- Indus (tributaries in India are Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas and Sutlej)
- Brahmaputra (tributaries in India are (North) Subansiri, Ronganadi, Dikrong, Buroi, Borgong, Jiabharali, Dhansiri (north), Puthimari, Manas, Beki, Aie, Sonkosh; Noadehing, Buridehing, Desang, Dikhow, Bhogdoi, Dhansiri (south), Kopilli, Kulsi, Krishnai, Dhdhnoi, Jinjiran)
- Ganga (Gomti River, Ghaghara River, Gandaki River, and Kosi River; major right-bank tributaries include the Yamuna River, Son River, Punpun and Damodar)
- Yamuna (Tons, Chambal, Hindon, Betwa, Ken, Giri, Sind, Uttangan, Sengar and the Rind)
- Narmada (Burhner, the Halon, the Heran, the Banjar, the Dudhi, the Shakkar, the Tawa, the Barna, the Kolar, the Ganjal, the Beda, the Goi, and the Orsang)
- Tapti (Purna, Girna, and Panjhra)
- Godavari (Pravara, the Purna, the Manjra, the Penganga, the Wardha, the Wainganga the Pranhita (combined flow of Wainganga, Penganga, Wardha), the Indravati, the Maner and the Sabri)
- Krishna (Ghataprabha, the Malaprabha, the Bhima, the Tungabhadra, and the Musi)
- Cauvery (Arkavathy, Shimsha, Hemavati, Kapila, Shimsha, Honnuhole, Amaravati, Lakshmana Kabini, Lokapavani, Bhavani, Noyyal, and Tirtha)
- Mahanadi (Seonath, the Jonk, the Hasdeo, the Mand, the ib, the Ong, and the Tel)
Five major river systems-Godavari, Kaveri, Krishna, Thamiraparani, and Tungabhadra- makes the Western Ghats one of the critically important watersheds of India. Nearly 80% of India’s hydro-electrical power is generated from the Western ghats’ river systems. The major east-flowing tributary rivers originating in the ghats are Bhadra, Bhavani, Bhima, Malaprabha, Ghataprabha, Hemavathi, and Kabani. The west-flowing rivers include Bharathapuzha, Pampa, Netravathi, Periyar, and Sharavathi.