Question 1

Which lake 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 2

Which of the following is a tributary of the Indus River?

Accepted Answer

The Sutlej River is a major tributary of the Indus River. It originates from the Kailash Range in Tibet and flows through Himachal Pradesh and Punjab before joining the Indus River in Pakistan. The Sutlej is approximately 1,550 km long.

Question 3

Which river is known as the 'Dakshin Ganga' (South Ganga)?

Accepted Answer

The Godavari River is known as the 'Dakshin Ganga' or South Ganga due to its length, importance, and cultural significance in southern India. It is the second-longest river in India with a length of approximately 1,465 km and flows through Maharashtra, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh.

Question 4

Which of the following rivers flows through the Deccan Plateau and is known as the 'Dakshin Ganga' (South Ganges)?

Accepted Answer

The Godavari River, which flows through the Deccan Plateau in South India, is often referred to as 'Dakshin Ganga' or the South Ganges due to its significance and length. It is approximately 1,465 km long and is the second-longest river entirely within India.

Question 5

The Yamuna River is a major tributary of which river?

Accepted Answer

The Yamuna River is the largest 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 through Delhi and other northern states.

Question 6

What is the approximate length of the Brahmaputra River?

Accepted Answer

The Brahmaputra River has a total length of approximately 2,900 km, making it one of the longest rivers in Asia. It originates from the Kailash Range in Tibet and flows through Assam before joining the Ganges in Bangladesh.

Question 7

The Bhakra Dam is built on which river?

Accepted Answer

The Bhakra Dam is constructed on the Sutlej River in Himachal Pradesh. It is one of the highest gravity dams in the world and is a key part of the Bhakra-Nangal project. It should not be confused with the Nangal Dam, which is also on the Sutlej but is a separate structure downstream.

Question 8

Lake Sambhar, the largest saltwater lake in India, is located in which state?

Accepted Answer

Sambhar Lake is India's largest inland saltwater lake, located in Rajasthan. It covers an area of approximately 240 sq km and is situated near Sambhar town in Jaipur district. The lake is an important source of salt production in India.

Question 9

Which of the following is a saline/brackish lake in India?

Accepted Answer

Chilika Lake in Odisha is the largest brackish (saline) lake in India, with an area of approximately 1,165 sq km. It is a Ramsar Wetland site and is separated from the Bay of Bengal by a narrow barrier beach.

Question 10

The Indus River originates from which mountain range?

Accepted Answer

The Indus River originates from the Kailash Range (part of the Trans-Himalayan range) in Tibet, at an elevation of approximately 4,164 meters near Lake Mansarovar. It flows through Ladakh, Jammu & Kashmir, and Punjab before entering Pakistan.

Question 11

Wular Lake, the largest freshwater lake in India, is located in which union territory?

Accepted Answer

Wular Lake is India's largest freshwater lake by surface area, covering approximately 189 sq km. It is located in Jammu & Kashmir (now a union territory). The lake is fed by the Jhelum River and is an important wetland ecosystem and fishing ground.

Question 12

Lake Sambhar, India's largest saltwater lake by surface area, is located in which state and is primarily fed by which river?

Accepted Answer

Sambhar Lake is located in Rajasthan (near Jaipur) and is primarily fed by the Mendha River. It is India's largest inland saltwater lake and has been an important source of salt production for centuries.

Question 13

Lake Wular, India's largest freshwater lake by surface area, is located in which state and what is its approximate surface area?

Accepted Answer

Lake Wular is located in Jammu and Kashmir (now Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir) in the Kashmir Valley. Its surface area is approximately 250 square kilometers, making it the largest freshwater lake in India by surface area. However, its water level and area fluctuate seasonally, and it has been shrinking due to siltation and human activities.

Question 14

The Sutlej River, a tributary of the Indus, originates in Tibet and flows through multiple Indian states. Which of the following is the CORRECT sequence of Indian states through which the Sutlej flows?

Accepted Answer

The Sutlej originates in Tibet (Mount Kailash region), enters India in Himachal Pradesh, flows through Himachal Pradesh and Punjab, and then forms the boundary between Punjab and Pakistan before joining the Indus River in Pakistan.

Question 15

The Lonar Lake in Maharashtra, which is a saline soda lake, was formed by which geological process?

Accepted Answer

Lonar Lake in Buldhana district of Maharashtra was formed approximately 50,000 years ago due to a meteorite impact. It is the only known hypervelocity impact crater in basaltic rock in the world, and the lake water is both saline and alkaline (soda lake). It is not of volcanic origin, which is a common misconception.

Question 16

The Brahmaputra River, one of India's major rivers, originates in the Chemayungdung glacier. Through which of the following countries does it flow before entering India?

Accepted Answer

The Brahmaputra originates in Tibet (China) in the Chemayungdung glacier in the Kailash range, flows through Tibet as the Tsangpo River, enters Arunachal Pradesh, and then flows through Assam. It is one of the few major rivers that flows from west to east in India.

Question 17

The Brahmaputra River, one of Asia's largest rivers, originates in the Chemayungdung glacier. Through which of the following countries does it flow before entering India?

Accepted Answer

The Brahmaputra originates in Tibet (China) in the Chemayungdung glacier in the Kailash Range, flows through Tibet as the Yarlung Tsangpo, enters Arunachal Pradesh in India, and then flows through Assam. It is the only major river that flows from north to south in the eastern Himalayas.

Question 18

The Godavari River, India's second-longest river, has several major tributaries. Which of the following is NOT a tributary of the Godavari?

Accepted Answer

The Godavari River (1,465 km) has major tributaries including the Wardha, Wainganga, Penganga, Manjra, and Pranhita rivers. The Tapti River is a separate major river that flows parallel to the Godavari and does not join it. The Tapti originates in the Satpura Range and flows into the Arabian Sea independently.

Question 19

Which of the following statements about the Narmada River is INCORRECT?

Accepted Answer

The Narmada is India's fifth-longest river (1,312 km), originates in Madhya Pradesh's Amarkantak Plateau, and flows westward into the Arabian Sea. It is NOT a tributary of any major river—it is an independent river system. It does NOT flow through Rajasthan; it forms the boundary between Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat.

Question 20

The Sutlej River, a major tributary of the Indus, originates in Tibet and flows through multiple Indian states. Which of the following is the CORRECT sequence of states through which the Sutlej flows in India?

Accepted Answer

The Sutlej River originates in Tibet (Mount Kailash region), enters India in Himachal Pradesh, flows through Himachal Pradesh and Punjab, and then forms the boundary between Punjab and Pakistan before joining the Indus River in Pakistan. The correct sequence is: Himachal Pradesh → Punjab → joins Indus in Pakistan.

SSC CHSL Indian Rivers & Lakes

Indian Rivers & Lakes— Rules & Concept

Key Points to Remember

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Indian Rivers & Lakes — Practice Questions

60-Second Revision — Indian Rivers & Lakes