Among the following, which is the second longest east-flowing peninsular river of India?

Introduction / Context:

The peninsular rivers of India, especially those that flow eastwards into the Bay of Bengal, are important for irrigation, hydropower, and navigation. Questions about their relative lengths and directions are common in competitive examinations. The Godavari is well known as the longest east flowing peninsular river, and this question asks you to identify which river ranks second in length among the given choices.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• We are concerned with east flowing peninsular rivers of India.
• The options are Krishna, Godavari, Cauvery, and Mahanadi.
• Godavari is the longest among these rivers.
• We assume standard length figures from Indian geography references.

Concept / Approach:

Among east flowing peninsular rivers, the Godavari is the longest, followed by the Krishna and then other rivers like Cauvery and Mahanadi. The Krishna River rises near Mahabaleshwar in Maharashtra, flows through Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, and finally empties into the Bay of Bengal. Its total length is slightly less than that of the Godavari but greater than that of the Cauvery and Mahanadi. Therefore, Krishna is considered the second longest east flowing peninsular river in many exam oriented texts.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:

Length tables in Indian geography books usually list approximate lengths: Godavari at the top among peninsular rivers, followed by Krishna and then Mahanadi and Cauvery. Godavari is often given a length above 1400 kilometres, Krishna slightly below that, and Cauvery and Mahanadi with smaller lengths. Exam summary notes also commonly ask a pair of questions: which is the longest east flowing peninsular river (Godavari) and which is the second longest (Krishna). These repeated patterns help verify that Krishna is the intended answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Common Pitfalls:

Learners sometimes either confuse the order of Godavari and Krishna or give extra weight to rivers they know from regional news such as Cauvery or Mahanadi. Another pitfall is to remember that Godavari is called Dakshin Ganga and incorrectly assume that Krishna must then be a much smaller river. A good strategy is to memorise the simple ranking: Godavari first, Krishna second among east flowing peninsular rivers.

Final Answer:

The second longest east flowing peninsular river of India among the given options is the Krishna River.