Length of Major Rivers in India
(Important for UPSC, JKSSB, SSC, RRB, BPSC, MPSC Exams)
Rivers in India vary greatly in length. Questions are often asked in competitive exams about which river is longer, shortest, or their ranking by length. The table below lists the major rivers of India arranged from longest to shortest.
Major Rivers of India – Length Wise
| Rank | River | Length (Approx.) | Origin | Where it Drains |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ganges River | 2525 km | Gangotri Glacier (Uttarakhand) | Bay of Bengal |
| 2 | Godavari River | 1465 km | Trimbakeshwar (Maharashtra) | Bay of Bengal |
| 3 | Krishna River | 1400 km | Mahabaleshwar | Bay of Bengal |
| 4 | Yamuna River | 1376 km | Yamunotri Glacier | Joins Ganga |
| 5 | Narmada River | 1312 km | Amarkantak Plateau | Arabian Sea |
| 6 | Indus River | 1114 km (in India) | Tibetan Plateau | Arabian Sea |
| 7 | Brahmaputra River | 916 km (in India) | Tibet (Angsi Glacier) | Bay of Bengal |
| 8 | Mahanadi River | 858 km | Chhattisgarh | Bay of Bengal |
| 9 | Kaveri River | 800 km | Talakaveri (Karnataka) | Bay of Bengal |
| 10 | Tapti River | 724 km | Satpura Hills | Arabian Sea |
Quick Comparison Table (Very Important for Exams)
| River | Length |
|---|---|
| Ganga | 2525 km |
| Godavari | 1465 km |
| Krishna | 1400 km |
| Yamuna | 1376 km |
| Narmada | 1312 km |
| Indus (in India) | 1114 km |
| Brahmaputra (in India) | 916 km |
| Mahanadi | 858 km |
| Kaveri | 800 km |
| Tapti | 724 km |
Important Comparison Points
Longest river in India: Ganga
Longest peninsular river: GodavariSecond longest peninsular river: Krishna
Longest west-flowing river: Narmada
River called Dakshin Ganga: Godavari
Two major west flowing rivers: Narmada and Tapti
Length-Based MCQ Questions (Exam Pattern)
1. Which of the following rivers is the longest in India?
A. Godavari
B. Krishna
C. Ganga
D. Narmada
Answer: Ganga
2. Arrange the following rivers in descending order of their length:
Krishna
Godavari
Yamuna
A. 2 – 1 – 3
B. 2 – 3 – 1
C. 1 – 2 – 3
D. 3 – 2 – 1
Answer: 2 – 1 – 3
3. Which river is longer than the Yamuna?
A. Krishna
B. Narmada
C. Tapti
D. Kaveri
Answer: Krishna
4. Which of the following is the shortest river among these?
A. Mahanadi
B. Tapti
C. Narmada
D. Yamuna
Answer: Tapti
5. Which river is longer: Narmada or Krishna?
A. Narmada
B. Krishna
Answer: Krishna