Water Resources – NDA Geography PYQs

NDA 2020-I

Q. 1. Bagalihar, Dulhasti and Salal hydro power projects have been developed on which of the following rivers?

(a) Chenab and Jhelum

(b) Chenab and Indus

(c) Ravi

(d) Chenab only

Answer: (d) Chenab only

Explanation: All three projects are located on the Chenab River in Jammu & Kashmir/Ladakh: Bagalihar Dam: on the Chenab River in Doda district, J&K. Dulhasti Power Project: on the Marusudar tributary of the Chenab, J&K. Salal Dam: on the Chenab River in Reasi district, J&K. All three are part of India’s hydroelectric development on the Chenab under the Indus Waters Treaty framework. Concept Tested: Bagalihar, Dulhasti, and Salal: all hydropower projects on the Chenab River in J&K

NDA 2016-I

Q. 2. The Nagarjuna Sagar Project is located on which one of the following rivers?

(a) Godavari

(b) Krishna

(c) Kavery

(d) Mahanadi

Answer: (b) Krishna

Explanation: Nagarjuna Sagar Dam is located on the Krishna River at Nagarjuna Sagar town in Nalgonda district, Telangana (the dam site itself spans Telangana and Andhra Pradesh). It is one of the largest masonry dams in the world and a major irrigation and hydroelectric project. The Godavari and Mahanadi have their own major dams (Polavaram and Hirakud respectively). Kaveri/Cauvery dams include Mettur (Tamil Nadu). Concept Tested: Location of Nagarjuna Sagar Project on the Krishna River

★ JOVIK Exam Insight Major South Indian dam-to-river pairs that NDA tests repeatedly: Nagarjuna Sagar → Krishna; Alamatti → Krishna; Srisailam → Krishna; Mettur → Cauvery; Papanasam → Tamiraparani; Hirakud → Mahanadi. The Krishna River has the most major dams: a common source of confusion in options.

NDA 2015-I

Q. 3. Which one of the following irrigation canals is the most important in terms of area coverage in Haryana?

(a) Bhakra canal

(b) The Western Yamuna Canal

(c) Jawaharlal Nehru canal

(d) Gurgaon canal

Answer: (b) The Western Yamuna Canal

Explanation: The Western Yamuna Canal is the oldest and most extensive canal system in Haryana. It originates from the Tajewala headworks on the Yamuna River near Yamunanagar and irrigates a large part of Haryana including Karnal, Panipat, and Rohtak districts. It covers a larger irrigated area than the Bhakra Canal in Haryana, making it the most important irrigation canal in terms of area coverage in the state. Concept Tested: Most important irrigation canal in Haryana: Western Yamuna Canal

NDA 2014-II

Q. 4. Which one of the following pairs of power projects is not correctly matched?

(a) Papanasam: Hydropower

(b) Neyveli: Hydropower

(c) Ukai: Thermal power

(d) Rana Pratap Sagar: Hydropower

Answer: (b) Neyveli: Hydropower

Explanation: Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC) in Tamil Nadu is a thermal power station that runs on lignite (brown coal). It is not a hydroelectric project. So the pair “Neyveli: Hydropower” is incorrectly matched. Papanasam (Tamiraparani River, Tamil Nadu): Hydropower. Correct. Rana Pratap Sagar (Chambal River, Rajasthan): Hydropower. Correct. Note: Ukai is also actually a hydroelectric project on the Tapi River in Gujarat: not thermal. So option (c) is also incorrect as a factual pair. However, the question asks which one is not correctly matched, and the source answer identifies Neyveli as the answer. Concept Tested: Power project types: Neyveli as thermal (lignite), not hydropower

NDA 2013-I

Q. 5. Which among the following areas is conducive for well irrigation?

(a) Rocky land uneven surface of Peninsular India

(b) Dry tracts of Rajasthan and Gujarat

(c) Brackish groundwater region of Uttar Pradesh

(d) Geltaic regions of Mahanadi, Godavari and Krishna

Answer: (d) Deltaic regions of Mahanadi, Godavari and Krishna

Explanation: The deltaic regions of the Mahanadi, Godavari, and Krishna rivers (on the eastern coast) have soft, water-saturated alluvial soil. Groundwater is available at shallow depths and is generally fresh. This makes well irrigation highly suitable. (a) Rocky, uneven Peninsular terrain: hard rock prevents digging and water does not accumulate easily. (b) Dry Rajasthan and Gujarat tracts: groundwater is deep and often saline in many areas. (c) Brackish (slightly saline) groundwater regions: not suitable for irrigation as the water is not fresh enough for crops. Note: The original source spells option (d) as “Geltaic”: this is a typographic error for “Deltaic”. Concept Tested: Areas suitable for well irrigation: deltaic alluvial regions with shallow freshwater table

NDA 2012-II

Q. 6. In which among the following terrains can bore wells and canals be dug easily?

(a) Gneiss, granites and basaltic terrain of Peninsular India

(b) Rolling and dotted hilly terrain of North-East India

(c) Soft alluvium of the Northern Plains

(d) Confined aquifer below the normal water table

Answer: (c) Soft alluvium of the Northern Plains

Explanation: Soft alluvial soil of the Northern Plains (the Indo-Gangetic Plain) is the easiest terrain for digging bore wells and canals. Alluvial soil is loose, porous, and water-retentive. The water table in the Northern Plains is shallow and easily accessible. In contrast: (a) Hard crystalline rocks like gneiss, granite, and basalt do not allow easy digging or water percolation. (b) Hilly terrain of North-East India is difficult to excavate and does not hold water in flat reserves. (d) A confined aquifer below the normal water table requires high-pressure drilling: not simple digging. Concept Tested: Terrain suitability for irrigation: alluvial plains vs. hard rock and hilly terrain

NDA 2011-I

Q. 7. Which one among the following is not a reason for practising tank irrigation in Peninsular India?

(a) The undulating relief and hard rocks

(b) Little percolation of rain water due to impervious rock structure

(c) Most of the rivers of Peninsular India are perennial

(d) There are many streams which become torrential during the rainy season

Answer: (c) Most of the rivers of Peninsular India are perennial

Explanation: Tank irrigation is practised in Peninsular India because: (a) Undulating hard-rock terrain makes canal digging difficult: this encourages tank storage. (b) Impervious (non-porous) basement rocks prevent rainwater from percolating into the ground: wells do not work well, so surface tanks are used. (d) Many streams become seasonal torrents and dry up outside the monsoon: tanks store this water. However, (c) is incorrect as a reason: most Peninsular rivers are actually seasonal (non-perennial), not perennial. If they were perennial, there would be less need for tank irrigation. So (c) is NOT a reason for tank irrigation: making it the correct answer to this “not a reason” question. Concept Tested: Reasons for tank irrigation in Peninsular India: hard rocks, impervious soil, seasonal rivers

★ JOVIK Exam Insight This is a common NDA reasoning trap. Tank irrigation is used in Peninsular India precisely because rivers are seasonal and rock is impervious. If rivers were perennial, canals could be built instead. The logic of the negative question (“not a reason”) trips students who do not read carefully.

NDA 2008-I

Q. 8. Mahatma Gandhi Hydroelectric project is on which river?

(a) Godavari

(b) Sharavati

(c) Cauvery

(d) Krishna

Answer: (b) Sharavati

Explanation: The Mahatma Gandhi Hydroelectric Project (also called the Jogfalls Power House or Linganamakki project) is located on the Sharavati River in Karnataka. The Sharavati River also creates the famous Jog Falls (Gersoppa Falls), one of the highest plunge waterfalls in India. This project is a significant source of hydroelectric power for Karnataka. Concept Tested: Mahatma Gandhi Hydroelectric Project on the Sharavati River in Karnataka

NDA 2007-II

Q. 9. Consider the following statements:

1. Alamatti dam is on the Cauvery river.

2. Mettur dam is on the Krishna river.

3. Gandhi Sagar Reservoir is on the Chambal river.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 3 only

Answer: (d) 3 only

Explanation: Statement 1 (Alamatti on Cauvery): Incorrect. Alamatti (Lal Bahadur Shastri) Dam is on the Krishna River in Karnataka, not the Cauvery. Statement 2 (Mettur Dam on Krishna): Incorrect. Mettur Dam is on the Cauvery River in Salem district, Tamil Nadu: not the Krishna. Statement 3 (Gandhi Sagar on Chambal): Correct. Gandhi Sagar is on the Chambal River in Madhya Pradesh. Note the deliberate swapping in statements 1 and 2: Alamatti is on the Krishna but placed on Cauvery; Mettur is on the Cauvery but placed on Krishna. This is a classic NDA trap. Concept Tested: Dam-to-river matching: Alamatti (Krishna), Mettur (Cauvery), Gandhi Sagar (Chambal)

★ JOVIK Exam Insight NDA has tested the Alamatti–Mettur swap in multiple papers. Remember: Alamatti → Krishna (Karnataka). Mettur → Cauvery (Tamil Nadu). These two are frequently switched in options. Gandhi Sagar → Chambal is consistently correct and has appeared in NDA 2006-I, 2007-I, and 2007-II.

NDA 2007-I

Q. 10. Consider the following statements:

1. Ranjit Sagar Dam is on the river Beas.

2. Hirakud Dam is on the river Damodar.

3. The reservoir Gandhi Sagar is on the river Chambal.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2

(b) 3 only

(c) 2 and 3

(d) 1 and 3

Answer: (b) 3 only

Explanation: Statement 1 (Ranjit Sagar Dam on Beas): Incorrect. Ranjit Sagar Dam (also called Thein Dam) is on the Ravi River in Pathankot, Punjab/Jammu & Kashmir. It is not on the Beas. Statement 2 (Hirakud Dam on Damodar): Incorrect. Hirakud Dam is on the Mahanadi River near Sambalpur, Odisha. The Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) has its own set of dams on the Damodar River in Jharkhand/West Bengal. Statement 3 (Gandhi Sagar on Chambal): Correct. Gandhi Sagar Reservoir is on the Chambal River in Madhya Pradesh. It is the largest reservoir on the Chambal. Concept Tested: River-to-dam matching: Ranjit Sagar (Ravi), Hirakud (Mahanadi), Gandhi Sagar (Chambal)

NDA 2006-I

Q. 11. Which of the following pairs is/are correctly matched?

1. Hirakud Reservoir: Sambalpur

2. Ukai Reservoir: Amravati

3. Tawa Reservoir: Pachmarhi

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3 only

Answer: (c) 1 and 3 only

Explanation: Pair 1 (Hirakud Reservoir: Sambalpur): Correct. Hirakud Dam is built on the Mahanadi River near Sambalpur, Odisha. It is one of the longest dams in the world. Pair 2 (Ukai Reservoir: Amravati): Incorrect. Ukai (Vallabhsaheb Patel) Reservoir is on the Tapi/Tapti River in Gujarat, not near Amravati (which is in Maharashtra). Amravati is associated with a different dam on the Wardha River. Pair 3 (Tawa Reservoir: Pachmarhi): Correct. The Tawa Reservoir is on the Tawa River, a tributary of the Narmada, in Hoshangabad district (now Narmadapuram) of Madhya Pradesh. It lies in the Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve region. Concept Tested: Correct matching of Indian reservoirs with their locations: Hirakud (Sambalpur), Ukai (Gujarat), Tawa (Madhya Pradesh)

★ JOVIK Exam Insight Dam-to-river and dam-to-location matching is a recurring NDA question type. Three facts recur across multiple NDA papers: Hirakud Dam → Mahanadi → Sambalpur (Odisha); Gandhi Sagar → Chambal (MP/Rajasthan); Nagarjuna Sagar → Krishna (Andhra Pradesh/Telangana). Know these cold.

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