Q 1 – What is a river/drainage basin?
Ans. A river/drainage basin is an area drained by a single river system.
Q 2 – What is a watershed?
Ans. An upland/highland area that separates two drainage basin systems.
Q 3 – Which river has the largest basin in India?
Ans. River Ganga has the largest basin in India.
Q 4 – In which two major groups Indian rivers are divided into?
Ans. The Indian rivers are divided into:
(a) The Himalayan rivers
(b) The Peninsular rivers
Q 5 – What is a perennial river?
Ans. Perennial rivers have water throughout the year. These rivers get water from rain and snow e.g. River Ganga
Q 6 – What is a gorge?
Ans. A gorge is a deep narrow channel created by a flowing river.
Q 7 – What do Himalayan rivers do in their upper course?
Ans. The Himalayan rivers perform intensive erosional activity in their upper course and carry huge loads of silt and sand.
Q 8 – List the factors on which the drainage patterns depend.
Ans. The slope of the land, the rock structure as well as the climatic conditions of the area are some factors on which the drainage pattern depends.
Q 9 – How is the dendritic pattern formed by the river?
Ans. The dendritic pattern is formed by the river channel, when the river follows the slope of the land. The stream with its tributaries develops a pattern that resembles the branches of a tree so named as dendritic.
Q 10 – How does a rectangular pattern of drainage develop?
Ans. Rectangular pattern of drainage develops on a strongly jointed rocky’ terrain.
Q 11 – How does a radial pattern of drainage develop?
Ans. Radial pattern develops when streams flow in different directions from a central peak/dome.
Q 12 – Why are peninsular rivers called seasonal?
Ans. The peninsular rivers are called seasonal because their flow depends upon rainfall. Even large rivers like the Narmada have less water during the dry season.
Q 13 – Where do most of the peninsular rivers originate? Where do they flow?
Ans. Most of the peninsular rivers originate from the Western Ghats and they flow into the Bay of Bengal.
Q 14 – Name three main Himalayan river systems.
Ans. The three main Himalayan river systems are the Indus system, the Ganga system and the Brahmaputra system.
Q 15 – Mention any two features of the Himalayan rivers.
Ans. The two features of the Himalayan rivers are:
(a) The Himalayan rivers are long.
(b) They are joined by many large and important tributaries.
Q 16 – What is a river system?
Ans. A river alongwith its tributaries may be called a river system.
Q 17 – Where does the Indus river originate?
Ans. The Indus river originates in Tibet, near lake Mansarowar.
Q 18 – Name the tributaries which join Indus river in Kashmir.
Ans. The Zaskar, the Nubra, the Hunza and the Shyok are the tributaries which join Indus river in Kashmir.
Q 19 – Which are the main tributaries of River Indus?
Ans. The Satluj, the Ravi, the Beas, the Chenab and the Jhelum are the main tributaries of River Indus.
Q 20 – In which sea River Indus falls into?
Ans. River Indus flows into the Arabian Sea.
Q 21 – What is the total length of River Indus?
Ans. The total length of river Indus is 2900 km.
Q 22 – Write the regulations mentioned in Indus Water TVeaty of 1960?
Ans. According to the regulations of the Indus Water Treaty of 1960, India can use only 20% of the total water carried by the Indus river system.
Q 23 – From which place does the River Ganga originate?
Ans. The headwaters of the Ganga called the Bhagirathi is fed by Gangotri Glacier and joined by Alaknanda at Devaprayag in Uttarakhand.
Q 24 – Name the main tributaries of River Ganga.
Ans. The Yamuna, the Ghaghara, the Gandak and the Kosi are the main tributaries of River Ganga.
Q 25 – From which place does Yamuna river originate?
Ans. River Yamuna originates from Yamunotri glacier. Being a right bank tributary of Ganga river. It joins Ganga river at Allahabad.
Q 26 – Mention the journey/river drainage of River Yamuna.
Ans. Starting from the Yamunotri glacier, it flows parallel to the Ganga and as a right bank tributary, meets the Ganga at Allahabad.
Q 27 – Which rivers rise from Nepal Himalayas?
Ans. The Ghaghara, the Gandak and the Kosi rise in the Nepal Himalayas.
Q 28 – Mention the distinguished features about the Ghaghara, the Gandak and the Kosi river.
Ans. (a) These rivers flood the northern plains every year.
(b) They enrich the soil for agricultural use.
Q 29 – Which tributaries join Ganga from peninsular uplands?
Ans. The Chambal, the Betwa and the Son join the Ganga from the peninsular uplands.
Q 30 – What is the main feature of the tributaries of Ganga joining from the peninsula?
Ans. These tributaries rise from semi-arid areas with shorter courses and do not carry much water.
Q 31 – What is the Namami Gauge Programme?
Ans. It is an Integrated Conservation Mission approved as a ‘flagship programme’ by the Union Government in June 2014.
Q 32 – List the twin objectives of Namami Gauge Programme.
Ans. Abatement of pollution, conservation and rejuvenation of the national river Ganga.
Q 33 – Where is the northernmost point of the Ganga delta?
Ans. The northernmost point of the Ganga delta is in Farakka, West Bengal.
Q 34 – Where did Ganga river named as Meghna?
Ans. After joining Brahamputra river, Ganga river named as Meghna.
Q 35 – How is Sundarban delta formed?
Ans. The waters of two very big rivers i.e. the Ganga and the Brahmaputra flows into the Bay of Bengal and the delta formed by these rivers is known as Sundarban delta. It is the world’s largest and . fastest growing delta.
Q 36 – How is the Sundarban delta named?
Ans. The Sundarban delta gets its name from the Sundari trees which grow very well in the marshland and does not get rot in water.
Q 37 – What is the total length of the River Ganga?
Ans. The total length of the River Ganga is over 2500 km.
Q 38 – Which place is located on water divide of river Ganga and river Indus?
Ans. Plains of Ambala is located on water divide of the Ganga and Indus river.
Q 39 – How does River Ganga forms large meanders?
Ans. The plains from Ambala to the Sunderban stretch over nearly 1800 km, but the fall in its slope is hardly 300 metres there is a fall of one metre for every 6 km. Thus the river develops large meanders
Q 40 – From where does Brahmaputra river originate?
Ans. The Brahmaputra river originates in Tibet, east of Mansarowar lake very close to the sources of the Indus and the Satluj.
Q 41 – From where Brahmaputra river enters India?
Ans. On reaching the Namcha Barwa (7757m), it takes a U-turn and enters India in Arunachal Pradesh through gorge.
Q 42 – When did Brahmaputra river known as Dihang?
Ans. When Brahmaputra river enters India, it is known as Dihang.
Q 43 – What is Brahmaputra called in Tibet and Bangladesh?
Ans. Brahmaputra called as Tsang Po in Tibet and Jamuna in Bangladesh.
Q 44 – Why does River Brahmaputra carry less water and silt in Tibet?
Ans. In Tibet, River Brahmaputra carry less water and silt as it is a dry and cold area.
Q 45 – Give one feature of River Brahmaputra.
Ans. The Brahmaputra river is a braided channel in its entire length in Assam and forms many riverine islands, e.g. Majuli in Brahmaputra, is the largest inhabited riverine island in the world.
Q 46 – Mention the cause behind widespread devastation caused by Brahmaputra river.
Ans. Due to floods in Assam and Bangladesh during rainy season, every year Brahmaputra river overflows its banks and cause widespread devastation.
Q 47 – How is Brahmaputra river different from other north Indian rivers?
Ans. Unlike other north Indian rivers, the Brahmaputra river got huge deposits of silt on its bed which results in rising of river bed. The river also shifts its channel frequently.
Q 48 – Name the main water divide in Peninsular India.
Ans. The main water divide in Peninsular India is formed by the Western Ghats.
Q 49 – Name the major peninsular rivers of India.
Ans. The Mahanadi, the Godavari, the Krishna and the Kaveri are the major peninsular rivers in India.
Q 50 – Name the peninsular rivers flowing westwards and also make estuaries.
Ans. The Narmada and the Tapi are the peninsular rivers flow westwards and also make estuaries
Q 51 – From which place Narmada river rises?
Ans. The Narmada river rises in Amarkantak hills in Madhya Pradesh.
Q 52 – Mention some picturesque location of Narmada river when the Narmada river flows through.
Ans. The Marbel rocks near Jabalpur and the Dhuadhar falls form picturesque location
Q 53 – Name the scheme undertaken by the government of Madhya Pradesh for the Narmada river conservation
Ans. Namami Devi Narmade.
Q 54 – In which Indian states Narmada basin formed?
Ans. Narmada basin formed in Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat.
Q 55 – Where does the River Tapi rises?
Ans. The River Tapi rises in Satpura ranges in the Betul district of Madhya Pradesh.
Q 56 – Name the Indian states which covers parts of Tapi basin.
Ans. Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra are the states which covers the Tapi basin.
Q 57 – Why coastal rivers are short in length?
Ans. Coastal rivers are short in length because the coastal plains between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea are very narrow.
Q 58 – Name the major west-flowing rivers of the W’estern Ghats.
Ans. Sabarmati, Mahi, Bharathpuzha and Periyar are the major west flowing rivers of the Western Ghats.
Q 59 – Which is the largest Peninsular river?
Ans. River Godavari is the largest Peninsular river.
Q 60 – Where does the River Godavari rise?
Ans. The River Godavari rises from the slopes of the Western Ghat in the Nasik district of Maharashtra.
Q 61 – Which drainage basin largest among Peninsular rivers?
Ans. Godavari drainage basin is largest among the Peninsular rivers.
Q 62 – Name the tributaries of River Godavari.
Ans. The Purna, the Wardha, the Pranhita, the Manjra, the Wainganga and the Penganga are the tributaries of River Godavari.
Q 63 – Which river is known as Dakshin Ganga?
Ans. Godavari river is known as Dakshin Ganga.
Q 64 – From where does the Mahanadi river rises?
Ans. Mahanadi river rises in the highlands of Chhattisgarh.
Q 65 – Write the total length of Mahanadi river? Which Indian states have Mahanadi river basin?
Ans. The total length of river is 860 km. Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Odisha have Mahandi river basin.
Q 66 – From which region River Krishna rises?
Ans. River Krishna rises from a spring near Mahabaleshwar.
Q 67 – Mention the length of Krishna river. In which waterbody it falls into?
Ans. The total length of Krishna river is 1400 km and it falls into the Bay of Bengal.
Q 68 – Name the major tributaries of River Krishna.
Ans. The Tungabhadra, the Koyana, the Ghatprabha, the Musi and the Bhima are the major tributaries of River Krishna.
Q 69 – Which Indian states share the basin of Krishna river?
Ans. Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh are the Indian states which shared the Krishna basin.
Q 70 – Write the main tributaries of Kaveri river. Also mention its total length.
Ans. Kaveri basin’s main tributaries are Amravati, Bhavani, Hemavati and Kabini. Its total length is 760 km.
Q 71 – Name the Indian states which have Kaveri basin.
Ans. Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu have the Kaveri basin.
Q 72 – Name the second biggest waterfall in India which is made by River Kaveri.
Ans. The second biggest waterfall in India which is made by River Kaveri is Jog Falls, it is used to generate hydroelectricity.
Q 73 – Name the biggest waterfall in India.
Ans. Kunchikal falls (1493 feet/455 mts)
Q 74 – Mention the composition of water on earth’s surface.
Ans. 71% of the earth’s surface is covered with water. 97% of it is salt water and only 3% is in the form of fresh water in rivers, lakes, ponds, glaciers and ice caps.
Q 75 – How are oxbow lakes formed?
Ans. A meandering river cuts across the narrow neck of the meander forming an oxbow lake.
Q 76 – How lakes become seasonal?
Ans. Lakes in the region of inland drainage are sometime seasonal, e.g. Sambhar lake of Rajasthan.
Q 77 – What are fresh water lakes?
Ans. Fresh water lakes are mostly found in the Himalayan region. These are usually formed by a glacier and get filled with water by melting snow.
Q 78 – Name some fresh water lakes of India.
Ans. The Wular, Dal, Bhimtal, Nainital, Loktak and Barapani are some fresh water lakes.
Q 79 – How are man-made lakes formed?
Ans. Man-made lakes are formed when the rivers are used for generation of hydro-electricity by constructing a dam across a river. e.g. Guru Gobind Sagar lake (Bhakra Nangal Dam Project)
Q 80 – Give the full form of GAP & NRCP.
Ans. GAP is Ganga Action Plan and NRCP is National River Conservation Plan.