RAS

Rajasthan Administrative Services

Rajasthan Public Service Commission

Volume - 4

Geography of India and World

 RAS
Geography of India & World

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Indian Drainage System
CHAPTER
PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS
Q1. Which is not a correct match? (2023)
Lake Location in State
(1) Bhim Tal - Uttarakhand
(2) Pulicat - Tamil Nadu
(3) Loktak - Manipur
(4) Roopkund - Himachal Pradesh
(5) Question not attempted

Q2. Match list-I with list-II and choose the correct answer from the code given below- (2021)
List-I (River) List-II (Tributary)
(A) Godavari (i) Bhavani
(B) Mahanadi (ii) Penganga
(C) Damodar (iii) Seonath
(D) Kaveri (iv) Barakar
Code -
(1) A-(iv), B-(ii), C-(i), D-(iii) (2) A-(ii), B-(iii), C-(iv), D-(i)
(3) A-(i), B-(ii), C-(iv), D-(iii) (4) A-(iii), B-(i), C-(ii), D-(iv)
Analysis- Rivers and lakes are very important as every year there is one question. Nature of
the questions are direct and simple if facts are known. Need to focus on tributaries of major
rivers and location of major lakes.

The Flow of water through well-defined channels is called Drainage and network of such channels
is called a Drainage system. The area drained by rivers and its tributaries is known as Drainage
Basin.

The Great Water Divide separates India into three major drainage systems-Arabian sea drainage,
Bay of Bengal drainage and Inland drainage system. (Water Divide is the elevated boundary that
separates two water drainage systems.)

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Indian rivers mainly drains in 2 directions of main water divide line:

o 77% into Bay of Bengal.

o 23% into Arabian Sea.

1. Types of Drainage Patterns

(i) Concordant drainage patterns

➢ Concordant if drainage pattern correlates to topology and geology of area.
➢ Path of the river is highly dependent on the slope of the river and topography.
(ii) Discordant or Insequent drainage patterns
➢ Discordant if it does not correlate to topology and geology of the area.
➢ River follows its initial path irrespective of the changes in topography.
(iii) Dendritic Drainage Pattern
➢ An irregular tree branch shaped pattern.
➢ Eg: The Indus, the Godavari, the Mahanadi, the Cauvery, the
Krishna.
(iv) Parallel drainage pattern
➢ Pattern of streams running parallel to each other is found in
areas of moderate to steep slopes with some relief.
➢ Eg: The Godavari, the Kaveri, the Krishna and the Tungabhadra.
(v) Trellis Drainage Pattern
➢ Formed when primary tributaries of main rivers flow parallel to
each other and secondary tributaries join them at right angles.

(vi) Radial Drainage Pattern

➢ Develops around a central elevated point when rivers originate
from a hill and flow in all directions.
➢ Eg: The Narmada, the Son and the Mahanadi originate from
Amarkantak Hills and flow in different directions.

(vii) Centripetal Drainage Pattern

➢ When the rivers discharge their waters from all directions in a
lake or depression.
➢ Eg: streams of Ladakh, Tibet, and the Baghmati and its
tributaries in Nepal.

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2. Drainage System of India

2.1 Himalayan Drainage System

➢ 3 main Himalayan rivers – the Indus, the Ganga and the Brahmaputra.

(i) Indus River System

➢ Origin of Indus: From a glacier near Bokhar Chu in Tibetan region in Kailash Mountain

range near Mansarovar Lake. In Tibet it is known as Singi Khanban.

➢ Course:

○ Flows northwest and enters Ladakh at Demchok.

○ Takes a northwestern course and continues to flow towards the Leh region of

Ladakh.

○ Total length-2880 Km(In India length is 1,114 Km).

○ Leh is situated on the banks of this river.

○ Flows between Ladakh and Zanskar range.

○ Right-bank tributaries: Shyok, Gilgit, Hunza, Nubra, Kabul, Khurram, Gomal,Swat.

○ Left-bank tributaries: Zanskar, Suru, Soan, Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, Satluj rivers.

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 Major rivers related to Indus River System
➢ Origin: near the Bara Lachla Pass in Lahaul-Spiti of Zanskar Range.
➢ Formed by the confluence of Chandra and Bhaga rivers at Tandi (Lahaul
and Spiti District of Himachal Pradesh).

Chenab River ➢ Flows through Jammu region into Punjab plains in Pakistan.

➢ Waters allocated to Pakistan under Indus Water Treaty

➢ Baglihar Dam on this river.
It is the largest tributary of the Indus river.
➢ Origin: from a spring at Verinag at the foot of Pir Panjal in S-E part of the
valley of Kashmir.
➢ Largest tributary- Kishanganga (Neelum).
Jhelum River
➢ Ends in a confluence with Chenab in Jhang district Pakistan.
➢ Forms Wular lake (largest fresh water lake in India)
➢ Srinagar is situated on the banks of this river.
Rabi River ➢ Origin: Kullu hills near Rohtang Pass in Himachal Pradesh.
➢ Follows a northwesterly course.

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 ➢ Ranjit Sagar Dam (Thein dam) on this river.
➢ Joins Chenab river in Jhang district of Pakistan.
➢ Lahore city is located on the banks of this river.
➢ Also known as the Red River.
Satluj River ➢ Origin: From Rakas Lake in Southern slopes of Kailash Mountain near
Mansarover Lake and known as Longchen Kambha in Tibet.
➢ Enters Himachal Pradesh at Shipki La.
➢ World’s highest gravity dam- Bhakra Nangal Dam, on this river.
➢ Emerges from Beas kund near Rohtang pass in Himachal Pradesh.
➢ Before entering Pakistan, it merges with Sutlej River at Hari-Ke-Pattan
Beas River
(Punjab)
➢ Pong dam is situated here.

(ii) Ganga River System

➢ Formed from 6 headstreams (Alaknanda, Mandakini, Nandakini, Bhagirathi, Dhauli Ganga,

and Pindar) and their confluences.
➢ Bhagirathi- source stream.
➢ Origin: Foot of Gangotri Glacier, at Gaumukh (3892m).
➢ Enters the plains from Haridwar and empties into the Bay of Bengal.
➢ Empties into the Bay of Bengal.
➢ Joined by Yamuna at Allahabad.
➢ Total length from source to its mouth - 2,525 km

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Panch Prayag

Vishnuprayag Alaknanda + Dhauli Ganga

Nandprayag Alaknanda + Mandakini

Karnaprayag Alaknanda + Pindar

Rudraprayag Alaknanda + Mandakini

Devprayag Alaknanda + Bhagirathi = GANGA

➢ Major Tributaries:

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Major Left bank tributaries:

Ramganga ➢ Origin: southern slopes of Dudhatoli Hill in Chamoli, Uttarakhand.

➢ Flows through the dun valley of Corbett National Park.
➢ Meets the Ganga near Kannauj.
Gomti ➢ Origin: Gomat Taal (aka Fulhaar jheel) near Madho Tanda, Pilibhit, UP.
➢ Meets the Ganges in Ghazipur.
o Location of the famous Markandey Mahadeo temple.
Ghaghara ➢ Origin: in the glaciers of Mapchachungo.
➢ Source: near Gurla Mandhata peak, south of Mansarovar in Tibet.
➢ Also known as Karnali or Kauriala.
➢ Cuts through the Himalayas in Nepal.
Gandak ➢ Union of Kali and Trisuli rivers forms Gandak river.
➢ Merges with Ganga river opposite Patna at Sonepur.
Kosi ➢ Known as Saptakoshi in Nepal(has 7 Himalayan tributaries)
➢ Unstable nature causing flood in Bihar, therefore called - “The Sorrow of
Bihar”.

Major right bank tributaries

Son ➢ Origin: near Amarkantak in Madhya Pradesh.

➢ Tributaries: - Rihand and North Koel.
Yamuna ➢ Largest and the most important tributary.
➢ Origin: Yamunotri glacier on Bandarpunch Peak in the Garhwal region in
Uttarakhand(6,000 meters).
➢ Flows through Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi and joins
Ganga river in Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh).
➢ Right bank tributaries-Tons, Giri, Chambal, Sindh, Betwa, Ken.
➢ Left bank tributaries- Hindon and Sanger.

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Brahmaputra River System

➢ One of the largest rivers in the world.

➢ Source of origin: Chemayundung glacier of Kailash range near Mansarovar Lake.
➢ Drains into Bay of Bengal before forming a huge delta along with the Ganga.
➢ Creates a deep gorge through the Himalayas near Namcha Barwa (Arunachal Pradesh).
➢ Enters India under the name of the Dihang.
➢ World largest riverine island Majuli is found on this river.
➢ Regional names of Brahmaputra:

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 Region Name
Tibet Tsangpo (meaning ‘The Purifier’)
Bangladesh Jamuna River
Bangladesh Padma River: Combined Waters of Ganga and Brahmaputra.
Bangladesh Meghana: From the confluence of Padma and Meghna.
➢ Left bank tributaries: Lhasa River, Nyang River, Parlung Zangbo River, Lohit River,
Dhansiri River, Kopili River.
➢ Right bank tributaries: Kameng River, Manas River, Sankosh River, Teesta River, Subansiri
River.

2.2 Peninsular River System or Peninsular Drainage:

➢ Much older than Himalayan rivers.
➢ Non-perennial rivers- maximum discharge in the rainy season.
➢ Main water divide is created by the Western Ghats.
➢ East flowing rivers- Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna and Cauvery -form deltas.
➢ West flowing rivers- Narmada and Tapi - form estuaries.
➢ Rivers that drain into Bay of Bengal: Mahanadi,Godavari, Krishna, Cauvery.
➢ Rivers that drain into Arabian Sea: Narmada, Tapi, Mahi.
➢ Rivers that drain into the Ganges: Chambal, Betwa, Ken, Son and Damodar

3. Major Peninsular Rivers

3.1 Godavari:

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 ➢ Second-longest course in India.
➢ Also known as Dakshin (South) Ganga or Vriddh (Old) Ganga.
➢ Origin: Trimbakeshwar, near Nasik in Maharashtra.
➢ Flows in southeast direction across south-central India.
➢ States: Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha.
➢ Drains into the Bay of Bengal.
➢ Forms a fertile delta.
➢ Polavaram dam is located on this river (Andhra Pradesh).
➢ Tributaries-Purna, Pranhita, Indravati, Manjira, Penganga, Sabari.

3.2 Krishna

➢ Origin: Mahabaleshwar.
➢ States: Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh.
➢ Total length- 1,400 km.
➢ Drains into Bay of Bengal.
➢ Major dams- Almatti Dam, Srisailam Dam, Nagarjuna Sagar Dam, and Prakasam Barrage.

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 ➢ Right bank: Venna, Koyana, Panchganga, Dudhganga, Ghatprabha, Malaprabha and
Tungabhadra.
➢ Left Bank: Bhima, Dindi, Musi, Paleru, and Munneru.

3.3 Narmada:

➢ Largest (1312km) west flowing river of peninsular India.

➢ Largest Estuary river in india.
➢ Rises from Maikal range near Amarkantak in Madhya Pradesh. Flows westwards through
a rift valley between Vindhya Range (north) and Satpura Range (south).
➢ States- Gujarat, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh
➢ Waterfalls: Kapildhara, Dugdhadhara, Dhuadhaar, Mandhar, Dardi, Shahatradhara
➢ Major Projects:
○ Sardar Sarovar- (Bharuch), Gujarat- Biggest project in Narmada river
➢ Largest island: Aliabet.
➢ Tributaries: Tawa, Kundi, Sher, Hiran.

Key Concepts

West flowing rivers do not form Deltas because:

➢ peninsular plateau have hard rock surface and lacks alluvial material- not enough sediments .
➢ less amount of rainfall compared to Himalayan Rivers.
➢ These rivers have small streams and flow rapidly from steep slopes short distance. They can
estuaries not deltas.

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3.4 Mahanadi:

➢ 3rd largest of peninsular India and largest river of Odisha.

➢ Mahanadi – compound of 2 Sanskrit words “maha” – “great” and “nad” – “river”.
➢ Source – Northern foothills of Dandakaranya, Raipur, Chhattisgarh.
➢ States- Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh
➢ Hirakud Dam (one of the largest dams in India) has formed a man-made lake 35 miles
(55 km) long.
➢ Drains into Bay of Bengal.
➢ Left bank Tributaries: Seonath, Hasdeo, Mand, and Ib.
➢ Right bank Tributaries: Ong, Tel, and Jonk.
3.5 Cauvery:

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 ➢ Also known as ‘Dakshin Bharat ki Ganga’ or ‘the Ganga of the South’.
➢ Origin: Talakaveri, Brahmagiri range, Cherangala village, Coorg, Karnataka.
➢ Length: 800 km.
➢ States- TN, Karnataka, Kerala and Puducherry
➢ Breaks into a large number of distributaries forming a wide delta called “garden of
southern India”
➢ Drains into the Bay of Bengal.
➢ Left Bank tributaries: Hemavati, Shimsha, and Arkavati.
➢ Right Bank tributaries: Lakshmana Tirtha, Kabini, Suvarnavati, Bhavani, Noyyal, and
Amravati.
3.6 Tapi or Tapti

➢ aka ‘“Taap harne wali” or Surya Putri or Tapi.

➢ Second largest west flowing river of Peninsular India
➢ Origin: Multai (Betul district) reserve forest, Madhya Pradesh.
➢ Drains into Arabian Sea through the Gulf of Cambay [Gulf of Khambhat].
➢ States: Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat.
➢ Right Bank: Suki, Gomai, Arunavati and Aner.
➢ Left Bank: Panjhra, Bori, Girna, Purna, Mona and Sipna.
3.7 Other Major rivers of Peninsular India

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1. East Flowing Rivers
River Course of River
Subarnarekha Jharkhand, West Bengal and Odisha
Baitarani Odisha
Brahmani Jharkhand and Odisha
Pennar Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh
Palar Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu
2. West Flowing Rivers
Rivers Course of River
Sabarmati Rajasthan and Gujarat
Mahi Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Gujarat
Dhandhar Gujarat
Kalinadi Karnataka
Sharavati Karnataka
Bharathapuzha Kerala
Periyar Kerala

Comparison between Himalayan and the Peninsular River of India

Characteristics Himalayan Rivers Peninsular Rivers

Place of origin Himalayan mountains (covered with Precambrian Peninsular plateau and
glaciers). central highland.

Nature of flow Perennial; water from glaciers and rainfall. Seasonal; dependent on monsoon
rainfall.

Drainage Antecedent (Older than Himalaya). Eg- Most of the rivers of peninsular
Pattern Indus, Brahmaputra etc. Non-antecedent India superimposed, rejuvenated
(Younger than Himalaya) For example- resulting in trellis, radial, and
Ganga, Yamuna, Jhelum etc. rectangular patterns.

Nature of river Long course, flowing through the rugged Smaller, fixed course with well
mountains experiencing headward erosion adjusted valleys.
and river capturing; In plains, meandering
andshifting off course.

Catchment area Larger Smaller

Age of the river Young and youthful, active and deepening Old rivers with graded profile;
in the valleys almost reached their base levels.

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4. Lakes
➢ Body of water of considerable size, localized in a basin.
➢ Surrounded by land apart from a river or other outlet that serves to feed or drain the lake.
➢ Not part of the ocean, and therefore are distinct from lagoons.
➢ Larger and deeper than ponds.
4.1 Important lakes of India
Fresh Water Lakes of India –
Lake Features
Kolleru Lake (Andhra ➢ The largest lake in India.
Pradesh) ➢ Located b/w Krishna and Godavari delta.
➢ Wetland of international importance in 2002 - Ramsar convention.
Pushkar Lake ➢ In Pushkar in Ajmer district of Rajasthan.
(Rajasthan) ➢ A sacred lake of the Hindus.
Loktak Lake ➢ Keibul Lamjao - only floating national park in the world floats over it- last
(Manipur) natural refuge of the endangered sangai of Manipur brow-antlered deer.
Nalsarovar Lake ➢ Declared a bird sanctuary in 1969.
(Gujarat)
Tsomgo Lake ➢ Also known as Changu Lake
(Sikkim) ➢ A glacial lake in East Sikkim.
Bhimtal Lake ➢ Largest lake in Kumaon region.
(Uttarakhand)
Periyar Lake (Kerala) ➢ An Elephant reserve and Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary on its banks.
Salim Ali Lake ➢ Renamed after great ornithologist, naturalist Salim Ali (birdman of
(Maharashtra) India).
Kanwar Lake (Bihar) ➢ Asia’s largest freshwater oxbow lake.
Nakki Lake ➢ In Mount Abu in Aravalli range.
(Rajasthan) ➢ Mahatma Gandhi’s ashes were immersed in it and Gandhi Ghat was
constructed.
Wular Lake (Jammu ➢ Largest Freshwater Lake in India.
Kashmir) ➢ Formed as a result of tectonic activity andis fed by the Jhelum River.
Ashtamudi Lake ➢ A lagoon in the Kollam district of Kerala.
(Kerala) ➢ A wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention.
Vembanad Lake ➢ Longest lake in India; Largest lake in the state of Kerala.
(Kerala) ➢ The Nehru Trophy Boat Race is conducted in a portion of the lake.
Roopkund ➢ High altitude glacial lake situated in the lap of Trishul mountain.
(Uttrakhand) ➢ Also known as ‘Skeleton Lake’ due to the presence of human skeletons
at its shores, believed to be from a historical event.

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Saline Lakes of India –
Lake Features
Sambhar Lake (Rajasthan) ➢ India’s largest inland salt lake.
➢ Ramsar wetland.
Lonar Lake (Maharashtra) ➢ Formed 50,000 years ago after a meteorite hit the Earth.
Chilka Lake (Odisha) ➢ Largest coastal lagoon in India
➢ Second largest lagoon in the world.
Dal Lake (Jammu Kashmir) ➢ k/a “Jewel in the crown of Kashmir” or “Srinagar’s Jewel”.
➢ Asia’s largest Tulip garden is on the banks of Dal Lake.
Pulicat Lake (Border of ➢ Second-largest brackish water lake on Coromandel Coast.
Andhra Pradesh & Tamil ➢ Barrier island of Sriharikota separates it from the Bay of
Nadu) Bengal.

5. Water Resources of India

• Natural resources of water potentially useful as a source of water supply.
• 97% of water on Earth is salt water and only 3% is freshwater;
• >2/3rd of this is frozen in glaciers and polar ice caps.
• Remaining unfrozen freshwater - groundwater or water vapour.

6. International Agreement for Surface Water Resources

6.1 Indus Waters Treaty 1960
• Signed between India and Pakistan in 1960.
• Ravi, Satluj Sutlej, and Beas were allocatedBeas allocated to India exclusively.
• Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab were allocated to Pakistan except for specified domestic, non-
consumptive, and agricultural use permitted to India.
• India was alsoIndia also given the rightgiven right to generate hydroelectricity through the
run of the river (RoR) projects on the Western Rivers.
• Major dams on eastern rivers for exclusive use of India:
o Bhakra Dam on Satluj,
o Pong and Pandoh Dam on Beas,
o Ranjit Sagar on Ravi.
6.2 India-Nepal Treaty:
• A Nepal-India Joint Committee on Water Resources (JCWR) was formed.
• Treaty on Integrated development of Mahakali River (1996).
• Pancheshwar Multi-purpose Project on river Mahakali- centrepiece.
6.3 India-Bangladesh Treaty:
• About sharing water of Ganga at Farakka
• Signed on 12 December 1996.

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