Which of the following is/are east flowing rivers in India? 1. Palar 2. Periyar 3. Pennar 4. Kalinadi. Select the answer using the code given below:
- (a)1 only
- (b)1 and 3
- (c)2 and 4
- (d)4 only
Correct — B, 1 and 3 (Palar and Pennar). The Palar and the Pennar (Penna) are east-flowing peninsular rivers that rise on the Karnataka uplands (near the Nandi Hills) and drain eastward across the Deccan into the Bay of Bengal. The Periyar (Kerala's largest river) and the Kali (Kalinadi, in Karnataka) are west-flowing rivers that empty into the Arabian Sea — so only 1 and 3 are east-flowing.
- (a)1 only — The Pennar (3) is also east-flowing into the Bay of Bengal, so '1 only' misses it and is incomplete.
- (c)2 and 4 — The Periyar (2) and the Kali/Kalinadi (4) are both west-flowing into the Arabian Sea — the exact opposite of east-flowing.
- (d)4 only — The Kali (Kalinadi) of Karnataka flows west to the Arabian Sea at Karwar; it is not east-flowing at all.
The Western Ghats form the main water divide of Peninsular India. Most large peninsular rivers rise near the Ghats and flow EAST across the Deccan into the Bay of Bengal (Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri, and smaller ones like the Palar and Pennar), building deltas. A few flow WEST into the Arabian Sea (Narmada, Tapi, Periyar, Sharavati, Kali), usually through faults/steep courses and without deltas.
Anchor each name to its sea. Palar and Pennar (both starting near the Nandi Hills of Karnataka) run east to the Bay of Bengal. Periyar (Kerala) and the Kali/Kalinadi (Karnataka coast) run west to the Arabian Sea. Note the classic trap: the Karnataka Kali is west-flowing, whereas the Kali of Uttar Pradesh is a Ganga tributary — different rivers with the same name.
- The Western Ghats are the principal water divide of Peninsular India; most large rivers flow east to the Bay of Bengal.
- Palar and Pennar (Penna) are east-flowing rivers draining into the Bay of Bengal.
- Periyar is Kerala's largest river and flows west into the Arabian Sea; the Kali (Kalinadi) of Karnataka also flows west, reaching the Arabian Sea at Karwar.
- West-flowing peninsular rivers (Narmada, Tapi, Periyar, etc.) generally form estuaries rather than deltas.
Only Palar (1) and Pennar (3) flow east — hence the answer is (b).
- Confusing the Karnataka Kali (west-flowing) with the Kali of Uttar Pradesh (a Ganga tributary).
- Assuming any South-Indian river flows east.
- Mixing up the Periyar (west-flowing) with the Bay-bound rivers.
Asked as which listed peninsular rivers flow east versus west — anchor each to the Bay of Bengal or the Arabian Sea.
The correct sequence of the eastward flowing rivers of the peninsular India from north to south is
- (a) Subarnarekha, Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Pennar, Cauvery and Vagai
- (b) Subarnarekha, Mahanadi, Godavari, Cauvery, Vagai, Pennar
- (c) Mahanadi, Subarnarekha, Godavari, Krishna, Cauvery, Pennar and Vagai
- (d) Mahanadi, Subarnarekha, Krishna, Godavari, Cauvery, Vagai and Pennar
Answer(a) Subarnarekha, Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Pennar, Cauvery and Vagai
Same concept — the east-flowing rivers of Peninsular India, including the Pennar which features in this NDA question. Tests the same east-vs-west drainage framework.
Assertion (A): River Kalinadi is an east-flowing river in the southern part of India. Reason (R): The Deccan Plateau is higher along its western edge and gently slopes towards the Bay of Bengal in the east.
- (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
- (b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A
- (c) A is true but R is false
- (d) A is false but R is true
Answer(d) A is false but R is true
Directly about the Kali (Kalinadi), one of this NDA question's options. UPSC's answer confirms the Kalinadi is NOT east-flowing (it is west-flowing to the Arabian Sea), exactly why option 4 is excluded here.
- practice — not a real PYQ
Which one of the following peninsular rivers flows WEST into the Arabian Sea?
- (a)Palar
- (b)Pennar
- (c)Periyar
- (d)Mahanadi
Answer(c) Periyar — Kerala's largest river, flowing west to the Arabian Sea.
- practice — not a real PYQ
The Palar and Pennar rivers both drain into the:
- (a)Arabian Sea
- (b)Bay of Bengal
- (c)Gulf of Mannar
- (d)Gulf of Khambhat
Answer(b) Bay of Bengal — both are east-flowing peninsular rivers.