Explanation: Mahanadi – The largest river of Odisha state. Krishna – Originates near Mahabaleshwar (Satara) in Maharashtra and flows through Maharashtra, North Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

Explanation: Rajasthan. Tapti River – A river in central India that flows westwards before draining into the Arabian Sea. Origin – In Satpura range in the Gawilgarh hills of the northern part of the Deccan Plateau (In Betul district, Madhya Pradesh). Flows through the states – Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh. The Tapi river is known as the ‘Gateway of International trade’ as it conducts much international trade. Narmada, Periyar and Tapti are only rivers which form estuaries. An estuary is an area where a freshwater river or stream meets the ocean.

Explanation: Drainage System of India :- Himalayan Drainage System – Indus River System {Indus, Sutlej, Ravi, Jhelum, Chenab (largest tributary of Indus) and Beas}, Ganga River System (Ganga, Yamuna, Ramganga, Gomati, Ghaghara, Gandak, Kosi and Mahananda), Brahmaputra River System (Brahmaputra, Dibang or Sikang, Lohit, Burhi Dihing and Dhansari). Peninsular Drainage system – Narmada, Tapi, Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri, Mahanadi.

Explanation: Pulicat Lake (Andhra Pradesh) is the second largest brackish water lagoon in India, (after Chilika Lake, Odisha). Loktak (Manipur) is a freshwater lake in Northeast India.

Explanation: Guls. Water Harvesting – It is the activity of direct collection of rainwater, rather than allowing it to runoff. Other names of water harvesting in Indian states: Paar system, Talab /Bandhis, Saza Kuva, Johad, Khadins, Taanka – (Rajasthan); Pat – (Madhya Pradesh), Bandharas and Tals – (Maharashtra), Ahars and Pynes – (Bihar), Surangams – (Kerala).

Explanation: Uttar Pradesh – Fourth largest state according to area and 1st state in population. Longest canal in India – Indira Gandhi Canal, Longest river – Ganga River (2525 km), Origin – Gangotri. Longest canal of Uttar Pradesh – Sharda Canal.

Explanation: Ghaghara. It originates in the glaciers of Mapchachungo and a major left – bank tributary of the Ganges River. Its Tributaries: The left bank tributaries – Bheri, Sarju, Kuwana, Rapti, Chhoti Gandak and the right bank tributaries – Seti, Dahawar, Sarda, Budhi Ganga.

Explanation: Gautami. Drainage Basin – Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Union territory of Puducherry. Projects – Polavaram Irrigation Project, Kaleshwaram, Sadarmat Anicut, Inchampalli, Sriram Sagar.

Explanation: Mahi (Bhadar is a right bank tributary and Panam, Kun and Goma are left bank tributaries of Mahi river).

Explanation: Amarkantak Ranges. The Narmada River flows through Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat between Vindhya and Satpura hill range before falling into the Gulf of Cambay in the Arabian Sea. The Dhuandhar Falls is located on the Narmada River.

Explanation: Penner – It rises in Nandi Hills in Chikballapur District of Karnataka and falls into the Bay of Bengal. Bharathapuzha river is Kerala’s second longest West Flowing River, draining into the Arabian Sea.

Explanation: Esker. These are ridges made of sands and gravels, deposited by glacial meltwater flowing through tunnels within and underneath glaciers, or through meltwater channels on top of glaciers. Other depositional landforms: Drumlins are smooth oval shaped ridge -like features composed mainly of glacial till with some masses of gravel and sand.

Explanation: Lake Rakshastal. Pangong Lake – World’s highest saltwater lake. Loktak Lake (Floating lake, Manipur) is famous for phumdi and Keibul Lamjao National Park is the only floating national park in the world located on it. Ranwu Lake (Rawok-Tso) – Largest lake of Eastern Tibet (Pasho). Yamdrok Lake (Freshwater lake inTibet).

Explanation: Spring at Verinag. Jhelum river is called Vitasta in the Rigveda, Hydaspes in Greek, and Vyeth in Kashmir. Tributaries – Kishanganga (Right), Neelum Kunhar, Poonch. It joins the Chenab at Trimmu.

Explanation: Mahanadi – Flows through Chhattisgarh, Odisha. Source: The river originates in the northern foothills of Dandakaranya, Raipur District (Chhattisgarh) and drains into the Bay of Bengal.

Explanation: Perennial. It flows throughout the year in all the seasons. Ex: Brahmaputra, Ganges, Yamuna, Indus, etc. Exotic River – It starts in a humid region and flows into a dry region. Ex: Nile. Seasonal River – It flows only in a particular season that is monsoon. Ex: Godavari, Mahanadi, Kaveri, Krishna etc. Episodic river – It is found in areas with very dry climates and only flows after a particular event like heavy rain, or run-off channels. Example: Nossob River in the Kalahari region of Southern Africa.

Explanation: Bhilangna: Originates from Khatling Glacier (Tehri Garhwal district of Uttarakhand). It joins the Bhagirathi river near Old Tehri. Bhagirathi river: It originates from Gomukh (Uttarakhand), located at the base of Gangotri and Khatilang glaciers. Dhauliganga – It originates from Vasudhara Tal (largest glacial lake in Uttarakhand), located at Niti Pass in Chamoli district. It merges with Alakananda at Vishnuprayag. Pindar – It originates from Pindari Glacier which is located in Bageshwar district of Kumaon region in Uttarakhand.

Explanation: Krishna. Other dams on Krishna river – Achakdani (Maharashtra), Achler (Maharashtra). River (Dams) :- Kaveri {Alalur (Karnataka), Amaravathi, (Tamil Nadu)}, Periyar {Mullaperiyar (confluence of the Mullayar and Periyar rivers in Kerala)}, Sutlej {Bhakra Nangal Dam (Punjab)}.

Explanation: Both I and II. Advantages of Dams – Irrigation, tourist attraction, flood control, hydro power generation, etc. Disadvantages of dams – High construction cost, unbalanced sedimentation, deforestation, ecological imbalance, endangered aquatic life etc.

Explanation: Banas. The river originates from the Khamnor hills of the Aravali range. It is a tributary of the Chambal River. It is also known as “Van ki Asha”. Length of Banas: 512 km. Tributaries: Kothari, Dai, Dheel, Menali etc.

Explanation: Narmada (also called Reva river, 1312 km) : 5th longest in India and largest west-flowing river in India. This River runs in a rift valley running west amid the Vindhya and Satpura Mountain Ranges.

Explanation: Dal. On its banks Tulip Garden (Asia’s largest), Mughal Garden, Shalimar Bagh and Nishat Bagh are situated. Lakes in India – Vembanad Lake (Kerala), Chilika Lake (Odisha), Shivaji Sagar Lake (Maharashtra), Indira Sagar lake (Madhya Pradesh), Pangong Lake (Ladakh), Pulicat Lake (Andhra Pradesh), Nagarjuna Sagar Lake (Telangana).

Explanation: Mahanadi. River of Malwa plateau – Mahi River, Ken rivers, Shipra River, Chambal River, Betwa River.

Explanation: Musi. Tributaries of river Kaveri: Harangi, Hemavati, Lakshmana Tirtha, Kabini, Suvarnavathi, Shimsha, Arkavati, Sarabanga, Bhavani, Noyyal, Thirumanimutharu, and the Amaravati. Tributaries of river Krishna: Ghataprabha, Malaprabha, Bhima, Tungabhadra and Musi.

Explanation: Mahi River. Sabarmati River – Dharoi Dam (Gujarat). Tapti River – Hatnur Dam (Maharashtra), Ukai Dam (Gujarat), Girna Dam (Maharashtra), Dahigam Weir (Maharashtra). Krishna River – Nagarjuna sagar Dam (Telangana). Manjira River – Singur Dam and Nizam Sagar dam (Telangana). Banas River – Bisalpur Dam (Rajasthan).

Explanation: Only II. Tapi River : West flowing river. Origin – Betul district of Madhya pradesh. Right Tributaries – Vaki, Gomair, Arunavati Aner. Left Tributaries – Girna, Waghur, Purna, Mona.

Explanation: Narmada. Dhuandhar waterfall is in Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh).

Explanation: Mandovi river – originates in the Western Ghats, Karnataka.

Explanation: Maharashtra. Tapi/Tapti river – 2nd largest west flowing river.

Explanation: Chambal – Rapti. Rivers and their tributaries: Chambal – Banas, Kali Sindh, Shipra, Parbati, Mej.

Explanation: Hussain Sagar: A heart -shaped lake in Hyderabad, Telangana, built by Ibrahim Quli Qutb Shah; Fed by the River Musi. Salim Ali lake – Aurangabad, Kanwar lake – Bihar, Periyar lake – Kerala.

Explanation: Ganga originates from the Gangotri glacier in the Western Himalayan Range in Uttarakhand. Tributaries: Left (Ramganga, Gomti, Ghaghara, Gandak, Burhi Gandak, Koshi, Mahananda, Brahmaputra); Right (Yamuna, Tamsa, Karamnasa, Sone, Punpun, Falgu, Kiul, Chandan).

Explanation: Royal Bengal Tiger. The Sundarban National Park is a National Park (May 4, 1984, designated as UNESCO site in 1987), a Tiger Reserve (1973, home for Royal Bengal tiger), and a Biosphere Reserve (1989, UNESCO site in 2001).

Explanation: 10°N to 30°N latitude. The Brahmaputra originates in the north of the Himalayas near Mansarovar Lake in the Purang district of Tibet (Known as Yarlung Tsangpo in Tibet), (other names : Siang/Dihang River) India, and Bangladesh (Jamuna River). The Delta formed by Ganga Brahmaputra is Sunderban Delta (largest delta in the world).

Explanation: Godavari River. India’s Top bridges:- (Bogibeel Rail Road Bridge – 4.94 km, Brahmaputra, Assam), (Vembanad Bridge – 4.62 km, Kerala), (Nehru Setu, Son river, Bihar), Godavari Arch Bridge, Pamban Bridge (Rameshwaram, Tamil Nadu) etc.

Explanation: Madhya Pradesh – Indra Sagar dam, largest in state (Narmada), Gandhisagar Dam (Chambal River), Bargi Dam (Narmada). Uttar Pradesh – Rihand dam (Govind Ballabh Pant Sagar). Haryana – Kaushalya Dam (Yamuna River), Anangpur Dam (Hakra River). Gujarat – Sardar Sarovar Dam (Narmada). Rajasthan – Rana Pratap Sagar (Chambal river).

Explanation: Indus river system. It originates from Mansarovar Lake and has a length of about 2880 km. Indus River tributaries – right-bank (Shyok, Gilgit, Kabul, Kurram, and Gomal rivers), left-bank (Zanskar River, Suru River, Jhelum River, Chenab River, Ravi River, Beas River, Satluj River, and Panjnad River).

Explanation: Indus (Sindhu) river – Source (Lake Manasarovar), Satluj (Lake Rakshastal in Tibet), Ravi (Multhan tehsil of Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh), Chenab (Baralacha Pass in Himachal Pradesh) etc.

Explanation: Bandarpunch glacier (part of Sankari range and lies within the Govind Pashu Vihar National park and Sanctuary). Dokriani glacier {located in the Bhagirathi basin of the central Himalaya, Uttarkashi district (Uttrakhand)}. Kafni Glacier {located in the upper reaches of the Kumaon Himalayas, to the southeast of Nanda Devi, gives rise to the Kafni River (tributary of the Pindar River)}. Doonagiri Glacier {Garhwal Himalayas, Dhauli ganga system of Glaciers}.

Explanation: Tehri Dam {Uttarakhand, Highest dam in India, built-in 2006, operated by THDC (Tehri Development Corporation) India Limited}. Koyna dam (Koyna river, Maharashtra), Thein Dam (Ravi river, at border of Punjab and Jammu Kashmir), Gandhisagar dam (Chambal river, Madhya Pradesh).

Explanation: Himachal Pradesh. Kangra Valley (river valley situated in the Western Himalayas), Kullu Valley (formed by the Beas River between Manali and Larji). Other famous valleys in Himachal Pradesh: Solang Valley, Spiti Valley, Tirthan Valley, Kinnaur valley, Green Valley, Barot Valley, Lahaul Valley, Pabbar Valley, etc.

Explanation: Himachal Pradesh (Shivalik hills). It flows through Punjab, Haryana and then into Rajasthan. It flows only during the monsoon season. It is known as Hakra river in Pakistan. The main tributaries of the Ghaggar are the Kaushalya river, Markanda, Sarsuti, Tangri and Chautang.

Explanation: Satluj rises from the Manasarovar-Rakas Lakes in western Tibet. The ancient name of the Sutlej River is Zaradros (Ancient Greek), Shutudri, or Shatadru (Sanskrit).

Explanation: Luni River. Origin – Pushkar valley of the Aravalli Range. Ends – marshy lands of Rann of Kutch in Gujarat. Tributaries – Lilari, Guhiya, Bandi (Hemawas), Sukri (Hemawas), Sukri, Mithri, Jawai, Khari Bani Sukri Bandi and Sugi.

Explanation: Adam’s Bridge (Rama Setu), is a chain of limestone shoals, between Pamban Island (Rameswaram Island), Tamil Nadu, India, and Mannar Island, Sri Lanka. Mahatma Gandhi Setu (Bihar), Sisseri River Bridge (Arunachal Pradesh), Bhupen Hazarika bridge (Connects Assam and Arunachal Pradesh).

Explanation: Ajmer. Freshwater Lakes in Rajasthan: Ajmer – Ana Sagar Lake, Lake Foy Sagar; Alwar – Siliserh Lake; Banswara – Anand Sagar Lake and Dailab Lake; Bundi – Jait Sagar Lake, Kanak Sagar Lake, and Nawar Sagar Lake; Dungarpur – Gaib Sagar Lake; Jaisalmer – Gadsisar Lake; Jodhpur – Balsamand Lake, Kailana Lake; Kota – Kishore Sagar Lake; Rajsamand – Rajsamand Lake; Udaipur – Doodh Talai, Fateh Sagar Lake, Jaisamand Lake, Udai Sagar Lake, and Pichola Lake.

Explanation: A moraine is material left behind by a moving glacier. This material is usually soil and rock. Moraines are divided into four main categories: lateral moraines, medial moraines, supraglacial moraines, and terminal moraines.

Explanation: Kolkata Port (Haldia seaport) is the only riverine Major Port situated on the Hugli river in West Bengal. Kochi port is located on the Vembanad Lake in Kerala, and is important for the export of spices and salt.

Explanation: Wular lake is one of the biggest freshwater lakes in Asia, it is fed by the Jhelum River. It is located in Bandipora district of Jammu and Kashmir, India. Other Famous lakes : – Barapani lake (Meghalaya), Dal lake (Jammu and Kashmir), Loktak lake (Manipur).

Explanation: Ice caps. Over 68 percent of the freshwater on Earth is found in icecaps and glaciers, and just over 30 percent is found in groundwater. Only about 0.3 percent of our freshwater is found in the surface water of lakes, rivers, and swamps.