Rivers of India MCQ Questions with Answers

Amarkantak Hill is a famous geographical landmark where two major rivers originate and split directions. The Narmada River flows westward across central India toward the Arabian Sea, while the Mahanadi River flows eastward toward the Bay of Bengal. This unique dual-origin feature makes Narmada and Mahanadi the correct pair. Other options either involve rivers that do not originate from Amarkantak or do not flow in opposite directions from this hill.

The correct answer is Sutlej. Geologically, Sutlej’s river system is considered to have existed before the uplift of the Himalayas, arising from ancient drainage patterns that predate the mountain belt. The other rivers listed (Ganga, Beas, Ravi) are largely associated with drainage systems formed or reconfigured after the Himalayan orogeny and subsequent river capture events. Thus, Sutlej is regarded as older in the sense of pre-Himalayan riverine activity. The river’s course has been shaped by tectonic and climatic changes over millions of years, but its origins trace back to a pre-Himalayan landscape, unlike the others which largely post-date the Himalayas’ formation.

The Yamuna is a major tributary that flows in the same general direction as the Ganga along the Gangetic plains. For a long stretch in northern India, especially in the plains of Uttar Pradesh, the two rivers run roughly parallel before their confluence. The correct option is B (Ganga). The Yamuna ultimately joins the Ganga at Prayagraj (Allahabad) near the Triveni Sangam.

The Rihand Dam project supplies irrigation to the states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. The dam, built on the Rihand River, creates a large reservoir which supports irrigation canals and distributaries in these two states, helping to water agricultural lands and support farming activities. Other options list states that are not served by this project, making them incorrect.