44 RAS Prelims MCQs on the rivers and lakes of India cover the classification of rivers, the Indus Waters Treaty, rift valley rivers, the Luni of Rajasthan and the major lakes. The origin and mouth of rivers and the type and State of each lake are tested, and each explanation names the feature that sets the river or lake apart.
Practice questions based on the RPSC RAS Prelims syllabus. They follow the exam pattern but are not past-paper questions.
Showing 11–20 of 44 questions
RAS PrelimsIndian Geography · Major Rivers and Lakes of India
Q11. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below:
West-Flowing River
Geographical Feature
A. Narmada
i. Flows between Vindhya and Satpura ranges
B. Tapi
ii. Flows south of the Satpura range
C. Luni
iii. Disappears in the Rann of Kutch
D. Sabarmati
iv. Originates in the Aravalli range
Codes:
Explanation
The Narmada flows through the rift valley between the Vindhya and Satpura ranges. The Tapi follows a parallel path to the south of the Satpuras. The Luni is an inland river that eventually disappears into the marshy Rann of Kutch. The Sabarmati originates in the Aravalli range and flows south through Gujarat to reach the Gulf of Khambhat.
RAS PrelimsIndian Geography · Major Rivers and Lakes of India
Q12. Consider the following statements about the Tapi river: I. It flows parallel to the Narmada river. II. Its basin covers parts of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat. III. It is longer in length than the Narmada river. Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
The Tapi is a major west-flowing river that runs parallel to the Narmada. Its basin is shared by the states of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat. Although it is a significant river, it is much shorter in length compared to the Narmada. Both rivers are unique because they flow westwards, contrary to the general eastward slope of the Indian peninsula.
RAS PrelimsIndian Geography · Major Rivers and Lakes of India
Q13. From where does the Tapi river originate?
Explanation
The Tapi river has its source in the Satpura ranges of central India. It specifically originates from the Multai reserve forest in the Betul district of Madhya Pradesh. From this point, it flows westward for about seven hundred kilometers through a valley south of the Narmada. It eventually drains into the Arabian Sea near the industrial city of Surat.
RAS PrelimsIndian Geography · Major Rivers and Lakes of India
Q14. Which of the following is an exception to the west-flowing rivers of the Peninsular plateau?
Explanation
The Narmada, Tapi, Mahi, and Periyar are all notable rivers that flow westward into the Arabian Sea or local gulfs. However, the Subarnarekha is an exception among these. It originates in the Chota Nagpur plateau and flows in an easterly direction through Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Odisha before emptying its waters into the Bay of Bengal on the east coast.
RAS PrelimsIndian Geography · Major Rivers and Lakes of India
Q15. Given below are two statements, one labeled as Assertion (A) and the other labeled as Reason (R): Assertion (A): The Narmada and Tapi rivers flow westwards into the Arabian Sea and do not form deltas. Reason (R): They flow through fault-guided rift valleys with steep gradients and lack a broad coastal plain to deposit their sediments.
Explanation
The Narmada and Tapi are west-flowing rivers that do not form deltas at their mouths. This is because they traverse through narrow, fault-guided rift valleys with very steep gradients. This geological structure prevents the rivers from carrying and depositing large amounts of sediment over a wide coastal plain. Consequently, they form estuaries where they meet the Arabian Sea directly.
RAS PrelimsIndian Geography · Major Rivers and Lakes of India
Q16. The Luni river is sweet in its upper reaches but turns saline as it moves downstream. This concept is primarily applied to its flow after reaching which town in Rajasthan?
Explanation
The Luni river is sweet in its upper course but becomes saline after Balotra, because of the salt-bearing soils of the region it crosses. Its name means the salty river.
RAS PrelimsIndian Geography · Major Rivers and Lakes of India
Q17. Consider the following statements about the tributaries of the Luni river: I. The Jojari is the only right-bank tributary of the Luni. II. The Sukri, Bandi, and Jawai are left-bank tributaries. III. All tributaries of Luni originate from the Aravalli hills without exception. IV. The Luni river system forms an endorheic drainage basin. Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
The Jojari is the only right-bank tributary of the Luni, and the Sukri, Bandi and Jawai are left-bank tributaries. The Luni system is an endorheic (inland) drainage basin. Not every tributary rises in the Aravallis, so III is wrong.
RAS PrelimsIndian Geography · Major Rivers and Lakes of India
Q18. Where does the Luni river originate?
Explanation
The Luni rises in the Pushkar valley of the Aravalli range, near Ajmer, and flows south-west to end in the Rann of Kachchh.
RAS PrelimsIndian Geography · Major Rivers and Lakes of India
Q19. Identify the correct statement regarding the Luni river:
Explanation
The Luni does not reach the sea, as it ends in the marshes of the Rann of Kachchh, and it flows only in the rains. It is a good example of an endorheic or inland drainage system.
RAS PrelimsIndian Geography · Major Rivers and Lakes of India
Q20. Identify the correctly matched pair of natural lakes and their respective states:
Explanation
Wular Lake is in Jammu and Kashmir. Loktak is in Manipur, Dal Lake in Jammu and Kashmir and Chilika in Odisha, so the other pairs are wrong.
Answer key for these questions
Q
Correct answer
11
(a) A-i, B-ii, C-iii, D-iv
12
(a) I and II only
13
(d) Multai in Betul district
14
(a) Subarnarekha
15
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
16
(b) Balotra
17
(a) I, II and IV only
18
(c) Pushkar valley of the Aravallis
19
(d) It is an excellent example of an endorheic or inland drainage system
20
(c) Wular Lake - Jammu and Kashmir
Key facts from Major Rivers and Lakes of India
Indian rivers are classified as Himalayan and Peninsular on the basis of origin and evolutionary history.
Under the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960, India has exclusive rights over the Ravi, Beas and Sutlej.
The Narmada and Tapi are rift valley rivers flowing between the Vindhya and Satpura; the Tapi rises at Multai in Betul district.
The Luni rises in the Pushkar valley of the Aravallis and turns saline after Balotra; it is an inland-drainage river.
Wular Lake is India’s largest freshwater lake and was formed by tectonic activity; Chilika is the largest coastal lagoon and a Ramsar site.
Loktak in Manipur has floating phumdis and the Keibul Lamjao floating national park; Sambhar is the largest inland salt lake.
Frequently asked questions
How many RAS Prelims practice MCQs are there on Major Rivers and Lakes of India?
This page has 44 practice MCQs on Major Rivers and Lakes of India (Indian Geography). Each has the correct answer, and most have an explanation.
Which rivers does India control under the Indus Waters Treaty?
The three eastern rivers, the Ravi, Beas and Sutlej. The three western rivers, the Indus, Jhelum and Chenab, are allotted mainly to Pakistan under the 1960 treaty, with limited use allowed to India.
Where does the Luni river rise and end?
The Luni rises in the Pushkar valley of the Aravalli range near Ajmer and flows south-west, ending in the marshes of the Rann of Kachchh. It does not reach the sea and is a good example of inland drainage.
What is the largest coastal lagoon in India?
Chilika Lake in Odisha. It was the first Indian wetland recognised as a Ramsar site and supports the Irrawaddy dolphin, and its salinity changes with the seasons as river water mixes with sea water.
