Ganga River System – Complete Notes | JKSSB Mock Test
Ganga River System – Complete Notes for UPSC, JKSSB, SSC
The Ganga River System is the most sacred and one of the longest river systems in India. It sustains millions of people through its vast fertile plains and carries immense historical, cultural, and ecological value. This article presents complete exam-oriented theory on the Ganga River system, its tributaries, basin, and features. 🌊
✔ Origin of Ganga River
- 📍 The Ganga originates as Bhagirathi from the Gangotri Glacier in Uttarakhand.
- 📍 It meets Alaknanda at Devprayag where it becomes the Ganga officially.
- 📍 Flows through 5 Indian states before entering Bangladesh as Padma.
✔ Major Tributaries of Ganga River
🔁 Right Bank Tributaries
- Yamuna – Originates from Yamunotri, joins Ganga at Prayagraj.
- Son – Comes from Amarkantak Plateau, joins Ganga near Patna.
- Tamsa and Punpun – Small yet significant right-bank tributaries.
🔁 Left Bank Tributaries
- Ramganga – Originates in Kumaon region, joins Ganga near Kannauj.
- Ghaghara – Major Nepal-origin river, joins Ganga near Chhapra.
- Gandak – Himalayan river from Nepal, meets Ganga near Hajipur.
- Kosi – Called the “Sorrow of Bihar”, joins Ganga near Kursela.
- Mahananda – Joins Ganga in West Bengal near Malda.
✔ Ganga River Basin
- 📍 Covers over 8,61,000 sq km area.
- 📍 Encompasses states like Uttarakhand, UP, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal.
- 📍 Supports agriculture and population through its fertile plains.
✔ Important Cities on Ganga
- Rishikesh, Haridwar – Pilgrimage centers.
- Kanpur, Allahabad, Varanasi – Cultural hubs.
- Patna, Kolkata – Major metropolitan cities on its course.
✔ Ganga in Bangladesh
- 📍 Enters Bangladesh as the Padma.
- 📍 Later merges with Jamuna (Brahmaputra) and Meghna to form the world’s largest delta – Sundarbans.
✔ Features of the Ganga River System
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Origin | Gangotri Glacier (Uttarakhand) |
| Length in India | Approx. 2525 km |
| Main Right Tributary | Yamuna |
| Main Left Tributary | Ghaghara |
| Delta Formation | Forms Ganga-Brahmaputra Delta (Sundarbans) |
✔ Exam Pointers (SSC/UPSC/JKSSB)
- 📌 Ganga is a perennial, Himalayan river.
- 📌 Devprayag is the confluence of Bhagirathi and Alaknanda.
- 📌 Yamuna joins Ganga at Prayagraj.
- 📌 Kosi is called “Sorrow of Bihar”.
- 📌 Sundarbans delta is the world’s largest.
Keep revising this structure to strengthen your Geography concepts. Bookmark this page for quick revision before exams!
