Which of the following groups consists only of Indian rivers that form part of the Indus River basin within India?

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: Sutlej, Beas and Ravi

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
The Indus River system is one of the major river systems of the Indian subcontinent and a key topic in Indian physical geography. It includes several important tributaries that flow partly through India before joining the main Indus River. This question checks whether you can correctly identify which group of rivers belongs to the Indus basin, in contrast to rivers that belong to the Ganga basin or other systems. Such knowledge is important for understanding patterns of drainage, irrigation, and interstate water sharing in northern India and adjoining regions.


Given Data / Assumptions:

    The question specifically refers to the Indus River basin within India.
    Four different sets of three rivers are given as options.
    Some listed rivers, such as Ganga, Betwa, Sone, Kosi, Gomati and Gandak, are known Ganga basin tributaries.
    Others, like Sutlej, Beas and Ravi, are associated with the north western part of the Indian subcontinent.


Concept / Approach:
To answer correctly, you need to recall which rivers are tributaries of the Indus and which belong to the Ganga or other basins. The Indus system, on the Indian side, includes the Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas and Sutlej, often remembered together as part of Punjab's five rivers. On the other hand, rivers such as Ganga, Gomati, Kosi, Gandak, Betwa and Sone are tributaries in the Ganga basin flowing mainly through the Indo Gangetic plains and central India. By grouping rivers according to their basins, you can clearly separate the correct set from the distractors.


Step-by-Step Solution:

Step 1: Recall the main tributaries of the Indus system on the Indian side: Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas and Sutlej. Step 2: Examine option A: Sutlej, Beas and Ravi. All three are well known tributaries in the Punjab region and part of the Indus basin. Step 3: Examine option B: Ganga, Beas and Sutlej. Ganga is the principal river of the Ganga basin, not part of the Indus system, so this set is mixed and therefore incorrect. Step 4: Examine option C: Betwa, Sone and Kosi. These are all tributaries of the Ganga basin, originating in central or eastern India, not in the Indus system. Step 5: Examine option D: Gomati, Kosi and Gandak, again all well known Ganga tributaries, especially in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Step 6: Only option A has a pure set of rivers belonging to the Indus system, so option A must be correct.


Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify your answer by recalling that the historic region of Punjab literally means land of five rivers, referring to Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas and Sutlej, which are tributaries of the Indus. Textbooks on Indian geography also classify drainage basins, clearly separating the Indus system in the north west from the Ganga system in the north and east. Since Sutlej, Beas and Ravi flow through Punjab and Jammu regions before joining the Indus, they consistently appear in maps and tables as Indus basin rivers.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Ganga, Beas and Sutlej: Ganga is the main river of the Ganga basin, so grouping it with Beas and Sutlej mixes two different river systems. Betwa, Sone and Kosi: These are all important tributaries of the Ganga basin, flowing through central and eastern India, and are not part of the Indus system. Gomati, Kosi and Gandak: These rivers drain the Indo Gangetic plains of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar and join the Ganga, not the Indus.


Common Pitfalls:
A common error is to confuse river basins because many names are learned together without emphasis on their drainage patterns. Students may also associate Beas and Sutlej correctly with the Indus but then assume that any large northern river like Ganga belongs with them. To avoid such confusion, practise drawing simple basin maps and memorise which tributaries join which main river. This mental map will help you quickly identify which groups of rivers belong together in MCQs like this one.


Final Answer:
The correct group is Sutlej, Beas and Ravi, because all three rivers are tributaries of the Indus River system within India.

Discussion & Comments

No comments yet. Be the first to comment!
Join Discussion