The longest river in India is

Question

UnlockIAS · Accepted Answer

Correct — B, the Ganga. The Ganga is the longest river flowing within India, running about 2,525 km from its Himalayan source (the Bhagirathi at Gangotri) across the northern plains to the Bay of Bengal. The Indus and the Brahmaputra are longer over their entire courses, but most of their length lies outside India — so within India the Ganga is the longest.

Why the other options are wrong — (a) One of Asia's great rivers and very long overall, but the bulk of its course runs through Tibet and Bangladesh; its length inside India is less than the Ganga's.  (c) The longest river of Peninsular India (the 'Dakshina Ganga'), about 1,465 km — the longest in the south, but shorter than the Ganga.  (d) Longer than the Ganga over its full course, but it flows mainly through Pakistan; only a small stretch lies in India, so it is not India's longest river.

Concept: 'Longest river in India' means the greatest length lying within India — the Ganga (~2,525 km). Distinguish this from 'longest river of Peninsular/South India' (Godavari, ~1,465 km) and from rivers that are longer overall but mostly foreign (Indus and Brahmaputra).

State PCS 2018 Q28 — Geography PYQ with Answer

State PCS 2018 Q28 — Geography PYQ with Answer