India’s River Systems: A Detailed Guide for Competitive Exams

Major Rivers of India: Origins, Destinations, and Key Facts
India’s rivers are the lifelines of its agriculture, culture, and civilization. Nearly 90% of India’s rivers flow into the Bay of Bengal, while the remaining 10% drain into the Arabian Sea. The Western Ghats, Aravalli Range, and Yamuna-Sutlej divide act as the primary water divide separating these two drainage systems.
Understanding the major rivers of India is crucial for competitive exams like SSC, PSC, SSLC, NID, NIFT, and more. Below is a detailed list of India’s most important rivers, their sources, and their endpoints.

List of Major Rivers in India
1. Ganga
Source: Combined sources (Gangotri Glacier, Bhagirathi, Alaknanda)
Drains into: Bay of Bengal
Significance: Sacred river, supports agriculture in North India
2. Yamuna
Source: Yamunotri Glacier (Uttarakhand)
Drains into: Merges with Ganga at Allahabad (Triveni Sangam)
3. Brahmaputra
Source: Near Mansarovar Lake (Tibet)
Drains into: Bay of Bengal (merges with Ganga in Bangladesh)
4. Godavari
Source: Brahmagiri Hills (Nashik, Maharashtra)
Drains into: Bay of Bengal
Nickname: “Dakshin Ganga” (Ganga of the South)
5. Krishna
Source: Mahabaleshwar (Maharashtra)
Drains into: Bay of Bengal
6. Kaveri
Source: Talakaveri (Karnataka)
Drains into: Bay of Bengal
Key Feature: Lifeline for Tamil Nadu and Karnataka
7. Narmada
Source: Amarkantak Plateau (Madhya Pradesh)
Drains into: Arabian Sea (Gulf of Khambat)
Unique Fact: Flows westward through a rift valley
8. Tapti
Source: Betul District (Madhya Pradesh)
Drains into: Arabian Sea
9. Mahanadi
Source: Sihawa (Chhattisgarh)
Drains into: Bay of Bengal
10. Indus
Source: Tibetan Plateau (Near Kailash Range)
Drains into: Arabian Sea
Historical Importance: Cradle of the Indus Valley Civilization

Sample Questions & Answers for Competitive Exams
Q1. Which river is known as the “Dakshin Ganga”?
Ans: Godavari
Q2. Where does the Yamuna River merge with the Ganga?
Ans: Triveni Sangam, Allahabad (Prayagraj)
Q3. Which river flows through a rift valley and drains into the Arabian Sea?
Ans: Narmada
Q4. What is the origin point of the Brahmaputra River?
Ans: Near Mansarovar Lake, Tibet
Q5. Which two rivers meet to form the Tungabhadra?
Ans: Thunga and Bhadra rivers (at Koodli, Karnataka)