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UPSC Prelims 2003 · Indian Geography · Rivers, Lakes and Dams
What is the correct sequence of the rivers Godavari, Mahanadi, Narmada and Tapi in the descending order of their lengths?
- (a) Godavari – Mahanadi – Narmada – Tapi
- (b) Godavari – Narmada – Mahanadi – Tapi
- (c) Narmada – Godavari – Tapi – Mahanadi
- (d) Narmada – Tapi – Godavari – Mahanadi
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: (b) Godavari – Narmada – Mahanadi – Tapi
Godavari (~1,465 km) > Narmada (~1,312) > Mahanadi (~851) > Tapi (~724).
The idea
River length measures the course from source to mouth, not basin area or water volume. A winding channel can be longer than its straight map distance. Use the conventional whole-course comparison asked in 2003, without confusing it with discharge or reservoir size.
Why the others are wrong
(a) The Narmada is longer than the Mahanadi.
(c) The Godavari is the longest peninsular river.
(d) The Godavari is the longest.
The trap
The Mahanadi has a large basin but is shorter than the Narmada.
Elimination technique
Godavari heads this comparison, removing (c) and (d). Narmada exceeds Mahanadi in course length, resolving the remaining pair without memorising exact kilometres.
Also know
Krishna is another long peninsular river but is absent from this list. Basin area is the land draining to a river, while discharge is water passing a point per unit time. Seasonal monsoon changes strongly affect discharge without changing the basic map order of river lengths.
🔒 Longest peninsular river: Godavari (“Dakshin Ganga”), then Krishna, Narmada.
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