Which of the following major rivers empties directly into the Arabian Sea rather than into the Bay of Bengal?

Introduction / Context:
Understanding the drainage pattern of Indian and subcontinental rivers includes knowing which rivers flow into the Bay of Bengal and which flow into the Arabian Sea. Most major peninsular and Himalayan rivers of India drain into the Bay of Bengal, but a smaller subset drains into the Arabian Sea. This question asks you to identify which river among the options empties into the Arabian Sea.

Given Data / Assumptions:
• The rivers listed are Ganga, Yamuna, Indus and Kaveri. • We consider their final destination at sea level, not just their courses through India. • Ganga and Yamuna are well known north Indian rivers, while Indus is transboundary and Kaveri is a peninsular river. • We assume standard drainage maps showing river mouths.

Concept / Approach:
Ganga flows eastwards across the northern plains and, along with its distributaries, empties into the Bay of Bengal. Yamuna is a major tributary of the Ganga and therefore also effectively drains into the Bay of Bengal. Kaveri, a south Indian river flowing through Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, also empties into the Bay of Bengal. In contrast, the Indus flows generally south westwards through India and Pakistan and eventually drains into the Arabian Sea near Karachi. Therefore, among the listed options, Indus is the only river that empties into the Arabian Sea.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Place the Ganga on the map and recall that it forms a large delta with Brahmaputra on the Bay of Bengal coast. Step 2: Note that Yamuna merges with Ganga at Prayagraj and does not have a separate mouth; its waters join Ganga in reaching the Bay of Bengal. Step 3: Remember that Kaveri flows eastwards from the Western Ghats across southern India and enters the Bay of Bengal near Tamil Nadu coast. Step 4: Consider the Indus system, which flows from Tibet through Ladakh and Pakistan and finally enters the Arabian Sea on the Sindh coast. Step 5: Therefore, Indus is the only option that actually empties into the Arabian Sea.

Verification / Alternative check:
Drainage maps in Indian atlases clearly show the Ganga Brahmaputra delta opening into the Bay of Bengal and depict Kaveri delta on the same eastern coast. The Indus delta, however, is mapped on the northern Arabian Sea coast in Pakistan. Many MCQ books explicitly mention that Narmada, Tapi, Mahi and parts of the Indus system drain into the Arabian Sea, while Ganga, Brahmaputra, Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri drain into the Bay of Bengal. This confirms that the Indus is the correct answer here.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Ganga drains eastwards into the Bay of Bengal and forms one of the largest deltas in the world, so it does not empty into the Arabian Sea. Yamuna is a tributary of the Ganga and shares its final outlet into the Bay of Bengal, not the Arabian Sea. Kaveri flows across southern India to the Bay of Bengal, forming a delta on the eastern coast, so it is also not an Arabian Sea river.

Common Pitfalls:
Some students confuse Indus with purely Indian west flowing rivers like Narmada or Tapi and may think the question is tricking them. Others may mistakenly think that Kaveri might be west flowing because it rises in the Western Ghats. In reality, Kaveri flows eastwards. Remember that the key long rivers directly entering the Arabian Sea are the Indus, Narmada and Tapi, while most other major systems drain into the Bay of Bengal.

Final Answer:
Among the rivers listed, the one that empties into the Arabian Sea is the Indus.