Important Rivers& Lakes in India – 25 MCQs for JKSSB & Competitive Exams
Q1. Which river is known as the “Sorrow of Bihar”?
(a) Ganga
(b) Kosi
(c) Son
(d) Gandak
Answer: (b)
Explanation: The Kosi River frequently changes its course and causes massive flooding in Bihar, earning it the nickname “Sorrow of Bihar”.
Q2. The river that originates from the Amarkantak plateau and flows into the Bay of Bengal is:
(a) Mahanadi
(b) Narmada (c) Tapti
(d) Godavari
Answer: (a)
Explanation: The Mahanadi rises in Amarkantak (Madhya Pradesh) and empties into the Bay of Bengal via Odisha.
Q3. Which lake is the largest freshwater lake in India?
(a) Chilika Lake
(b) Vembanad Lake
(c) Loktak Lake
(d) Wular Lake
Answer: (d)
Explanation: Wular Lake in Jammu & Kashmir is the largest freshwater lake in India by surface area.
Q4. The “Lifeline of Gujarat” refers to which river?
(a) Sabarmati
(b) Mahi
(c) Narmada
(d) Tapi
Answer: (c)
Explanation: The Narmada River provides water for irrigation, drinking and hydro‑power to large parts of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.
Q5. Which of the following pairs of river and its tributary is correctly matched?
(a) Yamuna – Chambal
(b) Godavari – Tungabhadra
(c) Krishna – Bhima
(d) Brahmaputra – Subansiri
Answer: (c)
Explanation: The Bhima River is a major tributary of the Krishna River, joining it in Karnataka.
Q6. The Dal Lake is situated in which state/UT?
(a) Ladakh
(b) Himachal Pradesh
(c) Jammu & Kashmir
(d) Uttarakhand
Answer: (c)
Explanation: Dal Lake, famous for its houseboats and shikaras, lies in Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir.
Q7. Which river forms the famous “Valley of Flowers” in Uttarakhand?
(a) Alaknanda
(b) Bhagirathi
(c) Pushpawati (d) Mandakini
Answer: (c)
Explanation: The Pushpawati River flows through the Valley of Flowers National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Q8. Sambhar Lake, India’s largest inland saltwater lake, is located in:
(a) Gujarat
(b) Rajasthan
(c) Maharashtra
(d) Tamil Nadu
Answer: (b)
Explanation: Sambhar Lake lies near Jaipur, Rajasthan, and is a major source of salt production.
Q9. The river that is also called “Dakshin Ganga” is:
(a) Godavari
(b) Kaveri (c) Krishna
(d) Mahanadi
Answer: (a) Explanation: Godavari, the second longest river in India, is often referred to as the Dakshin Ganga (Ganges of the South).
Q10. Which lake is famous for the annual Nehru Trophy Boat Race?
(a) Vembanad Lake
(b) Pangong Tso
(c) Loktak Lake
(d) Chilika Lake
Answer: (a) Explanation: The Nehru Trophy Boat Race is held every year on the Punnamada Lake, a part of Vembanad Lake in Kerala.
Q11. The river that originates from the Mansarovar Lake in Tibet and enters India through Arunachal Pradesh is:
(a) Indus
(b) Brahmaputra
(c) Sutlej
(d) Teesta
Answer: (b)
Explanation: The Brahmaputra (called Tsangpo in Tibet) originates near Lake Mansarovar and flows into India via Arunachal Pradesh.
Q12. Which of the following lakes is a lagoon?
(a) Dal Lake (b) Chilika Lake
(c) Wular Lake
(d) Loktak Lake
Answer: (b)
Explanation: Chilika Lake in Odisha is the largest coastal lagoon in India and the second largest in the world.
Q13. The river known as the “Yellow River of India” due to its high silt load is:
(a) Damodar
(b) Kosi
(c) Son
(d) Mahanadi
Answer: (b)
Explanation: The Kosi carries enormous amounts of sediment, giving its water a yellowish hue and earning it the nickname “Yellow River of India”.
Q14. Which lake is located inside a national park and is famous for its floating phumdis?
(a) Loktak Lake
(b) Pulicat Lake
(c) Vembanad Lake
(d) Sambhar Lake
Answer: (a)
Explanation: Loktak Lake in Manipur contains unique floating masses of vegetation called phumdis and lies within Keibul Lamjao National Park.
Q15. The river that forms the world’s largest river island, Majuli, is:
(a) Brahmaputra
(b) Ganga
(c) Godavari
(d) Mahanadi
Answer: (a)
Explanation: Majuli, situated in the Brahmaputra River in Assam, is the largest river island on Earth.
Q16. Which of the following rivers does NOT flow into the Bay of Bengal?
(a) Mahanadi
(b) Godavari
(c) Krishna
(d) Tapti
Answer: (d)
Explanation: The Tapti (Tapi) River flows westward and empties into the Arabian Sea, not the Bay of Bengal.
Q17. The “Lake Palace” is situated in which lake?
(a) Dal Lake
(b) Lake Pichola
(c) Hussain Sagar (d) Bhimtal
Answer: (b)
Explanation: The Lake Palace, now a heritage hotel, is located on Lake Pichola in Udaipur, Rajasthan.
Q18. Which river is also known as “Vridha Ganga”?
(a) Godavari (b) Kaveri
(c) Krishna
(d) Mahanadi
Answer: (a)
Explanation: Godavari is called Vridha Ganga (Old Ganges) because of its large size and cultural importance in the Deccan plateau.
Q19. Which lake is the source of the River Luni?
(a) Pushkar Lake
(b) Sambhar Lake
(c) Ana Sagar Lake
(d) None of the above (Luni originates from the Aravalli range)
Answer: (d)
Explanation: The Luni River originates in the Aravalli Hills near Ajmer, not from any lake.
Q20. The famous “Hogenakkal Falls” are on which river?
(a) Cauvery
(b) Tungabhadra (c) Penna
(d) Vaigai
Answer: (a) Explanation: Hogenakkal Falls, often termed the “Niagara of India”, are located on the Cauvery River in Tamil Nadu.
Q21. Which lake is known as the “Jewel of Kashmir”?
(a) Dal Lake
(b) Nigeen Lake
(c) Wular Lake
(d) Mansar Lake
Answer: (a)
Explanation: Dal Lake, with its scenic beauty, houseboats and Mughal gardens, is often called the Jewel of Kashmir.
Q22. The river that forms the boundary between Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh for a stretch is:
(a) Betwa
(b) Son
(c) Ken
(d) Chambal
Answer: (d) Explanation: The Chambal River serves as a natural boundary between Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh in its middle course.
Q23. Which of the following pairs (Lake – State) is correctly matched?
(a) Loktak – Assam
(b) Chilika – West Bengal
(c) Vembanad – Kerala
(d) Sambhar – Gujarat
Answer: (c) Explanation: Vembanad Lake is the longest lake in India and lies in the state of Kerala.
Q24. The river that is also called the “Sorrow of Assam” due to frequent flooding is:
(a) Brahmaputra
(b) Barak
(c) Subansiri
(d) Dhansiri
Answer: (a)
Explanation: The Brahmaputra causes devastating floods almost every year in Assam, earning it the local name “Sorrow of Assam”.
Q25. Which lake is the largest brackish water lagoon in India? (a) Chilika Lake
(b) Pulicat Lake
(c) Vembanad Lake
(d) Loktak Lake
Answer: (a)
Explanation: Chilika Lake in Odisha is the largest brackish water lagoon in India and a Ramsar site.
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End of 25 MCQs.
