Question 1

Which of the following rivers originates from the Western Ghats?

Accepted Answer

The Godavari River originates from the Western Ghats in Maharashtra (near Nashik district) and is one of the major rivers originating from this mountain range. Other rivers like the Krishna and Cauvery also originate from the Western Ghats.

Question 2

Which of the following is the largest freshwater lake in India?

Accepted Answer

Wular Lake in Jammu and Kashmir is the largest freshwater lake in India, covering an area of approximately 189 sq km. It is located in the Kashmir Valley and is an important wetland ecosystem.

Question 3

Chilika Lake, the largest coastal lake in India, is located in which state?

Accepted Answer

Chilika Lake is located in Odisha and is the largest coastal brackish water lake in India with an area of approximately 1,165 sq km. It is a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance and is known for its rich biodiversity, including migratory birds.

Question 4

The Yamuna River is a major tributary of which river?

Accepted Answer

The Yamuna River is the longest tributary of the Ganges River. It originates from the Yamunotri Glacier in the Himalayas and joins the Ganges at Allahabad (Prayagraj) in Uttar Pradesh, after flowing for approximately 1,376 km.

Question 5

Which of the following rivers originates from the Western Ghats?

Accepted Answer

The Godavari River originates from the Western Ghats in Maharashtra (Trimbakeshwar region) and is the second-longest river entirely within India. It flows eastward across the Deccan Plateau and empties into the Bay of Bengal in Andhra Pradesh.

Question 6

Which of the following lakes is a saltwater/brackish lake?

Accepted Answer

Chilika Lake in Odisha is India's largest brackish water lake, covering an area of approximately 1,165 sq km. It is a Ramsar Wetland site and is known for its rich biodiversity, including migratory birds and the endangered Irrawaddy dolphins.

Question 7

The Sutlej River is a tributary of which major river?

Accepted Answer

The Sutlej River is a tributary of the Indus River. It originates in the Kailash Range in Tibet and flows through Himachal Pradesh and Punjab before joining the Indus River in Pakistan. The Sutlej is one of the five rivers of Punjab.

Question 8

Which river is known as the 'Sorrow of Bengal'?

Accepted Answer

The Damodar River is historically known as the 'Sorrow of Bengal' due to its devastating floods that caused immense damage to agricultural lands and settlements in Bengal. The river originates in Jharkhand and flows through West Bengal before joining the Hooghly River.

Question 9

Which lake is the largest freshwater lake in India by surface area?

Accepted Answer

Wular Lake in Jammu & Kashmir is the largest freshwater lake in India with a surface area of approximately 189 sq km. It is located in the Kashmir Valley and is an important wetland ecosystem.

Question 10

The Godavari River is a tributary of which major river system in India?

Accepted Answer

The Godavari River is not a tributary of another major river; it is an independent river system. However, in terms of river basin classification, the Godavari is the second-longest river entirely within India and flows independently into the Bay of Bengal. The question tests understanding of river systems.

Question 11

The Yamuna River, a major tributary of the Ganges, originates from which mountain range?

Accepted Answer

The Yamuna River originates from the Yamunotri Glacier in the Himalayas (Uttarkashi district, Uttarakhand). It flows southward and joins the Ganges at Delhi. The Yamuna is approximately 1,376 km long and is the second-largest tributary of the Ganges by discharge.

Question 12

Which of the following is the largest freshwater lake in India by surface area?

Accepted Answer

Wular Lake in Jammu and Kashmir is the largest freshwater lake in India with a surface area of approximately 189 sq km. It is located in the Kashmir Valley and is an important wetland ecosystem.

Question 13

The Wular Lake, India's largest freshwater lake by surface area, is located in which state?

Accepted Answer

Wular Lake is located in Jammu and Kashmir (now Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir). It covers an area of approximately 189 square kilometers and is situated in the Kashmir Valley.

Question 14

Which river originates from the Amarkantak Plateau and flows through the states of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat before emptying into the Arabian Sea?

Accepted Answer

The Narmada River originates from the Amarkantak Plateau in Madhya Pradesh and flows westward through Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra before entering Gujarat and emptying into the Arabian Sea near Bharuch. It is approximately 1,312 km long.

Question 15

The Chilika Lake, India's largest brackish water lake, is located in which state and is known for which migratory bird species?

Accepted Answer

Chilika Lake is located in Odisha and is the largest brackish water lake in India, covering approximately 1,165 square kilometers. It is renowned for hosting the endangered Irrawaddy dolphins and is a crucial wintering ground for migratory birds, particularly the Siberian crane.

Question 16

The Sutlej River, a major tributary of the Indus River, originates from which mountain range and passes through which Indian state before entering Pakistan?

Accepted Answer

The Sutlej River originates from the Kailash Range in Tibet and flows through Himachal Pradesh before entering Punjab and eventually Pakistan. It is the easternmost tributary of the Indus River system.

Question 17

Which river is known as the 'Sorrow of Bengal' due to its devastating floods?

Accepted Answer

The Brahmaputra River is historically known as the 'Sorrow of Bengal' (or 'Sorrow of Assam') because of its catastrophic and unpredictable floods that cause massive destruction in the Assam and Bengal regions. It is one of the most flood-prone rivers in India.

Question 18

The Brahmaputra River originates from which mountain range?

Accepted Answer

The Brahmaputra River originates from the Kailash Range (also called Chemayungdung) in the Tibetan Plateau, located at an elevation of approximately 5,150 meters. It flows through Tibet, Arunachal Pradesh, and Assam before joining the Ganges Delta. This is a well-established geographic fact.

Question 19

Lake Sambhar, one of India's largest salt lakes, is located in which state?

Accepted Answer

Sambhar Lake is located in Rajasthan and is the largest inland salt lake in India. It covers an area of approximately 240 sq km and is an important source of salt production in India.

Question 20

The Narmada River originates from which mountain range?

Accepted Answer

The Narmada River originates from the Amarkantak Plateau in the Maikal Range (part of the Satpura Range) in Madhya Pradesh. It flows westward for approximately 1,312 km before emptying into the Arabian Sea.

AFCAT Indian Rivers & Lakes

Indian Rivers & Lakes — Practice Questions