India: Physiographic Divisions, Rivers and River Projects
India: Physiographic Divisions, Rivers and River Projects
India's physical map has six major divisions, and its rivers fall into two systems: the snow-fed Himalayan rivers and the rain-fed peninsular rivers. NTPC asks the divisions and their features, the origin and tributaries of rivers, and which dam stands on which river.
1. Physiographic Divisions
| Division | Key facts |
|---|---|
| Himalayas | Himadri (Greater), Himachal (Lesser), Shiwaliks (Outer); K2 (Godwin Austen, 8,611 m) is officially India's highest peak; Kanchenjunga (8,586 m) is the highest in Indian-administered territory |
| Northern Plains | Formed by the Indus, Ganga and Brahmaputra; bhabar, terai, bhangar (old alluvium), khadar (new alluvium) |
| Peninsular Plateau | Oldest landmass; Deccan Plateau, Malwa Plateau, Chota Nagpur Plateau |
| Indian Desert | Thar, west of the Aravallis |
| Coastal Plains | Western (Konkan, Kannad, Malabar) and Eastern (Coromandel, Northern Circars) |
| Islands | Andaman and Nicobar (Bay of Bengal), Lakshadweep (Arabian Sea, coral) |
Highest peak of the Western Ghats: Anamudi (2,695 m); of the Eastern Ghats: Jindhagada Peak (1,690 m); NCERT names Mahendragiri (1,501 m)
The Himalayas block cold Central Asian winds and trap monsoon winds, so they shape India's climate
2. River Systems
| River | Origin | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ganga | Gangotri glacier (as the Bhagirathi) | Joins the Alaknanda at Devprayag; tributaries Yamuna, Son, Gandak, Kosi |
| Yamuna | Yamunotri glacier | Meets the Ganga at Prayagraj |
| Brahmaputra | Near Mansarovar (Tsangpo in Tibet) | Enters India as the Siang; Majuli is a large river island |
| Indus | Tibet, near Mansarovar | Tributaries Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, Sutlej |
| Godavari | Trimbakeshwar, Nashik | Longest peninsular river ("Dakshin Ganga") |
| Krishna | Mahabaleshwar | |
| Kaveri | Brahmagiri hills, Karnataka | |
| Narmada and Tapi | Amarkantak and Multai | Flow west through rift valleys into the Arabian Sea |
3. River Projects
| Dam or project | River | State |
|---|---|---|
| Bhakra Nangal | Sutlej | Himachal Pradesh and Punjab |
| Tehri | Bhagirathi | Uttarakhand |
| Hirakud | Mahanadi | Odisha |
| Sardar Sarovar | Narmada | Gujarat |
| Nagarjuna Sagar | Krishna | Telangana-Andhra Pradesh |
| Pochampad (Sriram Sagar Project) | Godavari | Telangana |
| Mettur | Kaveri | Tamil Nadu |
| Indira Gandhi Canal | From the Harike barrage (Sutlej-Beas) | Rajasthan |
✗ The Narmada flows east into the Bay of Bengal | ✓ The Narmada and Tapi flow west into the Arabian Sea
✗ Bhakra Nangal is on the Beas | ✓ It is on the Sutlej
हिंदी नोट: हिमालय के तीन भाग: हिमाद्रि, हिमाचल और शिवालिक। गंगा गंगोत्री से भागीरथी के रूप में निकलती है और देवप्रयाग में अलकनंदा से मिलती है। भाखड़ा नांगल बाँध सतलुज पर, हीराकुड महानदी पर और सरदार सरोवर नर्मदा पर है। पोचमपाड बाँध को श्रीराम सागर परियोजना भी कहते हैं।
Exam Pointer: Verified NTPC patterns: the river of the Bhakra Nangal dam (September 2025 UG CBT-1) and the other name of the Pochampad dam (August 2025 UG CBT-1). Physiography and river-origin questions are tagged syllabus-based.
Pariksha Pattern: Every Way NTPC Asks This Topic
Pattern 1: Dams and rivers
[PYQ: NTPC UG CBT-1 1-Sep-2025 Shift-2 | NTPC UG CBT-1 28-Aug-2025 Shift-2]
EXAM LEVEL
Q. On which river is the Bhakra Nangal dam built?
The Sutlej.
Answer: Sutlej
EXAMATLAS LEVEL
Q. By what other name is the Pochampad dam known, and on which river are the Hirakud and Sardar Sarovar dams?
The Sriram Sagar Project (on the Godavari). Hirakud is on the Mahanadi and Sardar Sarovar on the Narmada.
Answer: Sriram Sagar Project; Mahanadi; Narmada
Pattern 2: River origins and confluences
[Pattern: syllabus-based, PYQ-style]
EXAM LEVEL
Q. Where does the Godavari originate?
Trimbakeshwar near Nashik, Maharashtra.
Answer: Trimbakeshwar
EXAMATLAS LEVEL
Q. At which place do the Bhagirathi and the Alaknanda join to form the Ganga, and which two rivers flow west through rift valleys?
Devprayag. The Narmada and the Tapi.
Answer: Devprayag; Narmada and Tapi
Pattern 3: Physiographic divisions
[Pattern: syllabus-based, PYQ-style]
EXAM LEVEL
Q. What is the outermost range of the Himalayas called?
The Shiwaliks.
Answer: Shiwaliks
EXAMATLAS LEVEL
Q. What are new and old alluvium called in the northern plains, and which is the highest peak of the Western Ghats?
Khadar (new) and bhangar (old). Anamudi is the highest peak of the Western Ghats.
Answer: Khadar and bhangar; Anamudi
Pattern 4: The Himalayas and climate
[PYQ: NTPC Graduate CBT-1 10-Jun-2025 Shift-1]
EXAM LEVEL
Q. How do the Himalayas affect India's winter?
They block cold winds from Central Asia, keeping north India warmer than it would otherwise be.
Answer: They block cold Central Asian winds
EXAMATLAS LEVEL
Q. Name two ways in which the Himalayas shape India's climate.
They block cold Central Asian winds in winter, and they trap the south-west monsoon winds, making them shed rain over India.
Answer: Block cold winds; trap monsoon winds
60-Second Revision
- Himadri, Himachal, Shiwaliks; K2 officially highest, Kanchenjunga highest in Indian-administered territory.
- Khadar new, bhangar old alluvium.
- Ganga forms at Devprayag; Godavari from Trimbakeshwar; Narmada and Tapi flow west.
- Bhakra-Sutlej, Tehri-Bhagirathi, Hirakud-Mahanadi, Sardar Sarovar-Narmada, Pochampad-Godavari.