In Punjab irrigation geography, a large number of traditional inundation canals draw their water mainly from which of the following rivers?

Introduction / Context:
This question deals with the irrigation system and river geography of Punjab. Historically, Punjab developed many inundation canals, which are canals that take off from rivers without large storage dams and receive water mainly when the river level is high during the flood season. Knowing from which river these canals draw most of their water helps you understand both the physical geography and agricultural development of this fertile region.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The subject is inundation canals in Punjab, a northwestern state of India.
• The question asks from which river these canals mainly draw water.
• The options are Jhelum, Chenab, Beas, Sutlej, and Ravi.
• We assume the conventional exam oriented description that emphasises the Sutlej as a key source for such canals.

Concept / Approach:
Punjab is drained by several rivers of the Indus system, including Sutlej, Beas, Ravi, Chenab, and Jhelum. Among these, the Sutlej river has been especially important for canal irrigation, including both inundation canals in earlier periods and later more controlled canal systems. For many years before large dams and modern barrages altered the pattern, inundation canals in Punjab traditionally branched from the Sutlej during the flood season, helping irrigate surrounding fields. Therefore, exam questions often highlight Sutlej as the river associated with these inundation canals.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the Sutlej is one of the main rivers flowing through Punjab and is heavily harnessed for irrigation. Step 2: Remember reading that many older inundation canals, which depend on natural rises in river level, were constructed mainly on the Sutlej system. Step 3: Compare this with rivers like Jhelum and Chenab, which flow more through Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan, and have less direct association with traditional inundation canals in Indian Punjab. Step 4: Note that Beas and Ravi are important rivers but are not usually described as the primary sources of inundation canals in standard textbooks. Step 5: Choose Sutlej river as the correct option.

Verification / Alternative check:
Standard Indian geography textbooks and exam guides that cover the irrigation systems of Punjab often mention that the traditional inundation canals, before the era of major multipurpose projects, drew water from the Sutlej. These texts sometimes provide diagrams showing branches taken off from the Sutlej river to irrigate large tracts of land. Government reports on canal irrigation history in Punjab also highlight the importance of Sutlej based inundation canals.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Jhelum river flows primarily through the Kashmir valley and later into Pakistan. Chenab also spends much of its course in Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan, and while important for irrigation in those regions, it is not central to classic inundation canals of Indian Punjab. Beas and Ravi do support canal projects, but they are not the main rivers cited when discussing traditional inundation canals in general knowledge sources. Therefore, they do not match the specific wording of this question.

Common Pitfalls:
Candidates sometimes confuse the various rivers of the Indus system because many of them cross Punjab or are historically associated with the region. Another pitfall is to guess based on the most familiar river name, rather than recalling which river is especially linked with inundation canal networks. To avoid errors, it can be helpful to make a small table when studying, matching each river with its key irrigation projects and traditional canal systems in Punjab and neighbouring states.

Final Answer:
Sutlej river