Directions: Read the Assertion (A) and Reason (R) carefully and choose the correct alternative. Assertion (A): Most of the Himalayan rivers are perennial and flow throughout the year. Reason (R): They are fed by melting snow and glaciers in the Himalayan region.

Introduction / Context:
This is another version of the Himalayan rivers question that tests the same core idea in a slightly different option pattern. It asks whether the statement about Himalayan rivers being perennial is correctly explained by their being fed by melting snow in the Himalayas. Understanding this question reinforces knowledge about the sources of major Indian rivers and the difference between snow fed and rain fed rivers.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Assertion (A): Most Himalayan rivers are perennial and flow throughout the year.
• Reason (R): They receive water from melting snow and glaciers.
• Himalayan rivers include important rivers such as the Ganga, Yamuna, Indus, and Brahmaputra.
• Perennial means continuous flow in all seasons, not drying up completely.

Concept / Approach:
This question relies on the hydrological concept that river flow depends on its sources, such as rain, snow, and groundwater. Himalayan rivers originate in high altitude regions where glaciers store water in the form of ice and snow. Seasonal melting provides a relatively steady contribution even when rainfall is low. Because Assertion and Reason are very closely matched, we need to check both their truth and the causal relationship.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Examine Assertion (A). Due to their snow fed nature and large catchment areas, Himalayan rivers typically have water throughout the year and are classified as perennial. So Assertion (A) is true. Step 2: Examine Reason (R). It states that these rivers are fed by melting snow. This is also true as many of them rise from glaciers and permanent snowfields in the Himalayas. Step 3: The presence of glaciers and snow ensures that when temperatures rise, melted water continues to feed river channels. Step 4: This continuous supply supplements rainfall and ensures that even in dry periods the rivers maintain some discharge, which gives them perennial character. Step 5: Therefore Reason (R) does more than simply state another fact. It provides the main explanation for why most Himalayan rivers are perennial.

Verification / Alternative check:
As discussed in the previous Himalayan rivers question, geography syllabi explicitly state that Himalayan rivers are perennial because they are both snow fed and rain fed. Diagrams in textbooks often show glaciers feeding major rivers, reinforcing the explanation given in Reason (R). No alternative factor explains the perennity as strongly as the snow fed source does.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option stating that Reason (R) is true but Assertion (A) is false is incorrect because both statements are true according to standard geography. Option that says Assertion (A) is true but Reason (R) is false ignores the well established role of snow melt. Options claiming both are false or unrelated contradict textbook knowledge and misrepresent the strong cause and effect link.

Common Pitfalls:
Candidates sometimes focus only on monsoon rainfall and overlook stored water in glaciers, leading to confusion about why some rivers continue flowing in the dry season. It is helpful to recall that Himalayan rivers combine snow melt with rainfall, making their flow more reliable than purely rain fed rivers.

Final Answer:
Reason (R) correctly explains Assertion (A), so the correct option is Reason (R) correctly explains Assertion (A).