The Government of India decided to declare which of the following rivers as the National River of India in order to highlight its cultural, spiritual and ecological importance?

Introduction / Context:
This question belongs to Indian geography and environment, with a focus on symbolic recognition of natural resources. The Government of India declared one river as the National River to underline its special cultural, spiritual and ecological significance. Knowing which river enjoys this status is a simple but important fact for many competitive exams.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The policy decision was taken by the Government of India.
• The decision was to declare one river as the National River of India.
• The options include major Indian rivers such as Ganga, Yamuna, Kaveri and Godavari, plus a None of these option.
• The task is to identify the river that has been officially given National River status.

Concept / Approach:
The key concept is the special place the Ganga holds in Indian life. The Ganga is not only one of the longest and most important rivers of North India, but also has deep religious and cultural significance for millions of people. To reflect this importance and to support conservation efforts, the Government of India declared the Ganga as the National River. Along with this, institutions like the National Ganga River Basin Authority were created to coordinate cleaning and protection efforts. Other rivers, though important, have not been given the same formal title at the national level.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall which river is most frequently associated with national level campaigns such as cleaning drives and heritage programmes.Step 2: Recognise that the Ganga is often described as the lifeline of North India and as the holiest river in Hindu tradition.Step 3: Remember that the Government of India created a dedicated authority and declared the Ganga as the National River to strengthen conservation work.Step 4: Compare this with the other options Yamuna, Kaveri and Godavari, which, while important, are not officially designated as the National River.Step 5: Select Ganga as the correct answer and reject the None of these option as incorrect, because such a river has indeed been notified.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify by thinking of government programmes and slogans. Phrases like Ganga Action Plan, Namami Gange and references to Ganga as the National River are commonly seen in news and textbooks. By contrast, similar phrases are not used for Yamuna, Kaveri or Godavari at the level of National River status, even though some of them have their own cleaning programmes. This mental check confirms that Ganga is the right choice.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Yamuna: An important tributary of the Ganga and a sacred river in its own right, but it has not been declared the National River of India.
• Kaveri: A major river of South India with its own significance, but it does not carry the official National River title.
• Godavari: The longest river in peninsular India, sometimes called Dakshin Ganga, yet it has not been formally declared the National River.
• None of these: Incorrect because the Government of India has explicitly declared the Ganga as the National River.

Common Pitfalls:
A few students confuse the idea of National River with titles like National Waterway or with regional disputes over rivers such as Kaveri. Others may wrongly assume that no river has been given such status and choose None of these. To avoid this, simply remember that Ganga has both the strongest cultural image and an official government designation as the National River of India.

Final Answer:
The river that has been declared as the National River of India is the Ganga.