: Ravi, Beas, Sutlej allocated to India; Indus, Jhelum, Chenab to Pakistan.
5. Which Indian state has the origin of the Ganga?
A) Himachal Pradesh
B) Uttarakhand
C) Uttar Pradesh
D) Sikkim
Answer: B
Explanation: Ganga originates at Gangotri Glacier (Uttarakhand), as Bhagirathi.
6. The Brahmaputra River is known as ___ in Tibet.
A) Jamuna
B) Dihang
C) Tsangpo
D) Lohit
Answer: C
Explanation: In Tibet, Brahmaputra is Tsangpo; in Arunachal it is Dihang, in Bangladesh Jamuna.
7. Which river flows through the Kashmir Valley?
A) Jhelum
B) Chenab
C) Beas
D) Ravi
Answer: A
Explanation: Jhelum flows through Srinagar valley.
8. The Tehri Dam is built on which river?
A) Ganga
B) Yamuna
C) Bhagirathi
D) Alaknanda
Answer: C
Explanation: Tehri Dam (Uttarakhand) is built on Bhagirathi River.
9. The Farakka Barrage is built on which river?
A) Yamuna
B) Ganga
C) Hooghly
D) Damodar
Answer: B
Explanation: Farakka Barrage (West Bengal) diverts water from Ganga to Hooghly.
10. Which river is called the “Sorrow of Bengal”?
A) Ganga
B) Damodar
C) Subarnarekha
D) Hooghly
Answer: B
Explanation: Damodar caused frequent floods in Bengal, hence “Sorrow of Bengal.”
11. Which of the following rivers is NOT a tributary of the Ganga?
A) Yamuna
B) Chambal
C) Son
D) Beas
Answer: D
Explanation: Beas is a tributary of the Indus system.
12. Which river flows through Kaziranga National Park?
A) Ganga
B) Yamuna
C) Brahmaputra
D) Teesta
Answer: C
Explanation: Kaziranga lies on the banks of Brahmaputra in Assam.
13. Which glacier is the source of the Yamuna River?
A) Gangotri Glacier
B) Yamunotri Glacier
C) Pindari Glacier
D) Siachen Glacier
Answer: B
Explanation: Yamuna originates from Yamunotri Glacier (Uttarakhand).
14. The Indus River originates from:
A) Mansarovar Lake
B) Rakas Lake
C) Kailash Range (Tibet)
D) Zanskar Range
Answer: C
Explanation: Indus originates from Kailash Range, near Mansarovar Lake, Tibet.
15. Which is the largest tributary of the Ganga?
A) Yamuna
B) Ghaghra
C) Son
D) Gandak
Answer: A
Explanation: Yamuna is the longest and largest tributary of the Ganga.
16. The river Chenab is formed by the union of which two rivers?
A) Ravi and Beas
B) Jhelum and Sutlej
C) Chandra and Bhaga
D) Alaknanda and Mandakini
Answer: C
Explanation: Chenab originates at Himachal from Chandra and Bhaga rivers.
17. Which river of India is known as “Padma” in Bangladesh?
A) Brahmaputra
B) Ganga
C) Yamuna
D) Teesta
Answer: B
Explanation: Ganga is called Padma in Bangladesh.
18. Which river is called the “Dakshin Ganga” (Ganga of the South)?
A) Godavari
B) Krishna
C) Mahanadi
D) Kaveri
Answer: A
Explanation: Godavari is the longest Peninsular river, called Dakshin Ganga.
19. The Bhagirathi and Alaknanda join at:
A) Haridwar
B) Rishikesh
C) Devprayag
D) Gangotri
Answer: C
Explanation: Ganga officially begins at Devprayag after Bhagirathi and Alaknanda join.
20. Which Himalayan river is antecedent?
A) Ganga
B) Yamuna
C) Brahmaputra
D) All of the above
Answer: D
Explanation: Antecedent rivers cut across mountains older than themselves – Ganga, Indus, Brahmaputra are examples.
21. The Gandak River is a tributary of which major river?
A) Indus
B) Yamuna
C) Ganga
D) Brahmaputra
Answer: C
Explanation: Gandak is a north bank tributary of the Ganga.
22. The Sutlej River enters India from:
A) Himachal Pradesh
B) Uttarakhand
C) Jammu & Kashmir
D) Punjab
Answer: A
Explanation: Sutlej enters India near Shipki La in Himachal Pradesh.
23. Which is the longest tributary of the Brahmaputra in India?
A) Lohit
B) Subansiri
C) Manas
D) Teesta
Answer: B
Explanation: Subansiri (~442 km) is the longest tributary of Brahmaputra.
24. Which is the only Indian river that crosses the Tropic of Cancer twice?
A) Ganga
B) Mahi
C) Narmada
D) Godavari
Answer: B
Explanation: Mahi River crosses the Tropic of Cancer twice in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.
25. Which river’s valley is known as the “Cradle of Indian Civilization”?
A) Ganga
B) Indus
C) Yamuna
D) Saraswati
Answer: B
Explanation: The Indus Valley was the cradle of the Harappan civilization.
26. The longest river of Peninsular India is:
A) Krishna
B) Godavari
C) Mahanadi
D) Kaveri
Answer: B
Explanation: Godavari (1,465 km) is the longest river of Peninsular India, called the “Dakshina Ganga.”
27. The Godavari River originates from:
A) Amarkantak Plateau
B) Brahmagiri Hills (Nashik)
C) Satpura Hills
D) Nilgiris
Answer: B
Explanation: Godavari originates from the Brahmagiri Hills (Maharashtra).
28. The Krishna River originates near:
A) Mahabaleshwar (Maharashtra)
B) Nashik (Maharashtra)
C) Srisailam (AP)
D) Satpura Hills (MP)
Answer: A
Explanation: Krishna originates near Mahabaleshwar in Maharashtra.
29. The Kaveri River originates from:
A) Western Ghats (Kerala)
B) Brahmagiri Hills (Karnataka)
C) Vindhya Hills (MP)
D) Nilgiri Hills (TN)
Answer: B
Explanation: Kaveri originates from Talakaveri in Brahmagiri Hills (Karnataka).
30. The Mahanadi River originates from:
A) Satpura Hills (MP)
B) Sihawa Hills (Chhattisgarh)
C) Amarkantak Hills (MP)
D) Chotanagpur Plateau
Answer: B
Explanation: Mahanadi originates from Sihawa Hills (Chhattisgarh).
31. The west-flowing rivers of India include:
A) Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri
B) Narmada, Tapi, Mandovi
C) Mahanadi, Subarnarekha, Krishna
D) All rivers of Peninsular India
Answer: B
Explanation: Most Peninsular rivers flow east; Narmada, Tapi, Mandovi, Zuari, Sharavathi flow west.
32. The Narmada River flows into the:
A) Bay of Bengal
B) Arabian Sea
C) Indian Ocean
D) Chilika Lake
Answer: B
Explanation: Narmada flows west into the Arabian Sea.
33. The Tapi River originates from:
A) Satpura Hills (Madhya Pradesh)
B) Vindhyas (Madhya Pradesh)
C) Amarkantak (Madhya Pradesh)
D) Nilgiri Hills (Tamil Nadu)
Answer: A
Explanation: Tapi originates from Satpura Hills in Madhya Pradesh.
34. Jog Falls on Sharavathi River is located in:
A) Kerala
B) Karnataka
C) Tamil Nadu
D) Odisha
Answer: B
Explanation: Jog Falls (Karnataka) is on the Sharavathi River, a west-flowing river.
35. The Periyar River is the longest river of which state?
A) Karnataka
B) Kerala
C) Tamil Nadu
D) Andhra Pradesh
Answer: B
Explanation: Periyar (~244 km) is the longest river of Kerala.
36. The Bhima River is a tributary of which major river?
A) Kaveri
B) Krishna
C) Godavari
D) Mahanadi
Answer: B
Explanation: Bhima is the major tributary of Krishna River.
37. The Tungabhadra River is formed by the confluence of:
A) Krishna and Godavari
B) Tunga and Bhadra rivers
C) Bhima and Koyna
D) Narmada and Tapi
Answer: B
Explanation: Tungabhadra is formed by joining Tunga and Bhadra rivers in Karnataka.
38. Which east-flowing river forms a delta known as the “Rice Bowl of Andhra Pradesh”?
A) Godavari
B) Krishna
C) Kaveri
D) Mahanadi
Answer: B
Explanation: Krishna delta is highly fertile and called the Rice Bowl of Andhra Pradesh.
39. Which is the largest west-flowing river of Peninsular India?
A) Periyar
B) Narmada
C) Tapi
D) Mandovi
Answer: B
Explanation: Narmada (~1,312 km) is the largest west-flowing river.
40. The Damodar River is a tributary of:
A) Ganga
B) Brahmaputra
C) Mahanadi
D) Godavari
Answer: A
Explanation: Damodar joins the Hooghly branch of Ganga in West Bengal.
41. Which river flows through the Loktak Lake in Manipur?
A) Barak
B) Imphal
C) Subansiri
D) Teesta
Answer: B
Explanation: Imphal River flows through Loktak Lake (Manipur).
42. The Chambal River is a tributary of:
A) Ganga
B) Yamuna
C) Godavari
D) Krishna
Answer: B
Explanation: Chambal is a major right-bank tributary of Yamuna.
43. The Betwa and Ken rivers are tributaries of:
A) Ganga
B) Yamuna
C) Godavari
D) Krishna
Answer: B
Explanation: Betwa and Ken join Yamuna River.
44. The Sharavathi River forms which famous waterfall?
A) Athirappilly Falls
B) Jog Falls
C) Dudhsagar Falls
D) Shivanasamudra Falls
Answer: B
Explanation: Jog Falls (Karnataka) is on Sharavathi.
45. The Musi River flows through which Indian city?
A) Bengaluru
B) Hyderabad
C) Chennai
D) Pune
Answer: B
Explanation: Musi River flows through Hyderabad.
46. Which river is known as the “Dakshina Bhagirathi”?
A) Krishna
B) Godavari
C) Mahanadi
D) Kaveri
Answer: D
Explanation: Kaveri is sometimes called “Dakshina Bhagirathi” for its sacredness.
47. Which river is known as the “Vriddha Ganga” (Old Ganga)?
A) Krishna
B) Godavari
C) Kaveri
D) Mahanadi
Answer: B
Explanation: Godavari is also called Vriddha Ganga.
48. The Hirakud Dam is constructed on which river?
A) Godavari
B) Mahanadi
C) Krishna
D) Kaveri
Answer: B
Explanation: Hirakud Dam (Odisha) is built on the Mahanadi River.
49. Which river of South India is called “Dakshina Ganga” because of its large size?
A) Godavari
B) Krishna
C) Mahanadi
D) Kaveri
Answer: A
Explanation: Godavari is the longest river of Peninsular India, hence called Dakshina Ganga.
50. Which is the longest west-flowing river of Kerala?
A) Bharathapuzha
B) Periyar
C) Sharavathi
D) Mandovi
Answer: B
Explanation: Periyar River is the longest west-flowing river of Kerala.
51. Which is the largest tributary of the Ganga by length?
A) Yamuna
B) Ghaghra
C) Gandak
D) Son
Answer: A
Explanation: Yamuna (1,376 km) is the longest tributary of the Ganga.
52. Which is the largest tributary of the Ganga by volume of water?
A) Yamuna
B) Ghaghra
C) Gandak
D) Kosi
Answer: B
Explanation: Ghaghra River carries the maximum water among Ganga’s tributaries.
53. The Son River is a tributary of:
A) Ganga
B) Yamuna
C) Brahmaputra
D) Godavari
Answer: A
Explanation: Son joins the Ganga near Patna.
54. Chambal, Betwa and Ken are tributaries of:
A) Godavari
B) Krishna
C) Yamuna
D) Ganga
Answer: C
Explanation: These rivers join the Yamuna.
55. The Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) is built on which river?
A) Ganga
B) Damodar
C) Mahanadi
D) Son
Answer: B
Explanation: DVC is a multipurpose project on the Damodar River.
56. Nagarjuna Sagar Dam is constructed on which river?
A) Godavari
B) Krishna
C) Kaveri
D) Mahanadi
Answer: B
Explanation: Nagarjuna Sagar Dam (Telangana/AP) is on Krishna River.
57. Sardar Sarovar Dam is built on which river?
A) Godavari
B) Narmada
C) Tapti
D) Chambal
Answer: B
Explanation: Sardar Sarovar Dam (Gujarat) is on the Narmada River.
58. Bhakra Nangal Dam is built on which river?
A) Sutlej
B) Beas
C) Chenab
D) Ravi
Answer: A
Explanation: Bhakra Nangal Dam (Himachal Pradesh) is on the Sutlej River.
59. The Hirakud Dam is constructed on:
A) Godavari
B) Mahanadi
C) Krishna
D) Kaveri
Answer: B
Explanation: Hirakud (Odisha) is on the Mahanadi River.
60. Which dam is built on the Tungabhadra River?
A) Hirakud
B) Bhakra
C) Tungabhadra Dam
D) Rihand
Answer: C
Explanation: Tungabhadra Dam is built near Hospet (Karnataka).
61. The Rihand Dam is located in which state?
A) Bihar
B) Uttar Pradesh
C) Madhya Pradesh
D) Jharkhand
Answer: B
Explanation: Rihand Dam is in Sonbhadra district of Uttar Pradesh.
62. The Indira Gandhi Canal draws its water from which river?
A) Narmada
B) Sutlej–Beas system
C) Yamuna
D) Chambal
Answer: B
Explanation: Indira Gandhi Canal (Rajasthan) draws water from Sutlej–Beas rivers.
63. The Tehri Dam is built on which river?
A) Alaknanda
B) Bhagirathi
C) Yamuna
D) Chenab
Answer: B
Explanation: Tehri Dam (Uttarakhand) is on the Bhagirathi River.
64. The Koyna Dam is built on which river?
A) Godavari
B) Krishna
C) Koyna
D) Tungabhadra
Answer: C
Explanation: Koyna Dam (Maharashtra) is built on Koyna River, a tributary of Krishna.
65. The Mettur Dam (Stanley Reservoir) is constructed on:
A) Krishna
B) Kaveri
C) Godavari
D) Mahanadi
Answer: B
Explanation: Mettur Dam (Tamil Nadu) is on Kaveri River.
66. The Ukai Dam is constructed on which river?
A) Tapti
B) Narmada
C) Mahi
D) Sabarmati
Answer: A
Explanation: Ukai Dam (Gujarat) is on the Tapti River.
67. Pong Dam is built on:
A) Sutlej
B) Beas
C) Ravi
D) Yamuna
Answer: B
Explanation: Pong Dam (Himachal Pradesh) is on Beas River.
68. Gandhi Sagar Dam is constructed on:
A) Chambal
B) Yamuna
C) Son
D) Betwa
Answer: A
Explanation: Gandhi Sagar Dam (MP) is on the Chambal River.
69. Which river project is called the “Gift of Karnataka to Tamil Nadu”?
A) Krishna Project
B) Tungabhadra Project
C) Kaveri Project
D) Hemavati Project
Answer: C
Explanation: Kaveri waters shared between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu is often referred this way.
70. Which dam is known as the “Lifeline of Gujarat”?
A) Ukai
B) Sardar Sarovar
C) Koyna
D) Rihand
Answer: B
Explanation: Sardar Sarovar Dam on Narmada is called Gujarat’s lifeline.
71. Which Indian river has the largest river basin?
A) Ganga
B) Godavari
C) Brahmaputra
D) Indus
Answer: A
Explanation: The Ganga basin (~8.6 lakh sq km) is the largest in India.
72. Which is the second-largest river basin in India?
A) Brahmaputra
B) Godavari
C) Indus
D) Krishna
Answer: B
Explanation: The Godavari basin (~3.1 lakh sq km) is the second-largest.
73. Which river is known as the “Lifeline of Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat”?
A) Yamuna
B) Godavari
C) Narmada
D) Tapi
Answer: C
Explanation: Narmada River is vital for water and power in MP and Gujarat.
74. The famous Srisailam Dam is constructed across which river?
A) Godavari
B) Krishna
C) Tungabhadra
D) Kaveri
Answer: B
Explanation: Srisailam Dam (Andhra Pradesh) is on the Krishna River.
75. The Bhavanisagar Dam is built on which tributary of the Kaveri?
A) Hemavati
B) Amaravati
C) Bhavani
D) Arkavati
Answer: C
Explanation: Bhavanisagar Dam (TN) is built on Bhavani River, a tributary of Kaveri.
76. Which river was declared a “living entity” with legal rights by Uttarakhand High Court in 2017?
A) Ganga and Yamuna
B) Narmada and Tapti
C) Godavari and Krishna
D) Brahmaputra and Teesta
Answer: A
Explanation: The court recognized Ganga and Yamuna as legal persons to protect them from pollution.
77. Which river hosts the world’s largest river island “Majuli”?
A) Ganga
B) Yamuna
C) Brahmaputra
D) Godavari
Answer: C
Explanation: Majuli (Assam) is the world’s largest river island, on Brahmaputra.
78. Which river was in news due to the Ken–Betwa river interlinking project?
A) Chambal
B) Son
C) Ken and Betwa
D) Yamuna and Ganga
Answer: C
Explanation: The Ken–Betwa link (Madhya Pradesh–Uttar Pradesh) is India’s first major river interlinking project.
79. Which river is associated with the Polavaram Project?
A) Krishna
B) Godavari
C) Kaveri
D) Mahanadi
Answer: B
Explanation: Polavaram Multipurpose Project is on the Godavari River in Andhra Pradesh.
80. Which state is associated with the “Mission Clean Ganga” (Namami Gange Project)?
A) Uttar Pradesh
B) Bihar
C) West Bengal
D) All Ganga basin states
Answer: D
Explanation: Namami Gange is a central project covering all Ganga basin states.
81. Which river is called “Dakshin Ganga” (Ganga of the South)?
A) Krishna
B) Godavari
C) Mahanadi
D) Kaveri
Answer: B
Explanation: Godavari is the longest Peninsular river, hence called Dakshin Ganga.
82. Which river has the Sardar Sarovar Project, often in news?
A) Godavari
B) Narmada
C) Tapi
D) Mahi
Answer: B
Explanation: Sardar Sarovar Dam is on the Narmada, a lifeline for Gujarat and MP.
83. Which state is NOT part of the Ganga river basin?
A) Uttarakhand
B) Punjab
C) Bihar
D) West Bengal
Answer: B
Explanation: Punjab belongs to the Indus basin, not the Ganga basin.
84. Which river forms the border between India and Pakistan in parts of Punjab?
A) Ravi
B) Jhelum
C) Chenab
D) Sutlej
Answer: A
Explanation: Ravi River forms part of the Indo–Pak boundary.
85. Which river was in news for the “Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project”?
A) Krishna
B) Godavari
C) Mahanadi
D) Yamuna
Answer: B
Explanation: Kaleshwaram Project (Telangana) is on Godavari River.
86. Which river is known as “Yarlung Tsangpo” in Tibet?
A) Indus
B) Ganga
C) Brahmaputra
D) Yamuna
Answer: C
Explanation: Brahmaputra is called Yarlung Tsangpo in Tibet.
87. Which river was in dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu?
A) Godavari
B) Krishna
C) Kaveri
D) Tungabhadra
Answer: C
Explanation: The Kaveri river water dispute has been a major inter-state issue.
88. Which river is the lifeline of Rajasthan, flowing into Pakistan?
A) Banas
B) Luni
C) Ghaggar
D) Chambal
Answer: B
Explanation: Luni River flows through Rajasthan into the Rann of Kachchh.
89. Which river forms the Dudhsagar Waterfall?
A) Sharavathi
B) Mandovi
C) Zuari
D) Periyar
Answer: B
Explanation: Dudhsagar Falls (Goa) is on the Mandovi River.
90. Which river flows through Hyderabad city?
A) Godavari
B) Krishna
C) Musi
D) Tungabhadra
Answer: C
Explanation: Musi River, a tributary of Krishna, flows through Hyderabad.
91. Which river flows into the Arabian Sea through Kerala and is dammed at Idukki?
A) Periyar
B) Bharathapuzha
C) Pamba
D) Sharavathi
Answer: A
Explanation: Periyar River flows through Kerala; the Idukki Dam is built on it.
92. Which river is known as the “Sorrow of Odisha”?
A) Mahanadi
B) Baitarani
C) Subarnarekha
D) Rushikulya
Answer: A
Explanation: The Mahanadi River causes frequent floods in Odisha.
93. Which river is famous for India’s first river interlinking project (Ken–Betwa)?
A) Chambal
B) Godavari
C) Ken and Betwa
D) Yamuna and Ganga
Answer: C
Explanation: The Ken–Betwa project was India’s first approved river interlinking project.
94. The Indus Water Treaty allows India to use which rivers exclusively?
A) Jhelum, Chenab, Indus
B) Ravi, Beas, Sutlej
C) Ganga, Yamuna, Ghaghra
D) Brahmaputra, Teesta, Subansiri
Answer: B
Explanation: India uses Ravi, Beas, Sutlej; Pakistan gets Jhelum, Chenab, Indus.
95. Which river is joined by the Betwa and Ken before merging with Yamuna?
A) Chambal
B) Gandak
C) Ghaghra
D) Son
Answer: A
Explanation: Chambal River joins Yamuna, receiving Betwa and Ken tributaries.
96. Which river is also known as “Vriddha Ganga” (Old Ganga)?
A) Godavari
B) Krishna
C) Mahanadi
D) Kaveri
Answer: A
Explanation: Godavari is also called Vriddha Ganga.
97. Which river hosts the world’s largest earthen dam, Hirakud?
A) Mahanadi
B) Godavari
C) Krishna
D) Yamuna
Answer: A
Explanation: Hirakud (Odisha) is the world’s longest earthen dam on the Mahanadi.
98. Which river project is shared between India, Nepal and Bangladesh?
A) Teesta Project
B) Ganga Water Treaty
C) Kosi Project
D) Gandak Project
Answer: D
Explanation: The Gandak Project is a joint irrigation project of India, Nepal and Bangladesh.
99. Which river system drains the largest area in India?
A) Indus
B) Ganga
C) Brahmaputra
D) Godavari
Answer: B
Explanation: Ganga basin (~8.6 lakh sq km) is the largest in India.
100. Which river is home to the Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary?
A) Ganga
B) Yamuna
C) Brahmaputra
D) Hooghly
Answer: A
Explanation: The Ganga River in Bihar has the Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary.