India Geography Mixed Quiz 4: River Sources, Dams, Passes, Islands and Minerals (Clerkship 2024)
A little practice. A step forward.
20 questions on Indian geography for WBPSC Clerkship 2024 Part-I.
Which river was called the 'Sorrow of Bengal'?
The Damodar rises on the Chota Nagpur plateau in Jharkhand, enters West Bengal and joins the Hooghly. Its monsoon floods used to devastate the Bardhaman and Hooghly areas, so it was called the 'Sorrow of Bengal'. The Kosi is the 'Sorrow of Bihar'; the Teesta and Mahananda are rivers of North Bengal.
- The Damodar rises on the Chota Nagpur plateau (Jharkhand)
- The Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) was set up in 1948 to control its floods
- The DVC was modelled on the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) of the USA
- Kosi = Sorrow of Bihar; Damodar = Sorrow of Bengal
- Damodar for Bengal, Kosi for Bihar
Where does the Godavari rise?
The Godavari rises in the Western Ghats near Trimbakeshwar in Nashik district, Maharashtra, and flows east into the Bay of Bengal. Mahabaleshwar is the source of the Krishna, Amarkantak of the Narmada and Talakaveri of the Kaveri.
- The Godavari is the longest river of Peninsular India
- It is called the 'Dakshin Ganga' (Ganga of the South)
- It flows east into the Bay of Bengal
| River | Source | State |
|---|---|---|
| Godavari | Trimbakeshwar (Nashik) | Maharashtra |
| Krishna | Mahabaleshwar | Maharashtra |
| Kaveri | Talakaveri (Brahmagiri hills) | Karnataka |
| Narmada | Amarkantak | Madhya Pradesh |
| Tapi | Multai (Betul) | Madhya Pradesh |
| Mahanadi | Sihawa | Chhattisgarh |
Sources of the main peninsular rivers
Which river rising at Amarkantak flows west into the Arabian Sea?
The Narmada rises on the Amarkantak plateau in Madhya Pradesh and flows west into the Gulf of Khambhat (Arabian Sea) in Gujarat. The Tapi also flows west, but it rises at Multai in Betul. The Mahanadi and the Krishna flow east into the Bay of Bengal.
- The Narmada and the Tapi are the two main west-flowing rivers of the peninsula
- The Son also rises near Amarkantak, but it flows north into the Ganga
- The Sardar Sarovar Dam on the Narmada is in Gujarat
- Both the Narmada and the Son rise near Amarkantak, but only the Narmada reaches the Arabian Sea
| River | Source | State |
|---|---|---|
| Godavari | Trimbakeshwar (Nashik) | Maharashtra |
| Krishna | Mahabaleshwar | Maharashtra |
| Kaveri | Talakaveri (Brahmagiri hills) | Karnataka |
| Narmada | Amarkantak | Madhya Pradesh |
| Tapi | Multai (Betul) | Madhya Pradesh |
| Mahanadi | Sihawa | Chhattisgarh |
Sources of the main peninsular rivers
On which river is the Bhakra Dam built?
The Bhakra Dam is on the Sutlej in Bilaspur district, Himachal Pradesh. Its reservoir is the Gobind Sagar. The Pong Dam is on the Beas and the Ranjit Sagar Dam on the Ravi; the Chenab is a river of Jammu and Kashmir.
- The Bhakra-Nangal project irrigates Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan and makes power
- Its reservoir is the Gobind Sagar
- The Sutlej is a tributary of the Indus
- Bhakra, Sutlej, Gobind Sagar: learn the three together
| Dam | River | State |
|---|---|---|
| Bhakra | Sutlej | Himachal Pradesh |
| Pong | Beas | Himachal Pradesh |
| Ranjit Sagar | Ravi | Punjab |
| Tehri | Bhagirathi | Uttarakhand |
| Sardar Sarovar | Narmada | Gujarat |
| Nagarjuna Sagar | Krishna | Telangana and Andhra Pradesh |
Dams and their rivers
On which river is the Tehri Dam in Uttarakhand?
The Tehri Dam is on the Bhagirathi in Tehri Garhwal district, Uttarakhand, one of the tallest dams in India. The Alaknanda and the Mandakini are also Garhwal rivers, but the dam is not on them; the Yamuna rises at Yamunotri.
- The Bhagirathi rises at the Gangotri glacier (Gaumukh)
- The Bhagirathi and Alaknanda meet at Devprayag to form the Ganga
- The Mandakini joins the Alaknanda at Rudraprayag
| Dam | River | State |
|---|---|---|
| Bhakra | Sutlej | Himachal Pradesh |
| Pong | Beas | Himachal Pradesh |
| Ranjit Sagar | Ravi | Punjab |
| Tehri | Bhagirathi | Uttarakhand |
| Sardar Sarovar | Narmada | Gujarat |
| Nagarjuna Sagar | Krishna | Telangana and Andhra Pradesh |
Dams and their rivers
On which river are the Hogenakkal Falls?
The Hogenakkal Falls are on the Kaveri in Dharmapuri district, Tamil Nadu, near the Karnataka border. The Jog Falls are on the Sharavathi (Karnataka); the Krishna and Tungabhadra do not flow here.
- Another fall on the Kaveri: Shivanasamudra (Karnataka)
- The Kaveri rises at Talakaveri in Kodagu, Karnataka
- The Kaveri falls into the Bay of Bengal
- Jog = Sharavathi; Hogenakkal and Shivanasamudra = Kaveri
In which mountain range is the Siachen Glacier?
The Siachen Glacier lies in the eastern Karakoram range, in Ladakh. It is one of the longest glaciers outside the polar regions. The Pir Panjal, Zaskar and Ladakh are other ranges of the Himalayan system.
- The Nubra river rises from the Siachen Glacier
- K2 (Godwin Austen) is also in the Karakoram
- The Karakoram is part of the Trans-Himalaya
In which state is the Nathu La pass?
Nathu La is a pass in Sikkim that links Sikkim with Tibet; it was a branch of the old Silk Route. Shipki La is in Himachal, Lipulekh in Uttarakhand and Bom Di La in Arunachal.
- Border trade between India and China runs through Nathu La
- Jelep La is another pass in Sikkim
- 'La' means a mountain pass
| Pass | State/UT | Connects |
|---|---|---|
| Nathu La | Sikkim | Sikkim and Tibet |
| Jelep La | Sikkim | Sikkim and Tibet (Chumbi valley) |
| Shipki La | Himachal Pradesh | Himachal and Tibet |
| Lipulekh | Uttarakhand | Uttarakhand and Tibet |
| Bom Di La | Arunachal Pradesh | Arunachal and Tibet |
| Zoji La | Ladakh | Srinagar and Leh |
Some Himalayan passes
Doddabetta is the highest peak of which hills?
Doddabetta (2637 m), near Ooty in Tamil Nadu, is the highest peak of the Nilgiri hills. The highest peak of South India is Anamudi (2695 m), in the Anamalai hills of Kerala. The Cardamom and Palani are other southern hills.
- The Eastern and Western Ghats meet in the Nilgiris
- Doddabetta: 2637 m
- Anamudi: 2695 m, the highest in South India
- Anamudi is the highest in South India; Doddabetta only the highest of the Nilgiris
Where is Barren Island, India's only active volcano?
Barren Island is in the Andaman Sea, part of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands; it is India's only active volcano. Lakshadweep is made of coral, the Rann of Kutch is a salt marsh and the Gulf of Mannar is the sea between India and Sri Lanka.
- Nearby Narcondam Island is a dormant volcano
- The Andaman Sea is part of the Bay of Bengal
- The Andaman islands are mostly the tops of submerged mountains
- Barren = active; Narcondam = dormant
What are the Lakshadweep islands mainly made of?
Lakshadweep, in the Arabian Sea, is a group of small coral islands and atolls. Barren Island is an example of a volcanic island; glaciers and river silt did not build these islands.
- The capital of Lakshadweep is Kavaratti
- Pitti island has a bird sanctuary
- It is India's smallest union territory by area
- Coral in the Arabian Sea (Lakshadweep); mountains and volcanoes in the Bay of Bengal (Andaman)
The McMahon Line separates India from which country?
The McMahon Line is the India-China (Tibet) boundary drawn at the Simla Conference of 1914, along the north of Arunachal Pradesh. The India-Pakistan and India-Bangladesh boundary is the Radcliffe Line; the border with Myanmar has no such name.
- It is named after the British official Henry McMahon
- The Durand Line: Pakistan-Afghanistan
- The Radcliffe Line was drawn in 1947
| Line | Between |
|---|---|
| McMahon Line | India and China (Arunachal Pradesh) |
| Radcliffe Line | India and Pakistan, India and Bangladesh |
| Durand Line | Pakistan and Afghanistan |
Three well-known boundary lines
In which state is the Malabar Coast?
The southern part of the west coast, the coast of Kerala, is called the Malabar Coast. Karnataka's is the Kannad coast, Goa has the Goa coast, and Tamil Nadu is on the east coast, where its coast is the Coromandel.
- Lagoons or kayals (backwaters) are found on the Malabar Coast
- The west coast from north to south: Kachchh-Kathiawar, Konkan, Goa, Kannad, Malabar
- The east coast: Northern Circars in the north, Coromandel in the south
- Malabar is in the west (Kerala), Coromandel in the east (Tamil Nadu)
| Coast | State |
|---|---|
| Kachchh and Kathiawar | Gujarat |
| Konkan | Maharashtra |
| Goa coast | Goa |
| Kannad coast | Karnataka |
| Malabar | Kerala |
| Coromandel | Tamil Nadu |
| Northern Circars | Andhra Pradesh and Odisha |
Names of India's coasts
Which soil forms by leaching under high temperature and heavy rainfall?
In hot areas of heavy rain, rainwater washes away lime, silica and the like from the soil, leaving oxides of iron and aluminium: that is laterite soil. Black soil forms from basalt, alluvial soil from river deposits and desert soil in dry areas.
- The name comes from the Latin 'later' (brick)
- Found in Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, the hills of Odisha and Assam
- With manure it grows cashew, tea and coffee
What is the pre-monsoon rain of late summer on the Kerala and Karnataka coast, which helps mangoes ripen early, called?
The pre-monsoon showers of late summer on the coasts of Kerala and Karnataka help mangoes ripen early, hence the name mango showers. Blossom showers make coffee plants flower, the Kalbaisakhi is the evening storm of West Bengal and Assam, and the Loo is the hot, dry wind of north India.
- All of these are local summer storms or showers
- The Kalbaisakhi (Nor'wester) helps jute, rice and tea
- The Loo brings no rain
- Mango shower = mangoes; blossom shower = coffee flowers
| Name | Where | What |
|---|---|---|
| Mango shower | Kerala and coastal Karnataka | Pre-monsoon rain that ripens mangoes early |
| Blossom shower | Kerala and nearby areas | Coffee plants flower |
| Kalbaisakhi (Nor'wester) | West Bengal and Assam | Evening thunderstorms; 'tea showers' in Assam |
| Loo | Plains of north India | Hot, dry summer wind |
Local storms and showers of summer
Kaziranga National Park is best known for which animal?
Kaziranga National Park in Assam is famous for the Indian one-horned rhinoceros and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Asiatic lions live in Gir, Gujarat; the wild ass in the Rann of Kutch, Gujarat; the hangul in Dachigam, Kashmir.
- Kaziranga lies on the Brahmaputra in Assam
- It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985
- Jaldapara and Gorumara in West Bengal also have one-horned rhinos
Keibul Lamjao, the floating national park, is on Loktak Lake. In which state is it?
Loktak Lake is in Manipur, the largest freshwater lake of north-east India. On its floating mats of vegetation, the 'phumdis', lies Keibul Lamjao National Park, the only floating national park in the world. Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura do not have this lake.
- Phumdis are floating mats of soil and plants
- Keibul Lamjao is the home of the sangai deer, Manipur's state animal
- India's largest freshwater lake is Wular (Jammu and Kashmir)
In which state is Digboi, India's oldest oil refinery?
Digboi is in Tinsukia district, Assam; its refinery started in 1901 and is India's oldest oil refinery. Gujarat has the Ankleshwar oilfield and the Jamnagar refinery, Maharashtra has Mumbai High (offshore), and Tripura has natural gas.
- Digboi in Assam is one of India's oldest oilfields
- Mumbai High is an offshore oilfield in the Arabian Sea
- Ankleshwar is an oilfield in Gujarat
| Place | Mineral/industry | State |
|---|---|---|
| Digboi | Mineral oil, the oldest refinery | Assam |
| Khetri | Copper | Rajasthan |
| Koderma | Mica | Jharkhand |
| Jharia | Coal (coking coal) | Jharkhand |
| Kudremukh | Iron ore | Karnataka |
| Kolar | Gold | Karnataka |
Places known for minerals
The Khetri area of Rajasthan is famous for which mineral?
The Khetri area of Jhunjhunu district, Rajasthan, is famous for its copper mines. Koderma in Jharkhand is known for mica, Odisha for bauxite, and Odisha and Madhya Pradesh for manganese.
- Other copper areas: Malanjkhand (Madhya Pradesh), Singhbhum (Jharkhand)
- Copper is used for electric wires
- Khetri lies in the Aravalli region
| Place | Mineral/industry | State |
|---|---|---|
| Digboi | Mineral oil, the oldest refinery | Assam |
| Khetri | Copper | Rajasthan |
| Koderma | Mica | Jharkhand |
| Jharia | Coal (coking coal) | Jharkhand |
| Kudremukh | Iron ore | Karnataka |
| Kolar | Gold | Karnataka |
Places known for minerals
How many Indian states share a border with Bangladesh?
Five Indian states border Bangladesh: West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram. West Bengal has the longest stretch of it.
- The India-Bangladesh border is India's longest land border
- Tripura is surrounded by Bangladesh on three sides
- The India-Bangladesh boundary is the Radcliffe Line
- West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram: five
📊 Topic Analysis
20 questions on Indian geography for WBPSC Clerkship 2024 Part-I.
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