Which of the following is the longest river?

Question

UnlockIAS · Accepted Answer

Correct — C, Narmada. At about 1,312 km, the Narmada is by far the longest of the four rivers listed here — well ahead of the Cauveri (~800 km), the Son (~784 km) and the Tapti (~724 km). It is the longest of India's west-flowing rivers, rising at Amarkantak (Anuppur district, Madhya Pradesh) and emptying into the Gulf of Khambhat (Arabian Sea) after flowing through Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat.

Why the other options are wrong — (a) A major south Indian peninsular river of about 800 km, rising in Karnataka's Western Ghats and flowing east to the Bay of Bengal — shorter than the Narmada.  (b) The Narmada's smaller, parallel neighbour — also rising near the Satpura hills and flowing west, but at only about 724 km, distinctly shorter.  (d) A major left-bank tributary of the Ganga, roughly 784 km long, also rising on the Amarkantak plateau — shorter than the Narmada.

Concept: The Narmada is the longest of India's west-flowing rivers and one of the few major Indian rivers that flows west into the Arabian Sea rather than east into the Bay of Bengal, because it runs through a linear rift valley between the Vindhya and Satpura ranges.

State PCS 2024 Q77 — Geography PYQ with Answer

State PCS 2024 Q77 — Geography PYQ with Answer