Question 1

Consider the following statements regarding India's drainage systems:
1. Nearly 77 per cent of India's drainage area, including the Ganga and Krishna systems, is oriented towards the Arabian Sea.
2. The Periyar and Mahi river systems are part of the drainage that discharges into the Bay of Bengal.
3. The landforms acting as a water divide separating the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal drainage include the Delhi ridge, the Aravalis and the Sahyadris.
How many of the statements given above are correct?

Accepted Answer

Only one. Statement 1 is incorrect. This statement contains a numerical and spatial swap. Approximately 77 per cent of India's drainage area is oriented towards the Bay of Bengal, while the remaining 23 per cent flows into the Arabian Sea. Statement 2 is incorrect. This is a spatial swap. The Periyar and Mahi river systems are explicitly part of the Arabian Sea drainage, not the Bay of Bengal drainage. Statement 3 is correct. The water divide separating the Bay of Bengal drainage from the Arabian Sea drainage is formed by the Delhi ridge, the Aravalis, and the Sahyadris. Therefore, only one statement is correct.

Question 2

Consider the following rows regarding drainage terminology:
Row 1: Drainage Basin : The catchment area of small rivulets and rills.
Row 2: Watershed : The boundary line separating one drainage basin from another.
Row 3: Catchment Area : An area drained by a large river and its tributaries.
In how many of the above rows is the given information correctly matched?

Accepted Answer

Only one. Row 1 is incorrectly matched. The catchments of large rivers are called river basins. The term for the catchments of small rivulets and rills is 'watersheds'. Row 2 is correctly matched. The boundary line separating one drainage basin from another is defined as the watershed. Row 3 is incorrectly matched. A catchment area is the specific area from which a river collects its water, whereas an area drained by a river and its tributaries is the definition of a drainage basin. Therefore, only one row (Row 2) is correctly matched.

Question 3

Consider the following rows matching drainage patterns with their descriptions:
Row 1: Dendritic - When the primary tributaries of rivers flow parallel to each other and secondary tributaries join them at right angles.
Row 2: Radial - When rivers discharge their waters from all directions into a central lake or depression.
Row 3: Centripetal - When rivers originate from a hill and flow in all directions, such as from the Amarkantak range.
In how many of the above rows is the given information correctly matched?

Accepted Answer

None. Row 1 is incorrectly matched. The description provided ('primary tributaries...parallel...secondary...at right angles') defines a 'trellis' pattern. The dendritic pattern resembles the branches of a tree. Row 2 is incorrectly matched. The description ('rivers discharge...into a central lake') defines a 'centripetal' pattern. The radial pattern is when rivers originate from a hill and flow in all directions. Row 3 is incorrectly matched. The description ('originate from a hill and flow in all directions') defines a 'radial' pattern. The centripetal pattern is when rivers flow into a central depression. Therefore, none of the rows are correctly matched.

Question 4

Consider the following statements regarding India's drainage systems:
1. The boundary line separating one drainage basin from another is known as a watershed.
2. Watersheds are typically larger in area than river basins.
3. Approximately 77 per cent of India's drainage area, comprising systems like the Indus, Narmada, and Tapi, is oriented towards the Arabian Sea.
How many of the statements given above are correct?

Accepted Answer

Only one. Statement 1 is correct. The text explicitly defines the boundary line separating one drainage basin from another as the watershed. Statement 2 is incorrect. This is a scale distortion. The text states, 'Watersheds are small in area while the basins cover larger areas.' Therefore, river basins are larger than watersheds. Statement 3 is incorrect. This statement contains both a ratio distortion and a spatial swap. While the 77 per cent figure is mentioned, it corresponds to the drainage oriented towards the Bay of Bengal (Ganga, Brahmaputra, etc.). The Indus, Narmada, and Tapi systems discharge into the Arabian Sea and constitute only about 23 per cent of the drainage area. Therefore, only one statement is correct.

Question 5

Consider the following statements regarding the evolution of the Himalayan drainage system: 
Statement-I: The single, mighty Indo-Brahma river, which flowed longitudinally across the Himalayas during the Miocene period, was eventually dismembered into the three primary drainage systems of the Indus, Ganga, and Brahmaputra.
Statement-II: The Pleistocene upheaval of the Potwar Plateau (Delhi Ridge) acted as a water divide, separating the Indus and Ganga drainage systems.
Statement-III: The down-thrusting of the Malda gap, between the Rajmahal hills and the Meghalaya plateau, diverted the Ganga and Brahmaputra river systems to flow towards the Bay of Bengal.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Accepted Answer

Statement-I is correct, and both Statement-II and Statement-III are the distinct geological causes for the event described in Statement-I.. Statement-I correctly describes the dismemberment of the hypothesised Indo-Brahma river. The text explicitly states that geologists believe this river was dismembered into three systems. Statement-II and Statement-III provide the two key geological events that caused this dismemberment. The uplift of the Potwar Plateau created the divide between the Indus and Ganga systems, and the down-thrusting of the Malda gap diverted the Ganga and Brahmaputra. Therefore, both II and III are the correct and distinct explanations for the event in Statement-I.

Question 6

Statement I: Himalayan rivers, such as the Kosi, exhibit a strong meandering tendency and frequently shift their courses in the plains.
Statement II: These rivers bring a huge quantity of sediments from their upper reaches and deposit them in the plains, leading to the blockage of their own channels.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Accepted Answer

Both Statement I and Statement II are correct and Statement II is the correct explanation for Statement I.. Statement I is correct; Himalayan rivers are characterized by strong meandering and frequent course shifting on the plains, with the Kosi being a prime example. Statement II is also correct; these rivers transport large sediment loads from the mountains and deposit them where the gradient lessens in the plains. Statement II provides the direct physical cause for the behavior described in Statement I. The deposition of sediment obstructs the river's channel, compelling it to carve a new path, which results in the observed course shifting.

Question 7

Consider the following statements regarding the theorized evolution of the Himalayan drainage system:
1. The ancestral Indo-Brahma river is believed to have discharged into the Gulf of Sind during the Miocene period.
2. The Pleistocene upheaval of the Potwar Plateau was the primary geological event that diverted the Ganga and Brahmaputra systems to flow towards the Bay of Bengal.
3. The down-thrusting of the Malda gap created the water divide separating the Indus and the Ganga drainage systems.
How many of the above statements are correct?

Accepted Answer

Only one. Statement 1 is correct. Geologists propose that the single, mighty Indo-Brahma river flowed longitudinally across the Himalayas and finally discharged into the Gulf of Sind. Statement 2 is incorrect. The uplift of the Potwar Plateau (Delhi Ridge) acted as the water divide between the Indus and Ganga systems. The diversion of the Ganga and Brahmaputra towards the Bay of Bengal was caused by the down-thrusting of the Malda gap. The statement incorrectly links the cause (Potwar Plateau uplift) with the effect on the Ganga-Brahmaputra. Statement 3 is incorrect. The down-thrusting of the Malda gap influenced the course of the Ganga and Brahmaputra. The water divide between the Indus and Ganga was a result of the Potwar Plateau's uplift. This statement swaps the geological causes for the respective drainage divides. Therefore, only one statement is correct.

Question 8

Consider the following pairs representing river characteristics: 
Row 1: Luni River : Terminates in the Rann of Kutch, showcasing inland drainage.
Row 2: Chambal River : Flows northwards from the Peninsular upland to join the Yamuna.
Row 3: Satluj River : An antecedent river that originates in Tibet and cuts through the Himalayas.
In how many of the above rows is the given information correctly matched?

Accepted Answer

All three rows. Row 1 is correctly matched. The Luni is a classic example of an inland drainage system that terminates in the Rann of Kutch. Row 2 is correctly matched. The Chambal originates from the Peninsular upland and flows northwards to join the Yamuna, which is a tributary of the Ganga. Row 3 is correctly matched. The Satluj is an antecedent river, meaning it existed before the uplift of the Himalayas and maintained its course by cutting through the rising mountains. It originates near Rakas Tal in Tibet. Since all three rows are correctly matched, the correct option is 'All three rows'.

Question 9

Consider the following statements regarding the tributaries of the Indus River system: 1. The Chenab, formed by the Chandra and Bhaga streams, is the largest tributary of the Indus. 2. The Ravi drains the area between the Pir Panjal and the Dhauladhar ranges before joining the Satluj near Sarai Sidhu. 3. The Beas originates from the Beas Kund near the Rohtang Pass and meets the Satluj near Harike. How many of the statements given above are correct?

Accepted Answer

Only two. Statement 1 is correct. The Chenab, which is formed by the two streams Chandra and Bhaga, is the largest tributary of the Indus. Statement 2 is incorrect. The Ravi river joins the Chenab near Sarai Sidhu. The statement incorrectly claims it joins the Satluj, which constitutes a spatial error regarding its confluence. Statement 3 is correct. The Beas river originates from the Beas Kund near the Rohtang Pass and flows into the Punjab plains to meet the Satluj river near Harike. Since statements 1 and 3 are correct, only two statements are correct.

Question 10

Consider the following rows regarding the Indus river system: Row 1: Jhelum : Joins the Chenab near Jhang in Pakistan. Row 2: Ravi : Rises west of the Rohtang pass and flows through the Chamba valley. Row 3: Beas : Originates from Raksas tal near Mansarovar. In how many of the above rows is the information correctly matched?

Accepted Answer

Only two rows. Row 1 is correctly matched. The Jhelum river flows through Srinagar and the Wular lake before it joins the Chenab near Jhang in Pakistan. Row 2 is correctly matched. The Ravi river originates west of the Rohtang pass in the Kullu hills and flows through the Chamba valley of Himachal Pradesh. Row 3 is incorrectly matched. The Beas river originates from the Beas Kund near the Rohtang Pass. It is the Satluj river that originates in the ‘Raksas tal’ near Mansarovar. This represents an origin swap. Therefore, only two rows (1 and 2) are correctly matched.

Question 11

Consider the following rivers: 1. Zaskar 2. Kabul 3. Gomal. How many of the above are explicitly mentioned as right-bank tributaries of the Indus River in the provided context?

Accepted Answer

Only two. Statement 1 is incorrect. The Zaskar river is listed as one of the Himalayan tributaries, but it is not specified as a right-bank tributary. Geographically, it is a left-bank tributary. Statement 2 is correct. The text explicitly states that the Indus 'receives the Kabul river on its right bank' near Attock. Statement 3 is correct. The Gomal river is explicitly listed among 'The other important tributaries joining the right bank of the Indus' that originate in the Sulaiman ranges. Therefore, only two of the listed rivers are mentioned as right-bank tributaries.

Question 12

Consider the following rows regarding the tributaries of the Indus River and their origins: Row 1: Jhelum - Rises from a spring at Verinag at the foot of the Pir Panjal. Row 2: Chenab - Formed by the joining of Chandra and Bhaga streams near Keylong. Row 3: Ravi - Originates from Beas Kund near the Rohtang Pass. In how many of the above rows is the given information correctly matched?

Accepted Answer

Only two rows. Row 1 is correctly matched. The Jhelum river originates from a spring at Verinag, located at the foot of the Pir Panjal range. Row 2 is correctly matched. The Chenab, also known as Chandrabhaga, is formed by the confluence of two streams, the Chandra and the Bhaga, at Tandi near Keylong in Himachal Pradesh. Row 3 is incorrectly matched. The Ravi river rises west of the Rohtang pass in the Kullu hills. It is the Beas river that originates from the Beas Kund near the Rohtang Pass. The row incorrectly assigns the specific origin of the Beas to the Ravi. Therefore, only two rows are correctly matched.

Question 13

Consider the following statements about the tributaries of the Ganga River System: 1. The Gandak river, comprising the Kaligandak and Trishulganga streams, joins the Ganga at Sonpur near Patna. 2. The Kosi is an antecedent river whose main stream, the Arun, rises to the north of Mount Everest. 3. The Damodar flows through a rift valley and joins the main Ganga river in West Bengal. 4. The Mahananda, rising in the Darjiling hills, is the final right-bank tributary to join the Ganga. How many of the above statements are correct?

Accepted Answer

Only two. Statement 1 is correct. The text confirms that the Gandak comprises two streams and 'joins the Ganga at Sonpur near Patna.' Statement 2 is correct. The text identifies the Kosi as 'an antecedent river with its source to the north of Mount Everest in Tibet, where its main stream Arun rises.' Statement 3 is incorrect. The text states that the Damodar 'finally joins the Hugli.' The Hugli is a distributary of the Ganga, not the main river itself. Statement 4 is incorrect. The text specifies that the Mahananda 'joins the Ganga as its last left bank tributary in West Bengal.' The statement incorrectly identifies it as a right-bank tributary. Thus, only two statements (1 and 2) are correct.

Question 14

Consider the following statements regarding the tributaries of the Brahmaputra river system:
1. The Rango Tsangpo is the major right-bank tributary of the river in Tibet.
2. In the Assam valley, the Burhi Dihing and the Dhansari (South) are its important right-bank tributaries.
3. The Subansiri, an antecedent river with its origin in Tibet, joins the Brahmaputra as a major left-bank tributary.
How many of the above statements are correct?

Accepted Answer

Only one. Statement 1 is correct. While traversing through Tibet as the Tsangpo, the river's major right-bank tributary is the Rango Tsangpo. Statement 2 is incorrect. The Burhi Dihing and Dhansari (South) are major left-bank tributaries that join the Brahmaputra in the Assam valley, not right-bank tributaries. Statement 3 is incorrect. The Subansiri is an antecedent river originating in Tibet, but it is a significant right-bank tributary, not a left-bank one. Thus, only one statement is correct.

Question 15

Consider the following statements:
Statement I: The Brahmaputra river is well-known for floods, channel shifting, and bank erosion.
Statement II: Most of the Brahmaputra's tributaries are large and bring a significant quantity of sediments due to heavy rainfall in their catchment areas.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Accepted Answer

Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I.. Statement I is correct; the Brahmaputra is notorious for its dynamic and often destructive nature, including flooding and bank erosion. Statement II is also correct; the river system's hydrology is dominated by large tributaries that originate in regions with high rainfall, leading to a massive sediment load. Statement II provides the direct causal reason for the phenomena described in Statement I, as the high sediment load contributes to channel aggradation, reduced carrying capacity, and consequent flooding and channel instability. Therefore, Statement II is the correct explanation for Statement I.

Question 16

Consider the following statements:
Statement-I: The Brahmaputra river in the Assam valley is well-known for frequent channel shifting and significant bank erosion.
Statement-II: A majority of the Brahmaputra's tributaries are large, and they transport a high quantity of sediments sourced from catchment areas that receive heavy rainfall.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Accepted Answer

Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I.. Statement-I is correct. The Brahmaputra is a classic example of a braided river system, especially in the Assam plains, characterized by high dynamism, frequent and drastic channel shifting, and severe bank erosion. Statement-II is also correct. The river's catchment area receives exceptionally heavy rainfall, resulting in large, powerful tributaries that carry a massive sediment load. The causal link is direct: the immense sediment load supplied by the tributaries (as described in Statement-II) overwhelms the river's transport capacity in the low-gradient Assam plains. This leads to aggradation (deposition), the formation of numerous river islands and sandbars, and an unstable, shifting channel, which directly results in the bank erosion and channel migration mentioned in Statement-I. Therefore, Statement-II provides the correct hydro-geomorphological explanation for Statement-I.

Question 17

Consider the following statements regarding the Brahmaputra river system:
1. In Tibet, the Brahmaputra is known as the Tsangpo and its major left-bank tributary is the Rango Tsangpo.
2. The river is named Brahmaputra after its confluence with its right-bank tributaries, Dibang and Lohit.
3. In Bangladesh, the river is known as the Jamuna after it is joined by the Tista on its right bank.
How many of the above statements are correct?

Accepted Answer

Only one. Statement 1 is incorrect. While the river is known as the Tsangpo in Tibet, the Rango Tsangpo is its major right-bank tributary, not a left-bank one. This is a 'Spatial Swap' trap. Statement 2 is incorrect. The river is named Brahmaputra after being joined by the Dibang and Lohit, but these are its main left-bank tributaries, not right-bank ones. This is another 'Spatial Swap' trap. Statement 3 is correct. The Brahmaputra enters Bangladesh near Dhubri, flows southward, and is joined by the Tista river on its right bank. After this confluence, the main channel is known as the Jamuna. Therefore, only one of the statements is correct.

Question 18

Consider the following pairs regarding the Brahmaputra river system:
1. Name in Tibet : Dihang
2. Name in Bangladesh : Jamuna
3. Major Left Bank Tributary : Manas
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

Accepted Answer

Only one. Pair 1 is incorrectly matched. The Brahmaputra is known as the Tsangpo in the dry and flat region of southern Tibet. It is known as the Siang or Dihang only after it emerges from the foothills of the Central Himalayas. Pair 2 is correctly matched. In Bangladesh, after the Tista river joins it on its right bank, the Brahmaputra is known as the Jamuna before it merges with the Padma. Pair 3 is incorrectly matched. The Manas is a major right-bank tributary of the Brahmaputra, along with the Subansiri, Kameng, and Sankosh. Major left-bank tributaries include the Burhi Dihing and Dhansari. Therefore, only one pair is correctly matched.

Question 19

Consider the following statements:
Statement-I: The Narmada and Tapi rivers are notable for their lack of extensive alluvial and deltaic deposits.
Statement-II: The flow of the Narmada and Tapi rivers is confined within trough faults, where they deposit their detritus materials, filling the original cracks.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Accepted Answer

Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I.. Statement-I is correct; the Peninsular rivers Narmada and Tapi are exceptions to the general pattern and are characterized by a lack of significant deltaic deposits. Statement-II is also correct; these rivers flow through rift valleys or trough faults. The geological context described in Statement-II is the direct cause for the geographical outcome in Statement-I. Because the rivers flow in these faults and fill them with detritus, they do not carry enough sediment to form large deltas at their mouths, thus establishing a clear causal link.

Question 20

Consider the following statements regarding the drainage basins of Peninsular rivers:
1. The majority of the Mahanadi river's drainage basin lies within the state of Odisha.
2. The Godavari river basin's largest share is located within the state of Maharashtra.
3. The general orientation of the Peninsular drainage system towards the Bay of Bengal is a result of a slight tilting of the Peninsular block from northwest to southeast.
How many of the above statements are correct?

Accepted Answer

Only two. Statement 1 is incorrect. The drainage basin of the Mahanadi in Odisha is 47 per cent, while 53 per cent lies in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. Therefore, the majority does not lie in Odisha. Statement 2 is correct. The Godavari basin's share in Maharashtra is 49 per cent, which is the largest portion compared to its distribution in other states. Statement 3 is correct. One of the major geological events shaping the Peninsular drainage was the slight tilting of the block from northwest to southeast, which oriented the entire drainage system towards the Bay of Bengal. Therefore, only two statements are correct.

Question 21

Consider the following statements:
Statement I: The Narmada and Tapi rivers are exceptions among major Peninsular rivers as they flow westwards through rift valleys, unlike the majority of rivers which flow towards the Bay of Bengal.
Statement II: The upheaval of the Himalayas during the Tertiary period subjected the northern flank of the Peninsular block to subsidence, creating the trough faults in which these rivers flow.
Statement III: A slight tilting of the Peninsular block from northwest to the southeastern direction during the same period gave a general east-flowing orientation to the entire drainage system.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Accepted Answer

Statement I, II and III are correct, and both Statement II and Statement III are required to explain the different characteristics mentioned in Statement I.. All three statements are factually correct based on the provided text. Statement I correctly identifies the exceptional nature of the Narmada and Tapi. Statement II correctly explains the geological reason for the formation of the 'rift valleys' or 'trough faults' mentioned in Statement I. Statement III correctly explains the general 'east-flowing' trend of Peninsular rivers, which is what makes the west-flowing Narmada and Tapi 'exceptions' as mentioned in Statement I. Therefore, both Statement II (explaining the rift valley) and Statement III (explaining the general trend that makes them an exception) are necessary to fully account for all aspects described in Statement I.

Question 22

Consider the following rows matching Peninsular rivers with their origin and a key characteristic:
Row 1: Godavari | Origin: Nasik district, Maharashtra | Characteristic: Largest Peninsular river system, also called the Dakshin Ganga.
Row 2: Kaveri | Origin: Brahmagiri hills, Karnataka | Characteristic: Carries water throughout the year due to rainfall from both SW and NE monsoons.
Row 3: Narmada | Origin: Amarkantak plateau | Characteristic: Forms a broad 27 km long delta south of Bharuch.
In how many of the above rows is the information correctly matched?

Accepted Answer

Only two rows. Only two rows are correctly matched. Row 1 is correct: The Godavari originates in the Nasik district of Maharashtra and is described as the largest Peninsular river system and the 'Dakshin Ganga'. Row 2 is correct: The Kaveri rises in the Brahmagiri hills of Karnataka and is noted for carrying water throughout the year due to receiving rainfall from both the southwest and northeast monsoons. Row 3 is incorrect: While the origin at Amarkantak plateau is correct, the text explicitly states that the Narmada forms a broad 27 km long 'estuary', not a 'delta'. This is a critical distinction, as rivers flowing through rift valleys like the Narmada typically form estuaries.

Question 23

Consider the following rivers:
1. Son
2. Chambal
3. Ghaghara
4. Kosi
How many of the rivers listed above are right-bank tributaries of either the Ganga river or its major tributary, the Yamuna?

Accepted Answer

Only two. Statement 1 is correct: The Son river is explicitly mentioned as a right-bank tributary of the Ganga. Statement 2 is correct: The Chambal river is listed as a right-bank tributary of the Yamuna, which is the main tributary of the Ganga. Statement 3 is incorrect: The Ghaghara is explicitly listed as a left-bank tributary of the Ganga, not a right-bank one. Statement 4 is incorrect: The Kosi is explicitly listed as a left-bank tributary of the Ganga, not a right-bank one. Therefore, only two of the listed rivers (Son and Chambal) are right-bank tributaries.

Question 24

Consider the following rows matching a river with the states it flows through:
Row 1: Narmada - Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat
Row 2: Godavari - Maharashtra, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh
Row 3: Kaveri - Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh
In how many of the above rows is the river correctly matched with the states it flows through?

Accepted Answer

Only two rows. Row 1 is correctly matched. The provided information states that the Narmada River flows west through Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. Row 2 is correctly matched. The provided information states that the Godavari River flows east through Maharashtra, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh. Row 3 is incorrectly matched. The provided information states that the Kaveri River flows east/southeast through Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, not Andhra Pradesh. Therefore, only two rows are correctly matched.

Question 25

Consider the following statements:
Statement I: Rivers like the Narmada and Tapi flow westwards into the Arabian Sea, while major peninsular rivers like the Mahanadi, Godavari, and Krishna flow eastwards into the Bay of Bengal.
Statement II: A prominent 'Water Divide' runs from the Himalayas southwards along the Aravallis and then along the Western Ghats, separating the Arabian Sea drainage from the Bay of Bengal drainage.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Accepted Answer

Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I.. Statement-I is a correct factual observation based on the map analysis, which lists the flow direction and destination of these rivers. Statement-II is also correct, as the text explicitly describes this 'Water Divide' and its role in separating the west-flowing and east-flowing river basins. Statement-II provides the precise geographical and topographical reason for the drainage pattern described in Statement-I. The location of this divide dictates whether a river flows west to the Arabian Sea or east to the Bay of Bengal. Therefore, Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I.

Drainage System Of India

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