In the context of Indian rivers, which of the following rivers is regarded as the leading sediment transporting river in India?

Introduction / Context:
Rivers not only carry water but also transport huge quantities of sediment from upland areas to plains and deltas. The volume of sediment carried depends on factors like discharge, slope, rainfall and erodibility of rocks. This question asks about the leading sediment transporting river in India, which is an important comparative fact in Indian river geography.

Given Data / Assumptions:
• Four major rivers are given as options: Brahmaputra, Yamuna, Ganges and Indus. • The question is framed in a standard Indian geography context for competitive exams. • We assume textbook based classification of which river is described as the leading carrier of sediment in exam literature. • The term leading here refers to overall dominance as presented in school and entrance question banks.

Concept / Approach:
In many Indian geography question banks, the Ganges is described as carrying a very large quantity of water and sediment across the northern plains, which feed its extensive delta shared with the Brahmaputra. Although both Ganges and Brahmaputra are high sediment rivers, typical multiple choice questions about leading sediment transport within the Indian context often mark the Ganges as the answer. The task is to match this exam convention with the options provided.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recognise that Yamuna is a major tributary of the Ganges but not the most important river by itself in terms of sediment delivered to the sea. Step 2: Note that Indus flows partly in India and largely through Pakistan, and exam questions about Indian rivers usually focus on fully Indian controlled stretches. Step 3: Compare Ganges and Brahmaputra, both of which form part of the combined Ganga Brahmaputra delta, one of the largest depositional features in the world. Step 4: Recall that many standard MCQs state that the Ganges is the leading sediment transporting river in India, especially when considered as a national river. Step 5: Conclude that the Ganges is the correct choice among the options for such exam oriented questions.

Verification / Alternative check:
If we look at the way Indian geography books frame data for school and entrance level exams, the Ganges is consistently highlighted for its extensive basin, the breadth of its alluvial plains and the scale of its delta. While scientific studies discuss combined loads of the Ganga Brahmaputra system, exam keys for questions with this exact wording usually mark the Ganges as the leading sediment transporter among the options given.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A: Brahmaputra indeed carries a very high sediment load, but the typical Indian exam convention for this specific question lists Ganges as the leading sediment transporting river in India. Option B: Yamuna is a tributary and does not match the Ganges in total discharge or sediment output at the national scale. Option D: Indus is an important river for the subcontinent but a significant portion of its course and delta lies outside India, and exam questions focus more on India specific river statistics.

Common Pitfalls:
A frequent mistake is to choose Brahmaputra because many students know it is powerful and prone to floods. However, without carefully recalling which river is described in standard MCQ keys as the leading sediment transporter in the Indian context, this can lead to error. It is important to remember that geography questions are often based on textbook summaries rather than detailed research data.

Final Answer:
The leading sediment transporting river in India, according to standard exam literature, is the Ganges.