Which one of the following Indian rivers is well known as being recharged by subsoil groundwater along its course?

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: Narmada

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
Rivers can be broadly classified based on their sources of water supply, such as rainfall, snowmelt and subsoil groundwater. A river that is significantly recharged by subsoil water tends to have a more sustained flow even in drier seasons. This question checks your knowledge of Indian physical geography by asking which river is particularly noted for subsoil water recharge.


Given Data / Assumptions:
The question provides the following information.

  • We must select one river recharged by subsoil water.
  • The options are Godavari, Damodar, Narmada and Krishna.
  • All four are important rivers in India.
  • Only one matches the typical example often cited in geography questions.


Concept / Approach:
Rivers that are significantly fed by groundwater are often called perennial because subsoil water supports their flow even when rainfall is low. In many exam oriented geography resources, Narmada is given as a classic example of a river recharged by subsoil water as it flows through a rift valley region with groundwater contributions. The approach is therefore to recall which of the given options is associated with this characteristic in standard reference material.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the Narmada River flows through central India in a rift valley between the Vindhya and Satpura ranges. Step 2: Note that due to geological conditions and underlying aquifers, Narmada receives a steady contribution from subsoil water. Step 3: Consider Godavari and Krishna which are mainly monsoon fed peninsular rivers with a strong dependence on rainfall. Step 4: Remember that Damodar is also largely rain fed and has a different hydrological profile. Step 5: Select Narmada as the river most commonly cited as being recharged by subsoil water.


Verification / Alternative check:
Geography question banks and competitive exam guides frequently include this same question and identify Narmada as the correct answer. Explanations state that Narmada is a good example of a river whose flow is sustained by groundwater seepage in addition to rainfall, which helps maintain its perennial character. Consulting multiple such resources or standard physical geography texts reinforces the conclusion that Narmada fits the description given.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A Godavari although large, is mainly rain fed and seasonal variations in its discharge are strongly linked to the monsoon. Option B Damodar flows through eastern India and is better known for floods and coalfield related geography rather than for groundwater recharge. Option D Krishna also depends heavily on monsoon rainfall and is not highlighted as a typical subsoil recharged example in exam literature. These rivers therefore do not match the specific emphasis on subsoil recharge in the question.


Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes guess Godavari or Krishna because they are large peninsular rivers and may assume that all such rivers are similarly recharged. Another pitfall is to rely on intuition rather than on what standard textbooks highlight as examples. Some may also confuse the term perennial with snow fed Himalayan rivers and overlook Narmada which is not Himalayan but still enjoys groundwater support. Careful study of labelled examples is important in physical geography.


Final Answer:
The river well known for being recharged by subsoil groundwater is the Narmada.

Discussion & Comments

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