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 31–40 of 44 questions
RAS PrelimsIndian Geography · Major Rivers and Lakes of India
Q31. Consider the following rivers: I. Mendha II. Rupangarh III. Khari Which of the above statement(s) regarding rivers that feed the Sambhar Lake is/are correct?
Explanation
Sambhar Lake is an endorheic salt lake in Rajasthan that receives water from several seasonal rivers. These rivers carry dissolved salts from the surrounding drainage basin into the lake. Key tributaries that feed this system include the Mendha, Rupangarh, and Khari rivers. Together, they maintain the water level and contribute to the high salinity required for commercial salt production.
RAS PrelimsIndian Geography · Major Rivers and Lakes of India
Q32. Sambhar Lake is geographically located in which state and holds what conservation status?
Explanation
Sambhar Lake is geographically situated in the state of Rajasthan, near the city of Jaipur. It is recognized as India’s largest inland salt lake and plays a vital role in the regional economy. Due to its ecological significance as a habitat for flamingos and other migratory birds, it has been designated as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention.
RAS PrelimsIndian Geography · Major Rivers and Lakes of India
Q33. Which of the following lakes is responsible for the highest inland salt production in India?
Explanation
Rajasthan contains several saltwater lakes, but Sambhar Lake is the most prominent. It is the largest inland saltwater body in India and accounts for a significant portion of the country’s total salt output. The high evaporation rates in the desert climate concentrate the brine, making it an ideal location for large-scale salt extraction through traditional and industrial methods.
RAS PrelimsIndian Geography · Major Rivers and Lakes of India
Q34. Given below are two statements, one labeled as Assertion (A) and the other labeled as Reason (R): Assertion (A): Sambhar Lake is the largest inland saltwater lake in India and a major site for salt production. Reason (R): It receives water from an endorheic basin with high summer evaporation rates, which concentrates the dissolved salts.
Explanation
Sambhar Lake is the largest inland saltwater lake in India and a vital center for salt production. It functions as part of an endorheic basin, where water flows in but does not drain into the sea. The intense summer heat leads to rapid evaporation, which leaves behind concentrated dissolved salts. This natural process is the fundamental cause of the lake’s high salinity.
RAS PrelimsIndian Geography · Major Rivers and Lakes of India
Q35. Identify the incorrectly matched pair of man-made reservoirs and their associated rivers:
Explanation
Several large dams in India have created massive man-made reservoirs.
RAS PrelimsIndian Geography · Major Rivers and Lakes of India
Q36. Consider the following statements about Gobind Sagar reservoir: I. It is formed by the Bhakra Dam. II. It is situated on the river Sutlej. III. It lies geographically in the state of Himachal Pradesh. IV. It was named in honor of the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh. Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
Gobind Sagar is a massive man-made reservoir created by the construction of the Bhakra Dam. It is located on the Sutlej river in the state of Himachal Pradesh. Named after Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru, the reservoir is a critical component of the Bhakra-Nangal project. It provides water for irrigation and generates hydroelectric power for several northern states.
RAS PrelimsIndian Geography · Major Rivers and Lakes of India
Q37. Which of the following is NOT a man-made reservoir?
Explanation
Man-made reservoirs are created by damming rivers for human use. Gobind Ballabh Pant Sagar, Krishnarajasagara, and Nagarjunasagar are all examples of such artificial water bodies. In contrast, Loktak Lake in Manipur is a natural freshwater lake. It is renowned for its unique ecosystem, including floating phumdis, which formed naturally over thousands of years without human intervention or dam construction.
RAS PrelimsIndian Geography · Major Rivers and Lakes of India
Q38. The Nagarjunasagar reservoir, one of the earliest multi-purpose irrigation and hydro-electric projects in India, is built across which river?
Explanation
The Nagarjunasagar project is one of India’s most significant multi-purpose river valley developments. It features a massive masonry dam built across the Krishna river on the border of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. The reservoir created by this dam supports extensive canal networks for irrigation and houses a major power plant. It was instrumental in the Green Revolution in southern India.
RAS PrelimsIndian Geography · Major Rivers and Lakes of India
Q39. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below:
Fluvial Feature
Associated River/Region
A. Estuary
i. Brahmaputra (Namcha Barwa)
B. Delta
ii. Narmada
C. Ox-bow Lake
iii. Ganga (Sunderbans)
D. Gorge
iv. Burhi Gandak plains
Codes:
Explanation
Estuaries are common where rivers like the Narmada meet the sea in narrow inlets. Deltas, such as the Sunderbans, are formed by the Ganga and Brahmaputra at the coast. Ox-bow lakes are frequently found in the flat Burhi Gandak plains of Bihar. Gorges are deep mountain valleys, like the one formed by the Brahmaputra as it cuts through Namcha Barwa.
RAS PrelimsIndian Geography · Major Rivers and Lakes of India
Q40. Consider the following statements regarding Ox-bow lakes in the Ganga plains: I. They are formed due to the highly meandering nature of mature rivers. II. They represent abandoned river channels. III. They are most commonly found in the upper, youthful courses of the rivers. IV. Kanwar Lake in Bihar is an example of a large freshwater ox-bow lake. V. They are naturally prone to eutrophication and siltation over time. Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
Ox-bow lakes are formed in the middle and lower courses of rivers where the terrain is flat. They represent old, abandoned channels created by high degrees of meandering. Kanwar Lake is a well-known example of such a feature. Over time, these lakes naturally undergo siltation and eutrophication. They are not characteristic of the youthful, high-velocity upper courses of mountain rivers.
Answer key for these questions
Q
Correct answer
31
(d) I, II and III
32
(a) Rajasthan, Ramsar Wetland Site
33
(c) Sambhar Lake
34
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
35
(c) Rana Pratap Sagar - Narmada
36
(b) I, II, III and IV
37
(d) Loktak
38
(a) Krishna
39
(a) A-ii, B-iii, C-iv, D-i
40
(a) I, II, IV and V only
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.
