📘 Question Bank – Chapter 3: DRAINAGE

🟩 Section A: 40 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

(Each question carries one correct answer)

1️⃣ The area drained by a single river and its tributaries is called a —
d) Plateau c) River valley b) Drainage basin a) Water divide
👉 Answer: b) Drainage basin

2️⃣ An elevated area separating two drainage basins is known as —
d) Lagoon c) Tributary b) Water divide a) Delta
👉 Answer: b) Water divide

3️⃣ Which river has the largest drainage basin in India?
d) Brahmaputra c) Godavari b) Ganga a) Indus
👉 Answer: b) Ganga

4️⃣ Himalayan rivers are —
d) Artificial c) Dry b) Perennial a) Seasonal
👉 Answer: b) Perennial

5️⃣ Peninsular rivers are mostly —
d) Artificial c) Snow-fed b) Seasonal a) Perennial
👉 Answer: b) Seasonal

6️⃣ The Indus River originates near —
d) Lake Victoria c) Lake Chilika b) Lake Mansarovar a) Lake Baikal
👉 Answer: b) Lake Mansarovar

7️⃣ The Indus flows into which sea?
d) Red Sea c) Caspian Sea b) Arabian Sea a) Bay of Bengal
👉 Answer: b) Arabian Sea

8️⃣ Which is the longest river in India?
d) Yamuna c) Brahmaputra b) Godavari a) Ganga
👉 Answer: a) Ganga

9️⃣ The Ganga originates from —
d) Zaskar Range c) Yamunotri Glacier b) Gangotri Glacier a) Siachen Glacier
👉 Answer: b) Gangotri Glacier

🔟 The Alaknanda and Bhagirathi meet at —
d) Allahabad c) Devaprayag b) Haridwar a) Rishikesh
👉 Answer: c) Devaprayag

11️⃣ The Yamuna joins the Ganga at —
d) Kolkata c) Varanasi b) Allahabad (Prayagraj) a) Patna
👉 Answer: b) Allahabad (Prayagraj)

12️⃣ The Sundarban Delta is formed by —
d) Narmada and Tapi c) Godavari and Krishna b) Ganga and Yamuna a) Ganga and Brahmaputra
👉 Answer: a) Ganga and Brahmaputra

13️⃣ The Brahmaputra is called Tsang Po in —
d) Bangladesh c) Tibet b) Bhutan a) Nepal
👉 Answer: c) Tibet

14️⃣ The Brahmaputra enters India through —
d) Nagaland c) Sikkim b) Assam a) Arunachal Pradesh
👉 Answer: a) Arunachal Pradesh

15️⃣ The Western Ghats form the main —
d) Desert c) Plateau b) Water divide a) Delta
👉 Answer: b) Water divide

16️⃣ Narmada flows through a —
d) Plain c) Delta b) Gorge a) Rift valley
👉 Answer: a) Rift valley

17️⃣ The “Marble Rocks” and “Dhuandhar Falls” are on —
d) Mahanadi c) Krishna b) Narmada a) Godavari
👉 Answer: b) Narmada

18️⃣ The Tapi River flows into —
d) None c) Indian Ocean b) Arabian Sea a) Bay of Bengal
👉 Answer: b) Arabian Sea

19️⃣ The Godavari is also known as —
d) Peninsular Ganga c) Krishna Ganga b) Dakshin Ganga a) Uttar Ganga
👉 Answer: b) Dakshin Ganga

20️⃣ The Godavari rises from —
d) Brahmagiri c) Nasik b) Amarkantak a) Mahabaleshwar
👉 Answer: c) Nasik

21️⃣ The Mahanadi flows through —
d) Punjab c) Gujarat b) Kerala a) Odisha
👉 Answer: a) Odisha

22️⃣ The Krishna originates near —
d) Ooty c) Coorg b) Mahabaleshwar a) Kodaikanal
👉 Answer: b) Mahabaleshwar

23️⃣ The Kaveri flows through —
d) Andhra and Odisha c) Kerala and Odisha b) Karnataka and Tamil Nadu a) Maharashtra and Gujarat
👉 Answer: b) Karnataka and Tamil Nadu

24️⃣ The second biggest waterfall in India is —
d) Chitrakoot c) Dhuandhar b) Shivasamudram a) Jog
👉 Answer: b) Shivasamudram

25️⃣ The largest freshwater lake in India is —
d) Loktak c) Bhimtal b) Wular a) Dal
👉 Answer: b) Wular

26️⃣ The Chilika Lake is located in —
d) Kerala c) Tamil Nadu b) Odisha a) West Bengal
👉 Answer: b) Odisha

27️⃣ The Sambhar Lake is famous for —
d) Fresh water c) Fishing b) Salt production a) Hydel power
👉 Answer: b) Salt production

28️⃣ The Pulicat Lake is a —
d) Rift Lake c) Man-made Lake b) Glacial Lake a) Lagoon
👉 Answer: a) Lagoon

29️⃣ The Hirakud Dam is built on —
d) Kaveri c) Krishna b) Mahanadi a) Godavari
👉 Answer: b) Mahanadi

30️⃣ Which river is called “Sorrow of West Bengal”?
d) Kosi c) Subarnarekha b) Damodar a) Ganga
👉 Answer: b) Damodar

31️⃣ The Narmada and Tapi flow into —
d) None c) Indian Ocean b) Arabian Sea a) Bay of Bengal
👉 Answer: b) Arabian Sea

32️⃣ “Namami Devi Narmade” is a —
d) Waterfall c) Glacier b) River conservation project a) Dam
👉 Answer: b) River conservation project

33️⃣ The Ganga Action Plan started in —
d) 2010 c) 2000 b) 1995 a) 1985
👉 Answer: a) 1985

34️⃣ The National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) began in —
d) 2014 c) 2001 b) 1995 a) 1980
👉 Answer: b) 1995

35️⃣ The main cause of river pollution is —
b) Industrial waste a) Tourism & d) None c) Floods sewage
👉 Answer: b) Industrial waste & sewage

36️⃣ The Western Ghats are also known as —
d) Nilgiris c) Satpuras b) Vindhyas a) Sahyadri
👉 Answer: a) Sahyadri

37️⃣ Majuli Island is formed by —
d) Godavari c) Mahanadi b) Brahmaputra a) Ganga
👉 Answer: b) Brahmaputra

38️⃣ The largest delta in the world is —
d) Congo Delta c) Sundarban Delta b) Amazon Delta a) Ganga Delta
👉 Answer: c) Sundarban Delta

39️⃣ The Nizam Sagar and Nagarjuna Sagar are built on —
d) Kaveri c) Mahanadi b) Godavari a) Krishna
👉 Answer: a) Krishna

40️⃣ The Kolleru Lake lies between —
d) Yamuna and Ganga c) Krishna and Kaveri b) Mahanadi and Godavari a) Godavari and Krishna deltas
👉 Answer: a) Godavari and Krishna deltas

🟨 Section B – Short Answer Questions (with Answers)

(3 – 4 lines each)

1️⃣ Define drainage and drainage basin.
Answer:
Drainage means the system of flowing water through rivers and streams in an area.
The region drained by a single river and its tributaries is called its drainage basin.

2️⃣ What is a water divide? Give one example.
Answer:
A water divide is a highland or ridge that separates two drainage basins.
👉 Example – Ambala town divides the Indus and Ganga basins.

3️⃣ Name the two main drainage systems of India.
Answer:

  1. The Himalayan Rivers – perennial and snow-fed.
  2. The Peninsular Rivers – seasonal and rain-fed.

4️⃣ Differentiate between Himalayan and Peninsular rivers.
Answer:
Himalayan rivers are long, perennial and form deltas; Peninsular rivers are short, seasonal and form estuaries or small deltas.

5️⃣ Name the major tributaries of the Indus River.
Answer:
Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas and Satluj are its main tributaries.

6️⃣ Where does the Ganga originate and what are its two headstreams?
Answer:
The Ganga originates from the Gangotri Glacier in Uttarakhand.
Its headstreams – Bhagirathi and Alaknanda – meet at Devaprayag.

7️⃣ Why is the Ganga considered sacred in India?
Answer:
Because it is worshipped as a holy river believed to purify sins and sustain life with its fertile waters in the plains of North India.

8️⃣ What is the Sundarban Delta and why is it famous?
Answer:
The Sundarban Delta is formed by the Ganga and Brahmaputra before entering the Bay of Bengal.
It is the largest and fastest-growing delta in the world and home to the Royal Bengal Tiger.

9️⃣ Why does the Brahmaputra cause floods every year?
Answer:
Because of heavy rainfall and huge silt deposits which raise its bed and make it overflow in Assam plains.

10️⃣ What are the two rivers that flow through rift valleys?
Answer:
The Narmada and Tapi rivers flow through rift valleys between the Vindhya and Satpura ranges.

11️⃣ Name the main west-flowing rivers of India.
Answer:
Narmada, Tapi, Mahi, Sabarmati and Periyar flow towards the Arabian Sea.

12️⃣ Why is the Godavari called Dakshin Ganga?
Answer:
Because it is the longest and largest river of Peninsular India, providing water and fertility like the Ganga does in the north.

13️⃣ Name two man-made and two natural lakes of India.
Answer:
Man-made – Gobind Sagar, Hirakud.
Natural – Wular, Dal.

14️⃣ What are the benefits of lakes to humans?
Answer:
Lakes store water, prevent floods, help irrigation, generate hydel power, support fishery and tourism, and maintain climate.

15️⃣ Mention three uses of river water in our economy.
Answer:
(3) Hydroelectric power generation. (2) Transport and navigation (1) Irrigation and drinking water

16️⃣ What causes river pollution?
Answer:
Discharge of untreated industrial waste, sewage, chemical fertilisers and plastic pollutes river water.

17️⃣ What was the main aim of the Ganga Action Plan (GAP)?
Answer:
To reduce pollution and improve the water quality of the Ganga by treating sewage and industrial effluents.

18️⃣ Which states share the Mahanadi basin?
Answer:
Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Odisha.

19️⃣ State two differences between east-flowing and west-flowing rivers.
Answer:
East-flowing rivers drain into the Bay of Bengal forming deltas; west-flowing rivers drain into the Arabian Sea forming estuaries.

20️⃣ Which is the largest freshwater lake in India and how was it formed?
Answer:
Wular Lake in Jammu and Kashmir; it was formed due to tectonic activity and is fed by the Jhelum River.

🟧 Section C – Long Answer Questions (with Answers)

(Each answer about 80 – 100 words / 5 marks)

1️⃣ Explain the two major drainage systems of India.
Answer:
India has two main drainage systems: (1) Himalayan Rivers – perennial, snow and rain-fed, long, and form large deltas (Ganga, Indus, Brahmaputra). (2) Peninsular Rivers – seasonal, shorter and flow on hard rocky plateaus, forming small deltas or estuaries (Godavari, Krishna, Narmada, Tapi).

2️⃣ Describe the main features of Himalayan rivers.
Answer:
They are perennial, snow and rain-fed, have large basins and deep valleys, flow swiftly forming gorges and meanders, deposit fertile alluvium and create vast deltas like Sundarban. They provide irrigation and transport facilities throughout the year.

3️⃣ Discuss the course and tributaries of the Indus River.
Answer:
Origin – Tibet near Lake Mansarovar; enters India in Ladakh, flows through Jammu & Kashmir and Punjab before entering Pakistan. Tributaries – Zaskar, Nubra, Shyok, Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas and Satluj. It forms a large delta near Karachi and drains into the Arabian Sea.

4️⃣ Trace the journey of the Ganga River from its origin to its delta.
Answer:
The Ganga rises from the Gangotri Glacier (Bhagirathi). Bhagirathi and Alaknanda join at Devaprayag. It is joined by Yamuna, Ghaghara, Gandak and Kosi from the Himalayas and Chambal, Betwa and Son from the Peninsula. At Farakka, it splits into Bhagirathi-Hooghly and Padma branches forming the Sundarban Delta before entering the Bay of Bengal.

5️⃣ Explain the features and significance of the Brahmaputra River.
Answer:
Origin – Tibet (east of Mansarovar) as Tsang Po; enters India through Arunachal Pradesh as Dihang, joined by Dibang and Lohit forming Brahmaputra. It carries enormous silt, forms river islands like Majuli, and causes floods in Assam. It is a major source of irrigation, transport and hydel power potential.

6️⃣ Describe the Peninsular river system and its main characteristics.
Answer:
Peninsular rivers are seasonal, flow on hard rocks and plateaus, have short courses and narrow basins. Most flow eastwards to the Bay of Bengal forming deltas, while few like Narmada and Tapi flow westwards forming estuaries.

7️⃣ Write short notes on the Narmada and Tapi basins.
Answer:
Both originate from Central India – Narmada from Amarkantak Hills and Tapi from Satpura Ranges. They flow westward through rift valleys and enter the Arabian Sea. They are used for irrigation and hydropower projects like Sardar Sarovar.

8️⃣ Describe the Godavari River basin and its tributaries.
Answer:
The Godavari rises in Nasik (Maharashtra) and flows 1,500 km east into the Bay of Bengal. Main tributaries – Purna, Wardha, Pranhita, Manjra, Wainganga and Penganga. It drains parts of MH, CG, AP and OD and is called Dakshin Ganga.

9️⃣ Write about the Mahanadi River and its economic importance.
Answer:
The Mahanadi rises from Chhattisgarh Highlands and flows through Odisha to the Bay of Bengal. It has a large delta and provides irrigation, hydropower (Hirakud Dam) and fishing opportunities.

10️⃣ Explain the Krishna and Kaveri river systems in detail.
Answer:
The Krishna rises from Mahabaleshwar, flows east through MH, KA and AP, and joins the Bay of Bengal. Main tributaries – Bhima, Tungabhadra. The Kaveri originates from Brahmagiri Range and flows through KA and TN; its tributaries are Hemavati, Kabini and Amravati. Both form fertile deltas.

11️⃣ Compare east-flowing and west-flowing rivers of Peninsular India.
Answer:
East-flowing rivers (Godavari, Mahanadi, Krishna, Kaveri) empty into the Bay of Bengal and form deltas. West-flowing rivers (Narmada, Tapi, Mahi, Sabarmati) flow into the Arabian Sea and form estuaries.

12️⃣ Explain how lakes are formed and mention their types with examples.
Answer:
Lakes form naturally (glacial, tectonic, lagoon, salt) or artificially (by dams). Examples – Dal (Glacial), Wular (Tectonic), Chilika (Lagoon), Sambhar (Salt), Gobind Sagar (Artificial).

13️⃣ Write the importance of lakes for human life and environment.
Answer:
Lakes store water, moderate climate, prevent floods, supply drinking water, help irrigation and hydropower, and promote fishery and tourism. They also support biodiversity.

14️⃣ “Rivers are the lifelines of our economy.” Explain.
Answer:
Rivers provide irrigation, drinking water, transport, hydropower and fishery. They create fertile plains and support industries and urban settlements. Thus, they are essential for agriculture and economic growth.

15️⃣ What are the causes and effects of river pollution?
Answer:
Causes – Sewage, industrial wastes, chemicals, and plastics.
Effects – Loss of aquatic life, unsafe drinking water, diseases, and degraded ecosystem.

16️⃣ Describe the Ganga Action Plan and National River Conservation Plan.
Answer:
GAP (1985) was launched to clean the Ganga by treating sewage and industrial waste. NRCP (1995) expanded this programme to include other major rivers for pollution control and river restoration.

17️⃣ Explain how river systems influence settlement and agriculture in India.
Answer:
Rivers provide fertile soil, water for irrigation, and means of transport. Hence, most ancient and modern settlements developed along rivers (Ganga, Yamuna, Brahmaputra).

18️⃣ What are deltas and estuaries? Compare with examples.
Answer:
A delta is a triangular deposit of silt where a river meets the sea (e.g. Ganga, Godavari). An estuary is a deep narrow mouth of a river without deposition (e.g. Narmada, Tapi).

19️⃣ Describe the role of rivers in energy production and navigation.
Answer:
Rivers with steep slopes like the Himalayan ones generate hydroelectric power. Navigable rivers like the Ganga and Brahmaputra help in inland transport and trade.

20️⃣ Why should we conserve rivers and lakes? Suggest measures.
Answer:
They provide water, food, and energy. To conserve them:

  • Treat industrial and household waste
  • Avoid plastic dumping
  • Reforest catchment areas
  • Implement conservation plans like NRCP.

 

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