UPSC Prelims 2002 Q89: Geography – Indian Rivers & Water Resources
The correct sequence of the eastward flowing rivers of the peninsular India from north to
south is
- (a) Subarnarekha, Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Pennar, Cauvery and Vagai
- (b) Subarnarekha, Mahanadi, Godavari, Cauvery, Vagai, Pennar
- (c) Mahanadi, Subarnarekha, Godavari, Krishna, Cauvery, Pennar and Vagai
- (d) Mahanadi, Subarnarekha, Krishna, Godavari, Cauvery, Vagai and Pennar
Answer: (a) Subarnarekha, Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Pennar, Cauvery and Vagai
Explanation
Eastward flowing rivers of peninsular India from north to south
| River | Flows into / region |
|---|---|
| Subarnarekha | Jharkhand-Odisha; northernmost |
| Mahanadi | Chhattisgarh-Odisha |
| Godavari, Krishna | Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh; both into the Bay of Bengal |
| Pennar, Cauvery, Vagai | Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka-Tamil Nadu, southern Tamil Nadu |
From north to south the sequence is Subarnarekha, Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Pennar, Cauvery and Vagai. Pennar lies north of the Cauvery, and the Vagai flows through Madurai in the far south.
Answer: (a) Subarnarekha, Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Pennar, Cauvery and Vagai.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) CORRECT. This is the north-to-south order.
- (b) Incorrect. It omits the Krishna and puts the Cauvery before the Pennar.
- (c) Incorrect. It puts the Mahanadi before the Subarnarekha.
- (d) Incorrect. It puts the Krishna after the Godavari and the Pennar last.
Key point
East coast rivers: Subarnarekha, Brahmani, Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Pennar, Palar, Cauvery, Vaigai.
Remember
Pennar lies between the Krishna and the Cauvery.
Common mistakes
- Placing the Mahanadi above the Subarnarekha.
- Putting the Krishna north of the Godavari.
- Ending with the Pennar instead of the Vagai.
Exam tip
Check the first and last rivers: Subarnarekha first, Vagai last.
Sources
- NCERT Class XI — India: Physical Environment (Drainage System)
- Central Water Commission and National Remote Sensing Centre — India-WRIS: River Basin Atlas (east-flowing rivers of the Peninsula)