The river systems of India can be classified into four groups :-

(i) Himalayan rivers, (ii) Deccan rivers, (iii) Coastal rivers, and (iv) Rivers of the inland drainage basin.

The Himalayan rivers are formed by melting snow and glaciers and therefore, continuously flow throughout the year. During the monsoon months, Himalayas receive very heavy rainfall and rivers swell, causing frequent floods. The Deccan rivers on the other hand are rainfed and therefore fluctuate in volume. Many of these are nonperennial. The Coastal streams, especially on the west coast are short in length and have limited catchment areas. Most of them are non-perennial.

The streams of inland drainage basin of western Rajasthan are few and far apart. Most of them are of an ephemeral character. The main Himalayan river systems are those of the Indus and the Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna system.

The Indus, which is one of the great rivers of the world, rises near Mansarovar in Tibet and flows through India and thereafter through Pakistan and finally falls in the Arabian sea near Karachi. Its important tributaries flowing in Indian territory are the Sutlej (originating in Tibet), the Beas, the Ravi, the Chenab and the Jhelum.

The Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna is another important system of which the principal sub-basins are those of Bhagirathi and the Alaknanda, which join at Dev Prayag to form the Ganga. It traverses through Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal states. Below Rajmahal hills, the Bhagirathi, which used to be the main course in the past, takes off, while the Padma continues eastward and enters Bangladesh. The Yamuna, the Ramganga, the Ghaghra, the

Gandak, the Kosi, the Mahananda and the Sone are the important tributaries of the Ganga. Rivers Chambal and Betwa are the important sub-tributaries, which join Yamuna before it meets the Ganga. The Padma and the Brahmaputra join at Bangladesh and continue to flow as the Padma or Ganga. The Brahmaputra rises in Tibet, where it is known as Tsangpo and runs a long distance till it crosses over into India in Arunachal Pradesh under the name of Dihang. Near Passighat, the Debang and Lohit join the river Brahmaputra and the combined river runs all along the Assam in a narrow valley. It crosses into Bangladesh downstream of Dhubri. The principal tributaries of Brahmaputra in India are the Subansiri, Jia Bhareli, Dhansiri, Puthimari, Pagladiya and the Manas. The Brahmaputra in Bangladesh fed by Tista etc., finally falls into Ganga. The Barak river, the Head stream of Meghna, rises in the hills in Manipur. The important tributaries of the river are Makku, Trang, Tuivai, Jiri, Sonai, Rukni, Katakhal, Dhaleswari, Langachini, Maduva and Jatinga.

Barak continues in Bangladesh till the combined Ganga Brahmaputra join it near Bhairab Bazar.

In the Deccan region, most of the major river systems flowing generally in east direction fall into Bay of Bengal. The major east flowing rivers are Godavari, Krishna, Cauvery, Mahanadi, etc. Narmada and Tapti are major West flowing rivers.

The Godavari in the southern Peninsula has the second largest river basin covering 10 per cent of the area of India. Next to it is the Krishna basin in the region, while the Mahanadi has the third largest basin. The basin of the Narmada in the uplands of the Deccan, flowing to the Arabian Sea and of the Kaveri in the south, falling into the Bay of Bengal are about the same size, though with different character and shape. There are numerous coastal rivers, which are comparatively small. While only handful of such rivers drain into the sea near the delta of east coast, there are as many as 600 such rivers on the west coast. >> A few rivers in Rajasthan do not drain into the sea. They drain into salt lakes and get lost in sand with no outlet to sea. Besides these, there are the desert rivers which flow for some distance and are lost in the desert. These are Luni, Machhu, Rupen, Saraswati, Banas, Ghaggar and others

Indian Rivers can be divided into two main groups:

A. The Himalayan Rivers B. The Peninsular Rivers

Further, Indian River System can be divided into four categories:

A. The Himalayan River System B. The Peninsular River System C. The Coastal River System D. Inland River System

A. The Himalayan Rivers

Perennial in nature, they are fed by melting glaciers. Assume alarming proportions during the monsoon. Swollen with rainwater, cause heavy flood.

Include three major river systems:

The Indus River System

Originates near Mansarovar lake in Tibet. Length is about 2880 km from the source to the point near Karachi where it falls into the Arabian Sea. Length in India is 709 km. Follows a north-wester ly course through Tibet.

Enters Indian territory in Jammu and Kashmir. Runs between the Ladakh Range and the Zanskar Range. Major tributaries: Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas and Sutlej. Jhelum (725 km) rises from Verinag (South Eastern Kashmir), Chenab (1800 km) from Bara Lacha Pass (near Lahaul-Spiti, Himachal Pradesh), Ravi (720 km) from a point near Rohtang Pass (Himachal Pradesh), Beas (470 km) from a place near Rohtang Pass (Himachal Pradesh) and Sutlej (1050 km) from Rakas Lake (near Mansarovar, Tibet). Major tributaries in Jammu and Kashmir: Drass, Gartang, Zaskar, Shyok, Shigar, Gilgit, Nubra and Hunza.

Brahmaputra River System

Originates in Chemayungdung Glacier near Mansarovar lake in Tibet. Known as Tsangpo in Tibet. Slightly longer than the Indus, but most of its course lies outside India. Flows eastward, parallel to the Himalayas. Enters India in Arunachal Pradesh and known as Dihang.

Flows through Arunachal Pradesh and Assam. Main tributaries: Subansiri, Kameng, Dhansiri, Manas, Teesta. Enters Bangladesh under the name of Jamuna. Meets Ganga in Bangladesh and combined stream known as Padma. Biggest river island of the world 'Majuli' (Assam) is on the Brahmaputra.

Ganga (Ganges) River System

Rises from the Gangotri Glacier in the Garhwal Himalayas, length is 2525 km. Know as Bhagirathi in the beginning. Mandakini and Alaknanda join Bhagirathi at Dev Prayag, and is known as the Ganga after that. The Gangetic basin is the largest river system in India, draining almost a quarter of the country. Main tributaries: Yamuna, Ram Ganga, Gomti, Ghaghara, Son, Damodar and Sapt Kosi.

The Yamuna originates from the Yamunotri glacier at the Banderpoonch peak in Uttarakhand. It flows 1375 km from here to its confluence with the River Ganga at Allahabad. Main tributaries of Yamuna: Hindon, Chambal, Sind, Betwa and Ken. Kosi is known as 'Sorrow of Bihar' and Damodar is known as 'Sorrow of Bengal'. Hoogly is the distributary of Ganga. Known as Padma in Bangladesh. Meets Brahmaputra in Bangladesh, retains the name Padma and enters the Bay of Bengal. Padma forms the largest delta 'Sunderbans' in the world.

B. The Peninsular Rivers

Can be divided into two groups: A. East flowing rivers (which form delta)- Cauvery, Krishna, Godavari, Mahanadi, Swarnarekha and Brahmani. B. West flowing rivers- Narmada, Tapti, Sabarmati, Luni, Sharavati and Mahi

Mainly rain fed. The Godavari basin is the largest in the peninsula. Narmada and Tapti flow almost parallel to each other.

Narmada

Also known as Nerbudda, length is 1,057 km. Forms the traditional boundary between North India and South India. Rises in Amarkantak Hill in Madhya Pradesh and pursues a direct westerly course to the Gulf of Cambay. Empties into the Arabian Sea in the Bharuch district of Gujarat. Main tributaries: Hiran, Burhner, Banjar, Shar, Shakkar, Tawa.

Tapti

Known as twin of Narmada, length is 724 km

Originates in the eastern Satpura Range in Betul Distt., Madhya Pradesh,ends in the Gulf of Cambay. Main tributaries: Arunavati, Ganjal, Purna, Girna, Panzara, Waghur, Bori and Aner.

Luni

Also known as Salt River, length is 450 km. Originates in Aravalli hills, never reaches the sea.

Sabarmati

Rises from Aravalli hills, Rajasthan, length is 416 km.

Mahi

Originates in the Vindhyas in Madhya Pradesh. Total length is 560 km.

Sharavati

Originates in the Sahyadris or Western Ghats. Forms India's highest waterfall Jog or Gersoppa (289 m) which is also known as Mahatama Gandhi Falls.

Godavari

Also known as Vriddha Ganga,is 1,465 km long. Longest peninsular river. Rises at Trimbakeshwar, near Nasik in Maharashtra. Flows southeast across south-central India through MP, Karnataka, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh. Ends in the Bay of Bengal. Major tributaries: Penganga, Wardha, Wainganga, Indravati, Manjira, Bindusara and Sabari.

Krishna

Originates in Mahabaleswar in Maharashtra.

Meets the sea in the Bay of Bengal in Andhra Pradesh. Total length is 1327 km. Most Important tributary is the Tungabhadra River, which itself is formed by the Tunga and Bhadra rivers. Main tributaries: Koyna, Bhima, Mallaprabha, Ghataprabha, Yerla, Warna, Dindi, Musi, Dudhganga and Panchganga.

Kaveri

Also called Dakshin Ganga. Originates in Talakaveri located in the Western Ghats. Total length is about 805 km. Largest peninsular river in terms of amount of water. Flows from Karnataka through Tamil Nadu. Only peninsular river which flows almost throughout the year. Ends in the Bay of Bengal. Main Tributaries: Shimsha, Hemavati, Arkavathy, Kapila, Honnuhole, Lakshmana Tirtha, Kabini, Lokapavani, Bhavani, Noyyal and Amaravati.

Mahanadi

The third largest in peninsular India. Begins in the Baster hills of Chhattisgarh. About 858 km long. Enters the Bay of Bengal Main branches meet Bay of Bengal at Paradip and Nuagarh (Devi estuary). Main tributaries: Jonk, Hasdo, Tel, Ib, Mand and Seonath