According to the Indus Waters Treaty signed between India and Pakistan, which one of the following rivers is not placed under Pakistan control and therefore remains primarily available for use by India?

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: Ravi

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
The Indus Waters Treaty is a landmark water sharing agreement between India and Pakistan that allocates the waters of the Indus river system between the two countries. This question tests whether the learner knows which rivers were allocated to Pakistan and which were reserved for use by India. Specifically, it asks which river is not governed by Pakistan under the terms of the treaty and thus falls on the Indian side of the allocation.


Given Data / Assumptions:
- The Indus river system consists of six main rivers in this context. - The treaty divides these rivers into two groups, commonly called western rivers and eastern rivers. - Pakistan receives rights over the western rivers, while India receives rights over the eastern rivers subject to certain conditions. - The options list four important rivers: Indus, Chenab, Jhelum and Ravi.


Concept / Approach:
The key concept is the classification of rivers under the Indus Waters Treaty. The western rivers, namely Indus, Jhelum and Chenab, are largely reserved for Pakistan, with India having limited non consumptive rights. The eastern rivers, namely Ravi, Beas and Sutlej, are allocated for unrestricted use by India subject to resettlement of existing uses. The approach is therefore to identify which among the given options belongs to the eastern group that India controls, rather than the western group that is under Pakistan control.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the western rivers under the treaty are Indus, Jhelum and Chenab, over which Pakistan has full rights for consumptive use. Step 2: Recall that the eastern rivers are Ravi, Beas and Sutlej, over which India has full rights subject to specific conditions. Step 3: Examine the options: Indus is a western river given to Pakistan, so it is governed by Pakistan rights under the treaty. Step 4: Chenab and Jhelum are also western rivers, again falling under Pakistan allocation. Step 5: Ravi is one of the eastern rivers that are not governed by Pakistan under the treaty, and its waters are available for Indian use, so Ravi is the correct answer.


Verification / Alternative check:
A helpful memory aid is the grouping that western rivers flow more into Pakistan, while eastern rivers are closer to India heartland. Many standard geography and polity notes summarise the treaty by stating that Indus, Jhelum and Chenab go largely to Pakistan and Ravi, Beas and Sutlej go to India. Cross checking with such notes confirms that among the four options, Ravi is the only river from the eastern group, while the other three are from the western group governed by Pakistan rights. Thus the conclusion that Ravi is not governed by Pakistan under the treaty is fully consistent.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Indus: The Indus itself is a major western river and the treaty gives Pakistan full rights over most of its waters, subject to limited use by India, so it is governed by Pakistan and cannot be the correct answer.
Chenab: Chenab is also a western river under Pakistan allocation, again making it governed by Pakistan and not by India alone, so this option is incorrect.
Jhelum: Jhelum is the third main western river in the treaty and is reserved primarily for Pakistan, which means India does not have full control over it and this option is wrong in the context of the question.


Common Pitfalls:
Learners often confuse which rivers are classified as eastern or western. A frequent mistake is to assume that the larger sounding rivers such as Indus are shared equally, when the treaty actually gives strong rights to Pakistan on that side. Another pitfall is to forget that Beas and Sutlej are also eastern rivers, because they do not appear as options here, which can make Ravi look like a minority choice and lead to hesitation. Solidifying the list of three western and three eastern rivers in memory, and remembering that Ravi, Beas and Sutlej are allocated to India, helps avoid these errors in exam situations.


Final Answer:
Under the Indus Waters Treaty, the river that is not governed by Pakistan and instead remains primarily with India is Ravi.

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