Q40. Which Chhattisgarh district has territory in the Narmada basin?
[Chhattisgarh PSC Prelims (2011)]
(A) Rajnandgaon
(B) Raipur
(C) Bastar
(D) Korba
Answer: (A) Rajnandgaon
Explanation: Parts of Rajnandgaon district contribute drainage to the Narmada system. Most of the state, however, belongs to the Mahanadi and Godavari watersheds. Plateau slopes and underlying geological structures are especially important in determining peninsular drainage patterns.
Q39. The Bhagirathi emerges from which glacier snout?
[Chhattisgarh PSC Prelims (2011)]
(A) Gomukh
(B) Yamunotri
(C) Pindari
(D) Siachen
Answer: (A) Gomukh
Explanation: The Bhagirathi emerges from the Gangotri glacier at Gomukh in Uttarakhand. It meets the Alaknanda at Devprayag to form the river called Ganga. Regional relief, river outlets and tributary connections help distinguish the surrounding drainage basin geographically.
Q38. Which statement about the Luni is correct?
[UPSC CSE Prelims (2010)]
(A) It enters the Gulf of Khambhat
(B) It enters the Gulf of Kutch
(C) It merges with an Indus tributary in Pakistan
(D) It dissipates in the Rann of Kutch
Answer: (D) It dissipates in the Rann of Kutch
Explanation: The Luni drains arid western Rajasthan towards low saline flats of the Rann of Kutch. It commonly ends without a permanent connection to the open sea. Regional relief, river outlets and tributary connections help distinguish the surrounding drainage basin geographically.
Q37. Which combination of rivers flows through Himachal Pradesh?
[UPSC CSE Prelims (2010)]
(A) Beas and Chenab only
(B) Beas and Ravi only
(C) Chenab, Ravi and Sutlej only
(D) Beas, Chenab, Ravi, Sutlej and Yamuna
Answer: (D) Beas, Chenab, Ravi, Sutlej and Yamuna
Explanation: Himachal Pradesh is crossed or drained by all five named major Himalayan rivers. Together they connect to the Indus and Ganga river systems. Regional relief, river outlets and tributary connections help distinguish the surrounding drainage basin geographically.
Q36. Khari River is part of which sea-drainage system?
[RAS/RTS Prelims (2010)]
(A) Arabian Sea
(B) Inland basin
(C) Indeterminate drainage
(D) Bay of Bengal
Answer: (D) Bay of Bengal
Explanation: The relevant Khari river enters the Banas–Chambal network and thereby Yamuna and Ganga. Its waters ultimately drain towards the Bay of Bengal. Regional relief, river outlets and tributary connections help distinguish the surrounding drainage basin geographically.
Q35. Kopili is a tributary of which river?
[RAS/RTS Prelims (2010)]
(A) Gandak
(B) Kosi
(C) Ganga
(D) Brahmaputra
Answer: (D) Brahmaputra
Explanation: The Kopili flows across Meghalaya and Assam and joins the Brahmaputra system. Seasonal flooding and sediment deposition affect its lower valley. Regional relief, river outlets and tributary connections help distinguish the surrounding drainage basin geographically.
Q34. Which place gives rise to two rivers, one northward into the Ganga system and the other westward into the Arabian Sea?
[UPSC CSE Prelims (2009)]
(A) Amarkantak
(B) Badrinath
(C) Mahabaleshwar
(D) Nashik
Answer: (A) Amarkantak
Explanation: The Son and Narmada rise in the Amarkantak area. Son eventually joins the Ganga after flowing northeast, whereas the Narmada runs west to the Arabian Sea. The wider drainage network links Himalayan tributaries with major alluvial floodplains and downstream deltas.
Q33. Which statements are correct?
1. Kerala has no east-flowing rivers.
2. Madhya Pradesh has no west-flowing rivers.
[UPSC CSE Prelims (2009)]
(A) 1 only
(B) 2 only
(C) Both
(D) Neither
Answer: (D) Neither
Explanation: Kerala includes eastward-draining headstreams such as Kabini and Bhavani. Madhya Pradesh gives rise to west-flowing Narmada, Tapi and Mahi; therefore both claims are false. Regional relief, river outlets and tributary connections help distinguish the surrounding drainage basin geographically.
Q32. Hagari is a tributary of which river?
[UPPCS Mains (2009)]
(A) Bhima
(B) Godavari
(C) Krishna
(D) Tungabhadra
Answer: (D) Tungabhadra
Explanation: Hagari, also known as Vedavathi, flows in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh and joins the Tungabhadra. The Tungabhadra is an important tributary of Krishna. Regional relief, river outlets and tributary connections help distinguish the surrounding drainage basin geographically.
Q31. Which river has the largest catchment among Narmada, Cauvery, Godavari and Krishna?
[UPPCS Prelims (2009)]
(A) Narmada
(B) Cauvery
(C) Godavari
(D) Krishna
Answer: (C) Godavari
Explanation: The Godavari catchment exceeds 300,000 square kilometres and is larger than the listed Krishna, Narmada and Cauvery basins. Plateau slopes and underlying geological structures are especially important in determining peninsular drainage patterns.
