Drainage System

31. Consider the following statements regarding the rivers of India : 1

Consider the following statements regarding the rivers of India :

  • 1. The Barak River, the head stream of the Meghna, rises in the hills of Meghalaya.
  • 2. The Ghaggar River does not drain out to the sea and gets lost in the Rajasthan desert.
  • 3. Puthimari and Manas are important tributaries of the Brahmaputra.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

1 only
2 only
1 and 2
2 and 3
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CDS-2 – 2024
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Let’s examine each statement regarding the rivers of India:
1. The Barak River, the head stream of the Meghna, rises in the hills of Meghalaya. This is incorrect. The Barak River rises in the hills of Manipur, near its border with Nagaland and Mizoram. It flows through Assam and then enters Bangladesh.
2. The Ghaggar River does not drain out to the sea and gets lost in the Rajasthan desert. This is correct. The Ghaggar-Hakra River system is an intermittent river that flows only during the monsoon season. The Ghaggar flows through Haryana and Rajasthan and disappears in the Thar Desert, believed to be a remnant of the ancient Sarasvati river.
3. Puthimari and Manas are important tributaries of the Brahmaputra. This is correct. The Manas River is a major transboundary river that originates in Bhutan and flows through Assam before joining the Brahmaputra. The Puthimari River is a northern tributary of the Brahmaputra in Assam.
Based on this evaluation, statements 2 and 3 are correct.
– Barak River originates in Manipur hills.
– Ghaggar River is inland drainage, lost in the Rajasthan desert.
– Manas and Puthimari are tributaries of the Brahmaputra.
The river systems of India can be broadly classified into Himalayan rivers and Peninsular rivers. Himalayan rivers are perennial and often have large catchment areas. The Barak-Meghna system is part of the larger Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna delta. The Ghaggar is an example of inland drainage found in arid and semi-arid regions. The Brahmaputra has numerous tributaries originating from the Himalayas and the surrounding hills.

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32. Which one of the following is a tributary of Barak River in Manipur ?

Which one of the following is a tributary of Barak River in Manipur ?

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Dhaleswari
Subansiri
Dhansiri
Manas
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UPSC CDS-2 – 2022
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The Barak River originates in the Manipur hills. Among the options provided, Dhaleswari (also known as Tlawng) is a major tributary of the Barak River, flowing through Mizoram and southern Assam before joining the Barak (which becomes the Meghna in Bangladesh).
Identifying tributaries requires knowledge of the river systems in India’s geography.
Subansiri, Dhansiri, and Manas are major tributaries of the Brahmaputra River, not the Barak River.

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33. D performs her train journey by the shortest route from Bengaluru to N

D performs her train journey by the shortest route from Bengaluru to New Delhi. Which one of the following rivers will she not cross while performing the journey?

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Narmada
Yamuna
Godavari
Krishna
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UPSC CDS-2 – 2021
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The correct answer is Godavari.
The shortest railway route from Bengaluru to New Delhi typically passes through Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. Common major routes include Bengaluru-Secunderabad-Nagpur-Delhi or Bengaluru-Pune-Mumbai-Delhi. Both routes are likely to cross the basins of the Krishna river (near Bengaluru), the Narmada river (in Madhya Pradesh), and reach the Yamuna river (near Delhi). The main stem of the Godavari river flows significantly east through Maharashtra and Telangana. While the railway line might cross tributaries of Godavari (like Wainganga on the Secunderabad-Nagpur route), crossing the main stem of Godavari is less likely on the most direct/shortest path compared to Krishna (or its major tributary Tungabhadra), Narmada, and Yamuna.
Major railway corridors from South to North India traverse distinct river systems. Starting from South India (Bengaluru in the Krishna basin), moving North requires crossing successive river systems like Krishna, Godavari, Narmada/Tapti, and finally reaching the Indo-Gangetic plain (Yamuna/Ganga basin). The relative positions of the main stems and the railway alignment determine which rivers are directly crossed by bridges. The Godavari’s main course tends to be east of the most direct North-South railway lines in Central India.

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34. Which one among the following is not a tributary of river Luni?

Which one among the following is not a tributary of river Luni?

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Khari
Sukri
Jawai
Banas
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CDS-2 – 2018
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The correct answer is Banas.
The Banas River is a major river in Rajasthan that flows into the Chambal River (a tributary of the Yamuna). Rivers like Khari, Sukri, Jawai, Bandi, Guhiya, and Mithri are tributaries of the Luni River in Rajasthan, which flows into the Rann of Kutch.
The Luni River is the largest river in the Thar Desert region of Rajasthan. It is a unique river as it originates in the Aravalli Range near Ajmer and flows southwest into the Rann of Kutch, an inland drainage basin, without reaching the sea.

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35. Which one of the following is a west-flowing river?

Which one of the following is a west-flowing river?

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Mahanadi
Godavari
Krishna
Narmada
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UPSC CDS-2 – 2018
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The correct answer is D) Narmada.
Peninsular rivers in India can be broadly classified into east-flowing and west-flowing rivers. Most major peninsular rivers flow eastwards and drain into the Bay of Bengal. These include Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, and Cauvery. The Narmada river, however, is one of the major west-flowing rivers of the peninsula. It originates in the Amarkantak plateau in Madhya Pradesh and flows westwards through a rift valley before draining into the Arabian Sea through the Gulf of Khambhat.
Other significant west-flowing rivers of peninsular India include the Tapti (or Tapi) and the Mahi, which also flow through rift valleys. The short, swift-flowing rivers along the western slopes of the Western Ghats are also west-flowing, but the Narmada and Tapti are the most prominent among the longer ones.

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36. Which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. Himalayan rive

Which of the following statements is/are correct?

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  • 1. Himalayan rivers have their origin in the snow-covered areas, hence are dry in winter season.
  • 2. Rivers of the Peninsular Plateau have reached maturity.
  • 3. Himalayan rivers depict all the three stages of normal cycle of erosion.
2 only
1 and 3 only
2 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3
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UPSC CDS-2 – 2017
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The correct answer is C) 2 and 3 only.
– Statement 1: Himalayan rivers originate from snow-covered areas (glaciers) and also receive significant rainfall during the monsoon season. They are perennial rivers, meaning they flow throughout the year. Their flow is highest during summer due to snow/glacier melt and monsoon rainfall, but they are *not* dry in winter, although the volume might be reduced. Thus, statement 1 is incorrect.
– Statement 2: Rivers of the Peninsular Plateau are generally older than Himalayan rivers. They flow through relatively stable and peneplained surfaces. Their valleys are wide and shallow, and the longitudinal profile has gentle gradients, indicating they have reached a mature or old stage of erosion. Thus, statement 2 is correct.
– Statement 3: Himalayan rivers originate from steep mountains (youthful stage with features like V-shaped valleys, rapids, waterfalls), flow through the plains (mature stage with features like floodplains, meanders, oxbow lakes), and finally form deltas before joining the sea (old stage with features like deltas and distributaries). They exhibit characteristics of all three stages of the normal cycle of erosion as described by William Morris Davis. Thus, statement 3 is correct.
The distinction between Himalayan and Peninsular rivers is a key aspect of India’s drainage system. Himalayan rivers are characterized by youthfulness, large catchment areas, and perennial flow, while Peninsular rivers are older, seasonal (mostly rain-fed), and have narrower, shallower valleys.

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37. Identify the type of drainage pattern on the basis of the given charac

Identify the type of drainage pattern on the basis of the given characteristics :
1. It represents the most common pattern of streams and their tributaries
2. It occurs in areas of uniform rock type and regular slope
3. A map, or aerial photograph, shows a pattern like the veins on a leaf—smaller streams join the main stream at an acute angle

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Dendritic
Radial
Trellis
Centripetal
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A
The characteristics describe a Dendritic drainage pattern:
1. It represents the most common pattern of streams and their tributaries: The dendritic pattern is indeed the most widespread and common drainage pattern.
2. It occurs in areas of uniform rock type and regular slope: This pattern develops where the underlying rock structure is homogeneous and offers no particular resistance or guidance to the flow of water, allowing streams to erode and branch freely.
3. A map, or aerial photograph, shows a pattern like the veins on a leaf—smaller streams join the main stream at an acute angle: The branching, tree-like appearance where tributaries join the main channel at angles less than 90 degrees is characteristic of a dendritic pattern, resembling the venation of a leaf.
Radial drainage patterns occur around a central elevated point (like a volcano). Trellis patterns develop in folded mountain areas where alternating resistant and less resistant rock layers create a grid-like pattern of main streams and shorter tributaries joining at right angles. Centripetal patterns occur when streams converge towards a central depression or basin.

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38. Indus river basin is extended up to

Indus river basin is extended up to

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Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab
Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana
Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan
Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan
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UPSC CDS-1 – 2023
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The Indus River system in India includes the main Indus river (flowing through Ladakh) and its major tributaries: Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej. These rivers flow through Jammu and Kashmir (now UTs of J&K and Ladakh), Himachal Pradesh (source of Ravi, Beas, Sutlej), and Punjab (where the tributaries join). The command area served by canals from the Sutlej and Beas extends into parts of Haryana and Rajasthan, making these states also part of the broader Indus basin’s influence and water utilization zone within India. Therefore, the basin is extended up to Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan.
The Indus Water Treaty (1960) between India and Pakistan governs the use of the Indus river system. It allocates the waters of the Eastern Rivers (Ravi, Beas, Sutlej) to India and the Western Rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab) primarily to Pakistan, with limited consumptive use allowed for India on the Western Rivers. The states mentioned in option D are those that benefit from or are part of the Indus river system in India.
While the primary drainage basin flows through Ladakh, J&K, HP, and Punjab, extensive canal networks, part of the Indus system infrastructure in India, irrigate areas in Haryana and Rajasthan, bringing them under the influence of the Indus basin for water resources. This broader interpretation of “extended up to” is common in geographical contexts related to river systems and resource distribution.

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39. Which two rivers flow in the region between Gulbarga and Vijayanagara

Which two rivers flow in the region between Gulbarga and Vijayanagara Hampi?

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Narmada and Godavari
Mahanadi and Godavari
Kaveri and Periyar
Krishna and Tungabhadra
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The two rivers that flow in the region between Gulbarga and Vijayanagara Hampi are the Krishna and Tungabhadra.
– Gulbarga (Kalaburagi) is located in the northern part of Karnataka.
– Vijayanagara (Hampi) is located in the central part of Karnataka, situated on the banks of the Tungabhadra River.
– The Tungabhadra River is a major tributary of the Krishna River. The Krishna River flows to the north of the Tungabhadra.
– The fertile land between the Krishna and Tungabhadra rivers is known as the Raichur Doab. Gulbarga is north of the Krishna, and Hampi is south of the Krishna on the Tungabhadra. The region connecting them involves crossing or traversing the area defined by these two major river systems.
– The Vijayanagara Empire was strategically located on the banks of the Tungabhadra River, utilizing its resources and defensive advantages.
– The Krishna-Tungabhadra doab was historically a contested region between powerful kingdoms like the Vijayanagara Empire and the Bahmani Sultanate/Deccan Sultanates due to its agricultural richness.
– The other pairs of rivers listed are located in different geographical regions of India (Narmada/Godavari in Central/Western India, Mahanadi/Godavari in Eastern/Central India, Kaveri/Periyar in Southern India, further south).

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40. When the rivers discharge their waters from all directions into a lake

When the rivers discharge their waters from all directions into a lake or depression, the pattern is known as

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Trellis
Dendritic
Radial
Centripetal
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UPSC CDS-1 – 2021
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When rivers discharge their waters from all directions into a central lake or depression, the drainage pattern is known as Centripetal.
A centripetal drainage pattern is characterized by streams converging inward towards a low-lying area without an outlet.
A Dendritic pattern is tree-like and develops in areas with homogeneous underlying material. A Trellis pattern develops in folded mountain areas, following alternating resistant and less resistant rock layers. A Radial pattern involves streams flowing outwards from a central elevated point like a dome or volcano.

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