Ganga River System MCQs
1. The river Ganga originates from which glacier?
The Ganga originates as Bhagirathi from the Gangotri Glacier in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand.
2. At which place do Alaknanda and Bhagirathi rivers meet to form Ganga?
Devprayag is the confluence of the two headstreams, Alaknanda and Bhagirathi, after which the river is known as Ganga.
3. The Ganga enters the plains at which place?
After flowing through the Himalayas, the Ganga emerges into the plains at Haridwar.
4. Which is the longest tributary of the river Ganga?
The Yamuna is the longest and the westernmost tributary of the Ganga.
5. The Yamuna river joins the Ganga at which place?
The confluence of Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati occurs at Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj (Allahabad).
6. Which river is known as the "Sorrow of Bihar"?
The Kosi river is known as the "Sorrow of Bihar" due to its frequent changes in course and devastating floods.
7. Which of the following is a right-bank tributary of the Ganga?
The Son is a major right-bank tributary that joins the Ganga near Patna. Gomti, Gandak, and Ghaghara are left-bank tributaries.
8. What is the name of the Ganga river in Bangladesh?
After entering Bangladesh, the main branch of the Ganga is known as the Padma.
9. Which distributary of the Ganga flows through West Bengal?
The Ganga splits near Farakka; the distributary flowing south through West Bengal is called the Bhagirathi-Hooghly.
10. The Sundarbans Delta is formed by which rivers?
The Sundarbans is the world's largest delta formed by the confluence of the Ganga, Brahmaputra, and Meghna rivers.
11. What is the approximate length of the Ganga river?
The total length of the Ganga river is approximately 2,525 km making it the longest river wholly in India.
12. The Gomti river joins the Ganga near which city?
The Gomti river, which originates from Gomat Taal (Fulhar Jheel), joins the Ganga near Ghazipur.
13. In which year was Ganga declared the National River of India?
The Ganga was declared the National River of India on November 4, 2008.
14. Which major city is situated on the banks of river Ganga?
Kanpur is the largest city situated on the banks of the river Ganga. Lucknow is on Gomti, Agra and Delhi are on Yamuna.
15. The Farakka Barrage was built to primarily serve the needs of which port?
It was built to divert water into the Hooghly river to flush out silt and keep the Kolkata port navigable.
16. The Damodar river, a tributary of the Hooghly, is known as?
Damodar was historically called the "Sorrow of Bengal" due to devastating floods, though dams (DVC) have mitigated this.
17. Where does the Son river originate?
The Son river originates from the Amarkantak plateau in Madhya Pradesh, close to the origin of the Narmada.
18. The "Namami Gange" programme was launched in which year?
Namami Gange Programme is an Integrated Conservation Mission approved as a 'Flagship Programme' in June 2014.
19. Which aquatic animal found in the Ganga is the National Aquatic Animal of India?
The Gangetic River Dolphin (Susu) was declared the National Aquatic Animal of India in 2009.
20. The Alaknanda river rises at the confluence and foot of which glaciers?
The Alaknanda originates from the Satopanth and Bhagirath Kharak glaciers in Uttarakhand.
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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!