Some facts about India

Rivers of India

Himalayan Rivers

The main Himalayan river systems are the Ganga, the Indus and the Brahmaputra river systems. The Himalayan rivers form large basins. Many rivers pass through the Himalayas. These deep valleys with steep rock sides were formed by the down - cutting of the river during the period of the Himalayan uplift. They perform intense erosional activity up the streams and carry huge load of sand and silt. In the plains, they form large meanders, and a variety of depositional features like flood plains, river cliffs and levees.

These rivers are perennial as they get water from the rainfall as well as the melting of ice. Nearly all of them create huge plains and are navigable over long distances of their course. These rivers are also harnessed in their upstream catchment area to generate hydroelectricity.

Peninsular Rivers

The main peninsular river systems include the Narmada, the Tapi, the Godavari, the Krishna, the Kaveri and the Mahanadi river systems. The Peninsular rivers flow through shallow valleys. A large number of them are seasonal as their flow is dependent on rainfall. The intensity of erosional activities is also comparatively low because of the gentler slope. The hard rock bed and lack of silt and sand does not allow any significant meandering. Many rivers therefore have straight and linear courses. These rivers provide huge opportunities for hydro-electric power.

The Indus River System

The Indus originates in the northern slopes of the Kailash range in Tibet near Lake Manasarovar. It follows a north-westerly course through Tibet. It enters Indian territory in Jammu and Kashmir.

It forms a picturesque gorge in this part. Several tributaries - the Zaskar, the Shyok, the Nubra and the Hunza join it in the Kashmir region. It flows through the regions of Ladakh, Baltistan and Gilgit and runs between the Ladakh Range and the Zaskar Range. It crosses the Himalayas through a 5181 m deep gorge near Attock, lying north of the Nanga Parbat and later takes a bend to the south west direction before entering Pakistan. It has a large number of tributaries in both India and Pakistan and has a total length of about 2897 km from the source to the point near Karachi where it falls into the Arabian Sea. The main tributaries of the Indus in India are Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas and Sutlej.

Jhelum

The Jhelum originates in the south-eastern part of Kashmir, in a spring at Verinag. It flows into the Wular Lake, which lies to the north, and then into Baramula. Between Baramula and Muzaffarabad it enters a deep gorge cut by the river in the Pir Panjal range. It has a right bank tributary the Kishanganga which joins it at Muzaffarabad. It follows the Indo-Pakistan border flowing into the plains of Punjab, finally joining the Chenab at Trimmu.

Chenab

The Chenab originates from the confluence of two rivers, the Chandra and the Bhaga, which themselves originate from either side of the Bara Lacha Pass in Lahul. It is also known as the Chandrabhaga in Himachal Pradesh. It runs parallel to the Pir Panjal Range in the north-westerly direction, and cuts through the range near Kishtwar. It enters the plains of Punjab near Akhnur and is later joined by the Jhelum. It is further joined by the Ravi and the Sutlej in Pakistan.

Ravi

The Ravi originates near the Rotang pass in the Kangra Himalayas and follows a north-westerly course. It turns to the south-west, near Dalhousie, and then cuts a gorge in the Dhaola Dhar range entering the Punjab plain near Madhopur. It flows as a part of the Indo-Pakistan border for some distance before entering Pakistan and joining the Chenab river. The total length of the river is about 720 km.

Beas

The Beas originates in Beas Kund, lying near the Rohtang pass. It runs past Manali and Kulu, where its beautiful valley is known as the Kulu valley. It first follows a north-west path from the town of Mandi and later a westerly path, before entering the Punjab plains near Mirthal. It joins the Sutlej river near Harika, after being joined by a few tributaries. The total length of the river is 615 km.

Sutlej

The Sutlej originates from the Rakas Lake, which is connected to the Manasarovar lake by a stream, in Tibet. Its flows in a north-westerly direction and enters Himachal Pradesh at the Shipki Pass, where it is joined by the Spiti river. It cuts deep gorges in the ranges of the Himalayas, and finally enters the Punjab plain after cutting a gorge in a hill range, the Naina Devi Dhar, where the Bhakra Dam having a large reservoir of water, called the Gobind Sagar, has been constructed. It turns west below Rupar and is later joined by the Beas. It enters Pakistan near Sulemanki, and is later joined by the Chenab. It has a total length of almost 1500 km.

The Brahmaputra River System

The Brahmaputra originates in the Mansarovar lake, also the source of the Indus and the Satluj. It is slightly longer than the Indus, but most of its course lies outside India. It flows eastward, parallel to the Himalayas. Reaching Namcha Barwa (7757 m), it takes a U-turn around it and enters India in Arunachal Pradesh and known as dihang. The undercutting done by this river is of the order of 5500 metres. In India, it flows through Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, and is joined by several tributaries.

In Tibet, the river is known as the Tsangpo. There, it receives less volume of water and has less silt. But in India, it passes through a region of heavy rainfall and as such, the river carries a large amount of rainfall and considerable amount of silt. The Brahmaputra has a braided channel throughout most of its length in Assam, with a few large islands within the channel.

The shifting of the channels of the river is also very common. The fury of the river during rains is very high. It is known for creating havoc in Assam and Bangladesh. At the same time, quite a few big pockets suffer from drought.

The Narmada River System

The Narmada or Nerbudda is a river in central India. It forms the traditional boundary between North India and South India, and is a total of 1,289 km (801 mi) long. Of the major rivers of peninsular India, only the Narmada, the Tapti and the Mahi run from east to west. It rises on the summit of Amarkantak Hill in Madhya Pradesh state, and for the first 320 kilometres (200 miles) of its course winds among the Mandla Hills, which form the head of the Satpura Range; then at Jabalpur, passing through the 'Marble Rocks', it enters the Narmada Valley between the Vindhya and Satpura ranges, and pursues a direct westerly course to the Gulf of Cambay. Its total length through the states of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat amounts to 1312 kilometres (815 miles), and it empties into the Arabian Sea in the Bharuch district of Gujarat.

The Tapi River System

The Tapi is a river of central India. It is one of the major rivers of peninsular India with the length of around 724 km, and only the Tapi River along with the Narmada river, and the Mahi River run from east to west. It rises in the eastern Satpura Range of southern Madhya Pradesh state, and flows westward, draining Madhya Pradesh's historic Nimar region, Maharashtra's historic Khandesh and east Vidarbha regions in the northwest corner of the Deccan Plateau and South Gujarat before emptying into the Gulf of Cambay of the Arabian Sea, in the State of Gujarat. The Western Ghats or Sahyadri range starts south of the Tapti River near the border of Gujarat and Maharashtra.

The Tapi River Basin lies mostly in northern and eastern districts Maharashtra state viz, Amravati, Akola, Buldhana, Washim, Jalgaon, Dhule, Nandurbar, Malegaon, Nashik districts but also covers Betul, Burhanpur districts of Madhya Pradesh and Surat district in Gujarat as well.

The principal tributaries of Tapi River are Purna River, Girna River, Panzara River, Waghur River, Bori River and Aner River.

The Godavari River System

The river with second longest course within India, Godavari is often referred to as the Vriddh (Old) Ganga or the Dakshin (South) Ganga. The name may be apt in more ways than one, as the river follows the course of Ganga's tragedy. The river is about 1,450 km (900 miles) long. It rises at Trimbakeshwar, near Nasik and Mumbai (formerly Bombay) in Maharashtra around 380 km distance from the Arabian Sea, but flows southeast across south-central India through the states of Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh, and empties into the Bay of Bengal. At Rajahmundry, 80 km from the coast, the river splits into two streams thus forming a very fertile delta. Like any other major rivers in India, the banks of this river also has many pilgrimage sites, Nasik, Triyambak and Bhadrachalam, being the major ones. It is a seasonal river, widened during the monsoons and dried during the summers. Godavari river water is brownish. Some of its tributaries include Indravati River, Pranahita (Combination of Penuganga and Warda), Manjira, Bindusara and Sabari. Some important urban centers on its banks include Nasik, Bhadrachalam, Rajahmundry and Narsapur. The Asia's largest rail-cum-road bridge on the river Godavari linking Kovvur and Rajahmundry is considered to be an engineering feat.

The Krishna River System

The Krishna is one of the longest rivers of India (about 1300 km in length). It originates at Mahabaleswar in Maharashtra, passes through Sangli and meets the sea in the Bay of Bengal at Hamasaladeevi in Andhra Pradesh. The Krishna River flows through the states of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

The traditional source of the river is a spout from the mouth of a statue of a cow in the ancient temple of Mahadev in Mahabaleshwar.

Its most important tributary is the Tungabhadra River, which itself is formed by the Tunga and Bhadra rivers that originate in the Western Ghats. Other tributaries include the Koyna, Bhima, Mallaprabha, Ghataprabha, Yerla, Warna, Dindi, Musi and Dudhganga rivers.

The Kaveri River System

The Kaveri (also spelled Cauvery or Kavery) is one of the great rivers of India and is considered sacred by the Hindus. This river is also called Dakshin Ganga. The headwaters are in the Western Ghats range of Karnataka state, and from Karnataka through Tamil Nadu. It empties into the Bay of Bengal. Its waters have supported irrigated agriculture for centuries, and the Kaveri has been the lifeblood of the ancient kingdoms and modern cities of South India.

The source of the river is Talakaveri located in the Western Ghats about 5,000 feet (1,500 m) above sea level. Talakaveri is a famous pligrimage and tourist spot set amidst Bramahagiri Hills near Madikeri in Kodagu district of Karnataka. Thousands of piligrims flock to the temple at the source of the river especially on the specified day known as Tula sankramana when the river water has been witnessed to gush out like a fountain at a predetermined time. It flows generally south and east for around 765 km, emptying into the Bay of Bengal through two principal mouths. Its basin is estimated to be 27,700 square miles (71,700 km²), and it has many tributaries including Shimsha, Hemavati, Arkavathy, Kapila, Honnuhole, Lakshmana Tirtha, Kabini, Lokapavani, Bhavani, Noyyal and Famous Amaravati.

The Mahanadi River System

The Mahanadi is a river of eastern India. The Mahanadi rises in the Satpura Range of central India, and flows east to the Bay of Bengal. The Mahanadi drains most of the state of Chhattisgarh and much of Orissa and also Jharkhand and Maharashtra. It has a length of about 860 km.

Near the city of Sambalpur, a large dam - the Hirakud Dam - is built on the river.

Indian States with Capitals

Geography Set-1

1.
On the south side, India is bounded by the Indian Ocean, by the Arabian Sea on the southwest and the ……………..on the southeast. 

A) Brahmaputra 
B) GANT
C) Bay of Bengal
D) None of Above

2.
The Ganges is one of the longest river originating in India.

A) True
B) False

3.
The Lakshadweep and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands in India are classified as …………..

A) LAC
B) UT (union territories)
C) States
D) Deserts

4.
The ………………. is the effective border between India and the People’s Republic of China.

A) LOC
B) LAC
C) LOG
D) None of Above

5.
The first British colony was in ……… with English East India Company at Surat.

A) 1616
B) 1617
C) 1618
D) 1619

6.
The Rann of Kutch is a marshy region located in northwestern Gujarat and the bordering Sindh province of ……………..

A) Pakistan
B) Bangladesh
C) Nepal
D) Afghanistan

7.
The Himalayan range is considered as the world’s highest mountain range, with its tallest peak …………….. on the Nepal–China border.

A) Hindu Kush
B) Mt. Everest
C) Tirich Mir
D) Kunlun

8.
Many cities in India have undergone place name changes such as Baroda being renamed to ………….

A) Badodara
B) Varanasi
C) Vadodara
D) Baranasi

9.
The Aravali Range is the oldest mountain range in India, running across Rajasthan from northeast to southwest direction, extending approximately 800 km (497 mi).

A) True
B) False

10.
The Brahmaputra is also called ……………………

A) Burlung-Buthur
B) Tsangpo-Brahmaputra
C) Yarlung Tsangpo
D) All of Above

Answers

1) c, 2) a, 3) b, 4) b, 5) d, 6) a, 7) b, 8) c, 9) a, 10) d

IMF

The IMF, also known as the Fund, was conceived at a UN conference in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, United States, in July 1944. The 44 countries at that conference sought to build a framework for economic cooperation to avoid a repetition of the competitive devaluations that had contributed to the Great Depression of the 1930s.

The IMF's primary purpose is to ensure the stability of the international monetary system—the system of exchange rates and international payments that enables countries (and their citizens) to transact with each other. The Fund's mandate was updated in 2012 to include all macroeconomic and financial sector issues that bear on global stability.
  
Original aims:

• promote international monetary cooperation;
• facilitate the expansion and balanced growth of international trade;
• promote exchange stability;
• assist in the establishment of a multilateral system of payments; and
• make resources available (with adequate safeguards) to members experiencing balance of payments difficulties.

• Membership: 189 countries
• Headquarters: Washington, D.C.
• Executive Board: 24 Directors each representing a single country or a group of countries
• Staff: Approximately 2,700 from 148 countries

PUNJAB GK Series- 2

Ques 1: During the recent assembly elections in Punjab, what was the approximate voting percentage?

1.   86%

2.   77%

3.   72%

4.   68%

Answer: 77%

Ques 2: In the year 2016, who won the Sahitya Akademi Award for Punjabi language?

1.   Gurdial Singh

2.   Darshan Buttar

3.   Jaswinder Singh

4.   Swaraj Bir

Answer: Swaraj Bir

Ques 3: This year (2017), which famous personality of Punjab was given Padma Shri award?

1.   Balbir Singh Seechewal

2.   Parkash Singh Badal

3.   Manmohan Waris

4.   Sardara Singh Johal

Answer: Balbir Singh Seechewal

Ques 4: An Ethanol Bio-Refinery is being setup near which city of Punjab?

1.   Jalandhar

2.   Bathinda

3.   Ropar

4.   Patti

Answer: Bathinda

Ques 5: What is the name of the memorial built by Punjab govt at Kartarpur?

1.   Jang-e-Azadi Memorial

2.   Virasat-e-Khalsa

3.   Punjab State War Heroes Memorial

4.   Vadda Ghallughara Memorial

Answer: Jang-e-Azadi Memorial

Ques 6: To prevent the construction of SYL Canal, which is the latest step of the state government?

1.   Punjab Termination of Agreements Act

2.   Punjab SYL Land (Transfer of Proprietary Right) Bill, 2016

3.   Denotify Land Acquired for SYL

4.   None of these

Answer: Punjab SYL Land (Transfer of Proprietary Right) Bill, 2016

Ques 7: The insurance scheme of Punjab govt for the poor people is named after which person?

1.   Guru Harkrishan ji

2.   Mother Teresa

3.   Bhagat Puran Singh

4.   Master Tara Singh

Answer: Bhagat Puran Singh

Ques 8: Who is the current governor of Punjab?

1.   Gurdial Singh

2.   Parkash Singh Badal

3.   Shivraj V. Patil

4.   Kaptan Singh Solanki

Answer: Kaptan Singh Solanki

Ques 9: Which town of Punjab is known as ‘Guru Ki Kashi’?

1.   Amritsar

2.   Talwandi Sabo

3.   Kiratpur Sahib

4.   Dera Baba Nanak

Answer: Talwandi Sabo

Ques 10: When was S. Parkash Singh Badal became chief minister of Punjab for the first time?

1.   1970

2.   1977

3.   1980

4.   1999

Answer: A

Ques 11: According to the Punjabi calendar (Vikram Samvat), which is the first month of the year?

1.   Vaisakh

2.   Chet

3.   Sawan

4.   Poh

Answer: Vaisakh

Ques 12: The only stock exchange of Punjab is located in which city?

1.   Chandigarh

2.   Ludhiana

3.   Amritsar

4.   Hoshiarpur

Answer: Ludhiana

Ques 13: Which country has the largest number of Punjabi speaking people?

1.   Canada

2.   India

3.   Australia

4.   Pakistan

Answer: Pakistan

Ques 14: Which of the following cities of Punjab has an international cricket stadium?

1.   Ludhiana

2.   Mohali

3.   Patiala

4.   Bathinda

Answer: Mohali

To Know Latest Name of Books and their Authors:- Press Here

Ques 15: What is the literal meaning of the name Punjab?

1.   Land of five rivers

2.   Land of seven rivers

3.   Area near Mount Abu

4.   Kingdom of five Pandavs

Answer: Land of seven rivers

Ques 16: Who became the chief minister of Punjab most number of times?

1.   Partap Singh Kairon

2.   Parkash Singh Badal

3.   Shivraj V. Patil

4.   Justice Gurnam Singh

Answer: B

Ques 17: Jalandhar city is famous for which of the following industry?

1.   Sports Goods Manufacturing

2.   Cycle Parts Industry

3.   Information Technology

4.   Electronics

Answer: Sports Goods Manufacturing

Ques18: After Independence, which city became the capital of Punjab?

1.   Ludhiana

2.   Amritsar

3.   Shimla

4.   Nabha

Answer: Shimla

Ques 19: When was Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) established?

1.   1947

2.   1966

3.   1962

4.   1969

Answer: 1969

Basic Punjab GK Part I

·         The total number of Districts are 22

·         The total number of Divisions is 05

·         The total number of Tehsils are 81

·         The total number of Sub-Tehsils are 86

·         The total number of Blocks are 145

·         The total number of Towns (Census 2011) are 143

·         The Sex Ratio (Female per 1000 males)
(i)Lowest (Rupnagar) 813
(ii)Highest (Hoshiarpur) 962

·         The total number of Inhabited Villages (Census 2011) are 12581

·         The total number of Cities (Census 2011) are 74

·         The total number of Zila Parishads are 20

·         The total number of Municipal Committees are 139

·         The total number of Improvement Trusts are 23

·         The District with lowest Population Barnala 2.78 Lakh

·         The total number of District with Highest Population are Ludhiana 16.21 Lakh

·         The Population Density is 550 Per sq. km (550 persons per sq.km)

·         The Lowest Density Population ( Mansa ) Per sq. km. 348

·         The Highest Density Population ( Ludhiana ) Per sq. km. 975

·         Punjab constitutes 2.29% of total population of India.

·         The Overall Literacy rate in Punjab is 76.68 %

·         The Total Area of the state is 50,362 square kilometers.

·         Dr. Gopi Chand Bhargava was the first Chief Minister of Punjab

·         Parkash Singh Badal is Punjab CM for record 5th time

·         Chandigarh is the Capital of Punjab

 

Basic Punjab GK Part II

·         Rajinder Kaur Bhattal is the first and only lady CM of Punjab

·         The only Stock Exchange of Punjab is located in Ludhiana

·         The Khanna City known as largest grain market of Asia

·         Ludhiana is the main industrial hub of Punjab, also known as the Manchester of India

·         Prof. Kaptan Singh Solanki is the 34th Governor of Punjab

·         There are total 117 seats in Punjab Vidhan Sabha

·         The Punjab Vidhan Sabha also known as Punjab Legislative Assembly, Punjab Assembly

·         Sukhbir Singh Badal is Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab

·         Ferozepur is the biggest district of Punjab state

·         Fatehgarh Sahib is the smallest District in Punjab

·         Sr. Gurdial Singh is first Punjabi novelist to get Jnanpith Award

·         Chandu Lal Trivedi was the first Governor of Punjab

·         Master Tara Singh , is known as pioneer of Punjabi Suba

·         Sapta Sindhu is old name of Punjab

·         There are four (04) Border States of Punjab

·         There are Seven (07) Rajya sabha Seats in Punjab

·         Maharaja Ranjit Singh was the first Sikh Ruler of Punjab

Basic Punjab GK Part III

·         The Shape of the Punjab State is Triangular

·         Punjab Situated is in North West of India

·         The largest Railway Junction in Asia is Bathinda , Punjab

·         Shisham is State Tree of Punjab

·         The State Bird of Punjab is Baz

·         Patiala is known as ‘City of Garden’ of Punjab

·         The Punjab state has 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab

·         Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Khadoor Sahib, Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Anandpur Sahib, Ludhiana, Fatehgarh Sahib, Faridkot, Ferozpur, Bhatinda, Sangrur and Patiala

·         What is Mukh Mantri Tirath Yatra Scheme – This scheme will provide free pilgrimage to Sacred cities

·         Name of Sacred cities under Mukh Mantri Tirath Yatra Scheme , Punjab

·         Takht Sri Hazur Sahib – Nanded , Mumbai

·         Mata Vaishno Devi – Katra , Jammu

·         Kashi – Varanasi, UP

·         Ajmer Sarif Dargarh – Ajmer , Rajasthan