๐ Topic 03 of 6 ยท Chapter 02 ยท Drainage Systems
Ganga River System
Origin, tributaries (Yamuna, Ghaghra, Gandak, Kosi, Son), Sundarbans delta, Namami Gange โ complete notes for UPSC & PSC exams.
๐ Ganga River โ Key Facts
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Origin | Gangotri glacier (Uttarakhand); called Bhagirathi at source |
| Total Length | 2,525 km โ longest river in India |
| Drains into | Bay of Bengal (through Sundarbans delta) |
| Enters plains at | Haridwar (Uttarakhand) |
| Joins Yamuna at | Prayagraj (Allahabad) โ Triveni Sangam |
| Delta | Sundarbans โ world’s largest delta; shared with Bangladesh |
| National River | Declared India’s National River in 2008 |
| Basin area | ~8.6 lakh sq km โ largest river basin in India |
๐ Tributaries of the Ganga
| Tributary | Bank | Origin | Key Facts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yamuna | Right bank | Yamunotri glacier (Uttarakhand) | Longest tributary of Ganga (1,376 km); joins at Prayagraj; Delhi, Agra, Mathura on its banks |
| Ramganga | Right bank | Garhwal Himalayas (Uttarakhand) | Jim Corbett National Park on its banks |
| Ghaghra (Karnali) | Left bank | Mapchachungo glacier (Tibet) | Largest left-bank tributary; flows through Nepal as Karnali |
| Gandak (Narayani) | Left bank | Nepal Himalayas | Flows through Nepal; joins Ganga at Hajipur (Bihar) |
| Kosi | Left bank | Nepal Himalayas (7 streams) | “Sorrow of Bihar” โ changes course frequently; causes devastating floods |
| Son | Right bank | Amarkantak (MP) | Largest right-bank tributary after Yamuna; flows through MP, Jharkhand, Bihar |
| Damodar | Right bank | Chota Nagpur Plateau (Jharkhand) | Called “Sorrow of Bengal”; DVC (Damodar Valley Corporation) |
| Mahananda | Left bank | Darjeeling Hills (WB) | Last major tributary; joins near Farakka |
โญ Triveni Sangam โ Prayagraj:
The confluence of Ganga + Yamuna + Saraswati (mythical underground river) at Prayagraj (Allahabad).
โข Kumbh Mela is held here every 12 years (Maha Kumbh) and every 6 years (Ardh Kumbh)
โข 2025 Maha Kumbh was held at Prayagraj โ largest human gathering on Earth
The confluence of Ganga + Yamuna + Saraswati (mythical underground river) at Prayagraj (Allahabad).
โข Kumbh Mela is held here every 12 years (Maha Kumbh) and every 6 years (Ardh Kumbh)
โข 2025 Maha Kumbh was held at Prayagraj โ largest human gathering on Earth
๐ฟ Sundarbans Delta
- World’s largest delta โ formed by Ganga and Brahmaputra rivers
- Shared between India (West Bengal) and Bangladesh
- Area: ~10,000 sq km (India’s part ~4,260 sq km)
- UNESCO World Heritage Site; Ramsar Wetland
- Famous for Royal Bengal Tiger and mangrove forests
- Sundari trees give the delta its name
๐ Ganga Pollution & Clean-up Initiatives
- Ganga Action Plan (GAP-I) โ 1985 โ first major initiative to clean Ganga
- Ganga Action Plan (GAP-II) โ 1993 โ extended to tributaries
- National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) โ 2009
- Namami Gange Programme โ 2014 โ โน20,000 crore โ flagship programme; integrated conservation mission
- Arth Ganga โ economic activities along Ganga for sustainable development
๐ Key Exam Points:
โข Kosi = “Sorrow of Bihar” = changes course = floods = 7 Himalayan streams merge
โข Damodar = “Sorrow of Bengal” = DVC = Jharkhand + West Bengal
โข Yamuna = longest tributary of Ganga = 1,376 km
โข Farakka Barrage = West Bengal = diverts Ganga water to Hooghly = dispute with Bangladesh
โข Kosi = “Sorrow of Bihar” = changes course = floods = 7 Himalayan streams merge
โข Damodar = “Sorrow of Bengal” = DVC = Jharkhand + West Bengal
โข Yamuna = longest tributary of Ganga = 1,376 km
โข Farakka Barrage = West Bengal = diverts Ganga water to Hooghly = dispute with Bangladesh