Among the rivers of the southern peninsula of India, which one has the second largest river basin after the Godavari?

Introduction / Context:
Within peninsular India, several major rivers drain into the Bay of Bengal and support extensive agricultural regions. The Godavari river has the largest basin among these peninsular rivers. This question asks which river has the second largest basin in the southern peninsula after the Godavari, a fact that often appears in Indian geography exams.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• We are considering rivers of the southern peninsula of India. • Godavari is known to have the largest peninsular river basin. • We must identify which river has the next largest basin area after Godavari. • Options include Krishna, Godavari, Mahanadi, Cauvery and Pennar.

Concept / Approach:
The Godavari basin is the largest in peninsular India. The next largest peninsular basin is that of the Krishna river, which flows through Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh before entering the Bay of Bengal. Mahanadi and Cauvery have smaller basins in comparison, and Pennar has a relatively small basin limited to parts of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. Therefore, among peninsular rivers, Krishna has the second largest basin after the Godavari.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Accept the well known fact that Godavari has the largest river basin among peninsular rivers. Step 2: Consider the Krishna river, which is also a major east flowing peninsular river with a large catchment area extending across multiple states. Step 3: Compare this with the Mahanadi, whose basin mainly covers parts of Chhattisgarh and Odisha, and is smaller than Krishna basin. Step 4: Compare with the Cauvery basin, which covers mainly Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala regions and is smaller than Krishna basin. Step 5: Recognise that the Pennar basin is even smaller and more localised. Therefore, Krishna stands out as having the second largest basin among the peninsular rivers after Godavari.

Verification / Alternative check:
Standard geography references and exam guides usually provide a ranking of river basins. These notes clearly state that after the Ganga basin (largest in India) and Godavari basin (largest in the peninsula), the Krishna basin is the next largest within peninsular India. Diagrams of river basins also show Krishna draining a very wide area across central and southern states, visually confirming its large extent compared to Mahanadi, Cauvery and Pennar.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Godavari: It already has the largest peninsular basin, so it cannot be the second largest after itself in this context. Mahanadi: Important in eastern India but its basin area is smaller than that of Krishna. Cauvery: Provides significant water to southern states, yet it has a relatively compact basin, smaller than the Krishna basin. Pennar: A minor peninsular river with a much smaller basin compared to the major rivers listed.

Common Pitfalls:
Learners sometimes confuse the overall national ranking of basins with the ranking within the peninsular region. Some may remember that Godavari has the second largest basin in India after the Ganga and then mistakenly pick Godavari in this question, overlooking the phrase second largest after Godavari. Others may assume that Mahanadi or Cauvery is second simply because these names are familiar. To avoid such errors, carefully read the qualifier after the Godavari and recall that Krishna is the next largest peninsular basin.

Final Answer:
Among the rivers of the southern peninsula, the river with the second largest basin after the Godavari is the Krishna river.