Which of the following tributaries is/are correctly matched with the Deccan Rivers? Tributary — River 1. Bhavani — Krishna 2. Kabini — Kaveri 3. Manjra — Godavari 4. Bhima — Mahanadi. Select the answer using the code given below:
- (a)1 and 2
- (b)2 and 3
- (c)1 and 3
- (d)3 and 4
Correct — B, 2 and 3. Kabini (Kapila) is a tributary of the Kaveri, and the Manjra (Manjira) is a tributary of the Godavari — both pairings are correct. Pair 1 is wrong because the Bhavani is a tributary of the Kaveri, not the Krishna; pair 4 is wrong because the Bhima is a major tributary of the Krishna, not the Mahanadi. So only 2 and 3 are correctly matched.
- (a)1 and 2 — Pair 1 (Bhavani-Krishna) is wrong — the Bhavani is a tributary of the Kaveri, not the Krishna; so this combination fails.
- (c)1 and 3 — Pair 3 is correct, but pair 1 (Bhavani-Krishna) is wrong because the Bhavani joins the Kaveri, so this combination fails.
- (d)3 and 4 — Pair 3 is correct, but pair 4 (Bhima-Mahanadi) is wrong — the Bhima is a tributary of the Krishna, not the Mahanadi.
The major east-flowing Deccan rivers each have a well-known set of tributaries. Kaveri tributaries include the Kabini, Bhavani, Hemavati, Shimsha, Arkavati and Amravati. Godavari tributaries include the Manjra, Pravara, Purna, Penganga, Wardha, Wainganga, Indravati and Sabari. Krishna tributaries include the Bhima, Tungabhadra, Musi, Koyna, Ghataprabha and Malaprabha.
Match each tributary to its master river. The two wrong pairs swap the master river: the Bhavani (really a Kaveri tributary) is put under the Krishna, and the Bhima (really a Krishna tributary) is put under the Mahanadi. The Mahanadi's own tributaries (Seonath, Hasdeo, Mand, Ib, Tel) are quite different.
- Kabini (Kapila) and Bhavani are both tributaries of the Kaveri.
- Manjra (Manjira) is a tributary of the Godavari; the Nizam Sagar dam is built on the Manjra.
- Bhima is a major tributary of the Krishna (not the Mahanadi).
- The Mahanadi's chief tributaries include the Seonath, Hasdeo, Mand, Ib and Tel.
Only pairs 2 and 3 are correctly matched — hence the answer is (b).
- Swapping the Bhavani (a Kaveri tributary) onto the Krishna.
- Placing the Bhima under the Mahanadi instead of the Krishna.
- Confusing the Manjra (Godavari) with the Manas (a Brahmaputra tributary).
Asked as tributary-to-main-river matching pairs — learn each master river's list of tributaries.
Consider the following pairs: Tributary River – Main River 1. Chambal : Narmada 2. Sone : Yamuna 3. Manas : Brahmaputra. Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
- (a) 1, 2 and 3
- (b) 1 and 2 only
- (c) 2 and 3 only
- (d) 3 only
Answer(d) 3 only
Same question type and skill — matching a tributary to its correct main river. UPSC's version tests the Chambal, Sone and Manas; this NDA question tests the same tributary-mapping skill on the Deccan rivers.
- practice — not a real PYQ
The Bhima river is a tributary of which of the following rivers?
- (a)Godavari
- (b)Krishna
- (c)Kaveri
- (d)Mahanadi
Answer(b) Krishna — the Bhima is a major tributary of the Krishna.
- practice — not a real PYQ
The Kabini river is a tributary of which river?
- (a)Krishna
- (b)Godavari
- (c)Kaveri
- (d)Tungabhadra
Answer(c) Kaveri — the Kabini (Kapila) joins the Kaveri.