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 21–30 of 44 questions
RAS PrelimsIndian Geography · Major Rivers and Lakes of India
Q21. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below:
Lake
Key Feature
A. Dal Lake
i. Floating islands called Phumdis
B. Loktak Lake
ii. Largest inland salt lake
C. Chilika Lake
iii. Largest coastal lagoon
D. Sambhar Lake
iv. Urban lake famous for houseboats (Shikaras)
Codes:
Explanation
Dal Lake is the urban lake famous for houseboats (Shikaras), Loktak has floating phumdis, Chilika is the largest coastal lagoon and Sambhar is the largest inland salt lake. This gives A-iv, B-i, C-iii, D-ii.
RAS PrelimsIndian Geography · Major Rivers and Lakes of India
Q22. Consider the following statements regarding Loktak Lake: I. It is located in the state of Manipur. II. It is known for its floating circular swamps called phumdis. III. Keibul Lamjao, the world’s only floating national park, is situated here. IV. It is the natural habitat of the endangered Sangai deer. V. It is designated as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention. Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
Loktak Lake is in Manipur, has floating swamps called phumdis, holds the Keibul Lamjao, the only floating national park, is the home of the endangered Sangai deer and is a Ramsar site. All five statements are correct.
RAS PrelimsIndian Geography · Major Rivers and Lakes of India
Q23. The Wular Lake, India’s largest freshwater lake, was formed primarily due to:
Explanation
Wular Lake, the largest freshwater lake in India, was formed by tectonic activity, as a result of movements of the earth’s crust in the Kashmir valley.
RAS PrelimsIndian Geography · Major Rivers and Lakes of India
Q24. Which of the following is the largest coastal lagoon in India, recognized globally for its high ecological importance?
Explanation
Chilika Lake in Odisha is the largest coastal lagoon in India and is internationally important for its ecology and birds.
RAS PrelimsIndian Geography · Major Rivers and Lakes of India
Q25. Consider the following statements: Statement I: Chilika Lake was the first Indian wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention. Statement II: It hosts a significant population of the endangered Irrawaddy dolphins. Which of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
Explanation
Chilika was the first Indian wetland to be recognised under the Ramsar Convention, and it supports a significant population of the endangered Irrawaddy dolphin. Both statements are correct.
RAS PrelimsIndian Geography · Major Rivers and Lakes of India
Q26. The salinity of Chilika Lake undergoes significant seasonal variation. Which of the following is the best reason for this phenomenon?
Explanation
The salinity of Chilika varies with the season because freshwater from rivers mixes with seawater that enters through the channel. Rivers bring freshwater in the monsoon and the sea water dominates in the dry months.
RAS PrelimsIndian Geography · Major Rivers and Lakes of India
Q27. Which of the following represents the correct sequence of natural lakes from North to South in India?
Explanation
India’s natural lakes are distributed across the country from the northern mountains to the eastern coast. Wular and Dal lakes are located in the northernmost region of Jammu and Kashmir. Moving southwards, Sambhar Lake is situated in the desert state of Rajasthan. Further towards the southeast, Chilika Lake is found along the coastal plains of the state of Odisha.
RAS PrelimsIndian Geography · Major Rivers and Lakes of India
Q28. The Wular Lake acts as a natural flood reservoir. This cause-and-effect mechanism is directly associated with which river?
Explanation
Wular Lake plays a critical role in the hydrology of the Kashmir Valley. It is directly fed by the Jhelum river and serves as a natural flood control reservoir. During periods of heavy rainfall or rapid snowmelt, the lake absorbs the excess discharge from the river. This process helps in regulating the flow and preventing severe flooding in the downstream areas.
RAS PrelimsIndian Geography · Major Rivers and Lakes of India
Q29. The Tulbul Navigation Project, which was a subject of dispute between India and Pakistan, is located at the mouth of which lake?
Explanation
The Tulbul Navigation Project is a major water control structure located at the mouth of Wular Lake in Jammu and Kashmir. The project was designed by India to regulate the flow of the Jhelum river and maintain a minimum water depth for navigation. However, it became a point of contention with Pakistan, which raised objections under the Indus Water Treaty.
RAS PrelimsIndian Geography · Major Rivers and Lakes of India
Q30. Which of the following statements about Wular Lake is incorrect?
Explanation
Wular Lake is the largest freshwater lake in India, situated in the Bandipora district of Jammu and Kashmir. Its size changes according to the seasons and the inflow from the Jhelum river. While it exhibits fluvial characteristics, its primary origin is tectonic. It was formed by crustal subsidence rather than being exclusively an abandoned meander of the Indus.
Answer key for these questions
Q
Correct answer
21
(a) A-iv, B-i, C-iii, D-ii
22
(d) I, II, III, IV and V
23
(a) Tectonic activity
24
(c) Chilika Lake
25
(a) Both Statement I and Statement II are correct
26
(d) Mixing of inland river freshwater and seawater inflows
27
(a) Wular, Dal, Sambhar, Chilika
28
(c) Jhelum
29
(d) Wular Lake
30
(a) Formed exclusively as an ox-bow lake of the Indus
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.
