Among the following rivers, which one is the longest river in India in terms of total length and is generally regarded as the longest river of the country?

Introduction / Context:
Several long rivers flow through India, including major Himalayan and peninsular rivers. Examination questions often ask which river is considered the longest river in India, based on its overall length from source to mouth. This helps students understand relative scales of river systems in the country. The question asks you to choose the longest river from Godavari, Ganga, Yamuna and Brahmaputra.

Given Data / Assumptions:
• Rivers listed are Godavari (a peninsular river), Ganga and Yamuna (Himalayan and plain rivers), and Brahmaputra (a transboundary river). • The phrase longest river in India is commonly used in exam oriented geography. • We assume the conventional view used in school and competitive exam books. • We focus on total river length, not on which river has the longest course within Indian territory alone.

Concept / Approach:
The Ganga has a total length of about 2525 kilometres from its Himalayan origin to its mouth in the Bay of Bengal. Godavari is sometimes called the Dakshin Ganga and is the longest among peninsular rivers at around 1465 kilometres. Yamuna is shorter than Ganga, and Brahmaputra has a very long total length but much of its course lies outside India in Tibet and Bangladesh. In standard exam usage, Ganga is regarded as the longest river of India, even though detailed technical comparisons may differentiate between total length and length inside India. Therefore, among the options, Ganga is the accepted correct answer.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall approximate lengths: Ganga about 2525 kilometres, Godavari around 1465 kilometres, Yamuna around 1376 kilometres, Brahmaputra about 2900 kilometres in total but with a large foreign segment. Step 2: Recognise that in Indian school geography, Ganga is classified as the longest river of India based on its significance and length from source to sea. Step 3: Compare Godavari and Ganga. Godavari is the longest peninsular river but still shorter than Ganga. Step 4: Note that Yamuna is a major tributary of Ganga and therefore cannot exceed Ganga in total length. Step 5: Understand that although Brahmaputra is very long, exam questions usually reserve the title longest river in India for Ganga rather than counting mostly foreign stretches. Step 6: Therefore, Ganga is the correct answer among the choices given.

Verification / Alternative check:
Most exam preparation books and school textbooks explicitly state that Ganga is the longest river in India, while Godavari is the longest river in peninsular India. Brahmaputra is often described as one of the largest in terms of volume of water, but not always as the longest in the Indian context. This repeated wording in educational materials confirms that Ganga is the expected correct answer in such multiple choice questions.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Godavari is a very long peninsular river but its total length is still significantly shorter than that of the Ganga. Yamuna is a tributary of the Ganga and has a shorter course before joining it, so it cannot be the longest river. Brahmaputra has a long total length, but much of its course lies outside India, and in standard exam framing it is not labelled as the longest river in India.

Common Pitfalls:
Some students confuse longest river of India with longest river within India territory or with largest river by discharge. This can lead to choosing Brahmaputra or Godavari incorrectly. To match exam usage, remember the commonly taught phrasing: Ganga is the longest river in India, and Godavari is the longest peninsular river. This simple rule helps avoid confusion.

Final Answer:
The longest river in India is the Ganga.