The Ganga is India's longest and most sacred river. It originates from Gangotri glacier (Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand) and flows eastward through Uttarakhand, UP, Bihar, and West Bengal before emptying into the Bay of Bengal. The Ganga has many important tributaries — some joining from the right bank (south) and others from the left bank (north). Key tributaries include Yamuna, Ghaghra, Gandak, Kosi, Son, and Chambal.
Ganga: origin Gangotri; length 2,525 km; empties into Bay of Bengal.
Largest tributary: Yamuna (right bank) — 1,376 km; joins at Prayagraj.
Left bank: Ghaghra, Gandak, Kosi, Gomti, Ramganga.
Right bank: Yamuna, Son, Chambal (via Yamuna).
Kosi = 'Sorrow of Bihar' — most flood-prone tributary.
NCERT Class 9 Geography Chapter 3 — Drainage.
Ganga River — Basic Facts: • Origin: Gangotri glacier (Uttarakhand) • Length: 2,525 km (longest river in India) • Flows through: Uttarakhand → UP → Bihar → West Bengal • Meets sea: Bay of Bengal (Sagar Island) • Direction: West to East
Right Bank Tributaries (join from south/right side):
| River | Origin | Joins Ganga at |
|---|---|---|
| Yamuna | Yamunotri (Uttarakhand) | Prayagraj (Triveni Sangam) |
| Chambal | Vindhya Range (MP) | Etawah (joins Yamuna) |
| Son | Amarkantak (MP) | Patna (Arrah area) |
| Betwa | Vindhya Range (MP) | Joins Yamuna |
| Ken | Vindhya Range (MP) | Joins Yamuna |
Left Bank Tributaries (join from north/left side):
| River | Origin | Joins Ganga at |
|---|---|---|
| Ghaghra | Mapchachungo glacier, Nepal | Chhapra, Bihar |
| Gandak | Nepal (Himalayas) | Hajipur/Patna, Bihar |
| Kosi | Nepal Himalayas | Kursela, Bihar |
| Gomti | Gomat Taal, UP | Varanasi, UP |
| Ramganga | Kumaon Hills, Uttarakhand | Kannauj, UP |
| Mahananda | Darjeeling Hills | West Bengal |
Key Notes: • Yamuna is the largest tributary of the Ganga (1,376 km) • Kosi is called the 'Sorrow of Bihar' — causes devastating floods almost every year • Gandak forms a natural border between Bihar and UP • Son is the largest right bank tributary in Bihar • Ghaghra (also called Karnali/Saryu) is the largest left bank tributary
Triveni Sangam (Prayagraj): • Meeting of Ganga + Yamuna + Saraswati (mythological underground river) • Most sacred bathing site; Kumbh Mela held here
Ganga Basin: • Ganga basin = largest river basin in India • Covers: UP, Bihar, West Bengal, parts of MP, Rajasthan, HP, Delhi • About 40% of India's population lives in the Ganga basin
NCERT: Class 9 Geography Chapter 3 — Drainage
The main tributaries of the Ganga include: Right bank (south) — Yamuna (largest; joins at Prayagraj), Son (Bihar), Chambal (joins Yamuna). Left bank (north) — Ghaghra (Bihar), Gandak (Bihar), Kosi (Bihar, 'Sorrow of Bihar'), Gomti (UP), Ramganga (UP). Yamuna is the longest tributary at 1,376 km. The Kosi is the most flood-prone. (NCERT Class 9 Geography, Chapter 3)
Lok Sabha Total Seats
Lok Sabha has 543 elected seats. Article 81 allows maximum 550. 2 Anglo-Indian nominated seats abolished in 2020. UP has the most seats (80). PM needs 272+.
LTTE — Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
LTTE = Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. Founded 1976 by Prabhakaran. Fought for Tamil Eelam in Sri Lanka. Defeated in 2009. Banned in India since 1992. Facts and history.
Metropolitan Cities in India
Metropolitan cities in India (population >1 million): Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Pune. Complete list with key facts.
Four Provisions of the Napoleonic Civil Code 1804
Four provisions of the Napoleonic Civil Code 1804: equality before law, right to property, freedom of religion, uniform legal system. Class 9 History NCERT.
National Parks in India
India has 106 national parks covering 44,378 sq km. First: Jim Corbett (1936). Largest: Hemis, Ladakh. Famous: Kaziranga, Sundarbans, Gir, Ranthambore.
Turn this guide into revision flashcards, a practice exam, or an AI-generated podcast — free, no signup required.