The following characteristics are of which river? - Originates from the Aravalis near the Fort of Kumbhalgarh. - Flows through the Mewar Plain. - Bedach, Kothari and Morel are its tributaries.
- (1)Banas
- (2)Luni
- (3)Chambal
- (4)Mahi
Answer
Why
Correct — option (1), Banas.
All three characteristics fit the Banas.
Source: Rajasthan's Water Resources Department says the Banas originates in the Khamnor hills of the Aravalli range, about 5 km from Kumbhalgarh. The Gazetteer of the Udaipur State (1908) similarly puts its rise in the Aravalli hills about three miles from the fort of Kumbhalgarh.
Course: the 1908 gazetteer traces it turning east through Mewar, past Nathdwara on its right bank. A dryland manual of the Arid Forest Research Institute calls the Banas Plain a peneplain of the Banas, divided into the Mewar Plain and the Malpura-Karauli Plain.
Tributaries: the Water Resources Department lists the Berach and Menali on the right, and the Kothari, Khari, Dai, Dheel, Sohadara, Morel and Kalisil on the left. Bedach is another spelling of Berach.
Kumbhalgarh source, Mewar plain, Berach–Kothari–Morel: the Banas.
Why the others are wrong
- (2)Luni — The Luni fails on the source and on the tributaries. Rajasthan's Water Resources Department says it originates on the western slopes of the Aravallis near Ajmer and, after about 495 km, disappears in the marshy land of the Rann of Kutch.
The rivers of its basin on the same department's list include the Sukri, Jawai, Bandi, Guhiya and Jojari, not the Berach, Kothari or Morel.
- (3)Chambal — The Chambal does not rise near Kumbhalgarh. The Water Resources Department says it originates in the Vindhyan ranges near Mhow in Indore district, Madhya Pradesh, and enters Rajasthan through a gorge at Chourasigarh.
The link that makes it tempting: the Banas is itself a tributary of the Chambal, meeting it near Rameshwar in Sawai Madhopur district. The Berach, Kothari and Morel join the Banas first.
- (4)Mahi — The Mahi comes from outside Rajasthan. The Water Resources Department says it originates on the northern slope of the Vindhyachal ranges in Madhya Pradesh, enters Rajasthan in Banswara district, makes a U-shaped loop and flows through Gujarat to the Gulf of Cambay.
Its tributaries on that list include the Som, Jakham, Moran and Anas.
Concept
The Water Resources Department says the Banas flows along its entire length through Rajasthan. It gives the river's length as about 512 km and its catchment area as 45,833 sq km. The 1908 Udaipur State gazetteer put its length at about 300 miles and called it not perennial.
Its tributaries join at named places. The Berach meets it near Bigod village in Mandalgarh tehsil, the Kothari near Nandrai village, both in Bhilwara district, and the Dai near Bisalpur in Tonk district.
The Morel rises in the hills of Bassi tehsil in Jaipur district and joins the Banas near Hadoli village.
RPSC's 2021 Prelims syllabus lists "Major Rivers & Lakes" under the Geography of Rajasthan. Where a river rises, which plains it crosses and which streams feed it are the facts that place it on the map.
Rajasthan's rivers drain in different directions. The Banas joins the Chambal, which the Water Resources Department calls a principal tributary of the Yamuna. The Luni ends in the Rann of Kutch, and the Mahi reaches the Gulf of Cambay.
The Banas plain lies east of the Aravallis, while the Luni drains their western slopes.
Key facts
- Rajasthan's Water Resources Department: the Banas originates in the Khamnor hills of the Aravallis, about 5 km from Kumbhalgarh, and flows its entire length within Rajasthan.
- The Banas joins the Chambal near Rameshwar village, Khandar block, Sawai Madhopur district; the department gives its length as about 512 km.
- Banas tributaries (Water Resources Department): Berach and Menali on the right; Kothari, Khari, Dai, Dheel, Sohadara, Morel and Kalisil on the left.
- The Berach joins the Banas near Bigod in Mandalgarh tehsil, and the Kothari near Nandrai, both in Bhilwara district.
- The Luni rises near Ajmer and ends in the Rann of Kutch; the Mahi enters Rajasthan in Banswara and reaches the Gulf of Cambay.
Only the Banas rises near Kumbhalgarh. Source and end points as given by Rajasthan's Water Resources Department.
Study next
Common traps
- Picking the Chambal because the Berach, Kothari and Morel belong to its wider system. They join the Banas first, and the Chambal rises near Mhow in Madhya Pradesh, not near Kumbhalgarh.
- Missing a spelling variant: Bedach is the Berach, and Mainal is the Menali.
- Two different Kharis. The Banas has a Khari tributary, and the Water Resources Department lists separate Khari streams in the Luni basin in Pali and Sirohi.
A question can describe a river by its source, its course and its tributaries and ask which river it is, as this one does.
A question can also ask where two rivers meet, which tributaries join on the right bank, or which river flows wholly within Rajasthan.
Related PYQs
Which three rivers of the following form ‘Triveni’ Sangam ?
- (1) Banas, Mainal, Bedach
- (2) Gambhiri, Mansi, Dhundh
- (3) Kothari, Khori, Bedach
- (4) Som, Aahu, Bandi
Answer(1)
Same Banas system. That item asks which three rivers form the 'Triveni' Sangam (RPSC's key: option (1), Banas, Mainal, Bedach); this one identifies the Banas from its source, course and tributaries, including the Bedach.
Match List – I with List – II and select the correct answer from the codes given below : List – I (District) – List – II (River) A. Udaipur – i. Sabi & Ruparel B. Bundi – ii. Gambhiri & Parvati C. Bharatpur – iii. Som & Jakham D. Alwar – iv. Kural Codes :
- (1) A-iii, B-iv, C-i, D-ii
- (2) A-iv, B-iii, C-ii, D-i
- (3) A-i, B-iii, C-ii, D-iv
- (4) A-iii, B-iv, C-ii, D-i
Answer(4)
Same skill of placing Rajasthan's rivers. That item matches four districts to rivers (RPSC's key: option (4), A-iii, B-iv, C-ii, D-i, including Udaipur – Som & Jakham); this one names a river from its source and tributaries.
Practice
- practice — not a real PYQ
Which of the following is a right-bank tributary of the Banas river?
- (a)Kothari
- (b)Berach
- (c)Morel
- (d)Khari
Answer(2) — Rajasthan's Water Resources Department lists the Berach and Menali as right-bank tributaries of the Banas. Option (1), Kothari, option (3), Morel, and option (4), Khari, are on its list of left-bank tributaries. - practice — not a real PYQ
The Banas river meets the Chambal near which village?
- (a)Rameshwar
- (b)Bigod
- (c)Nandrai
- (d)Chourasigarh
Answer(1) — The Water Resources Department places the Banas–Chambal meeting near Rameshwar, Sawai Madhopur district. Option (2), Bigod, is where the Berach joins the Banas; option (3), Nandrai, is where the Kothari joins it; option (4), Chourasigarh, is where the Chambal enters its gorge in Rajasthan.