Read the following Assertion (A) and Reason (R) carefully and choose the correct option: Assertion (A): The Chotanagpur Plateau is considered an eastern extension of the Central Highlands. Reason (R): The Chotanagpur Plateau is drained primarily by the Chambal and Betwa rivers.

Correct — C. A is true. NCERT's Class IX geography text says the Central Highlands extend eastward as Bundelkhand and Baghelkhand, and that the Chotanagpur plateau marks the further eastward extension.

R is false. The same passage says Chotanagpur is drained by the Damodar. The Chambal and the Betwa drain the Central Highlands farther west. A true, R false: option (c).

Why the others are wrong

• (a)
  Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A — R is false, so it cannot explain A. The Chambal and Betwa are Yamuna tributaries draining the Central Highlands farther west, while Chotanagpur is drained by the Damodar.
• (b)
  Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A — This needs R to be true. Chotanagpur's river is the Damodar, which NCERT places on the plateau's eastern margins, flowing through a rift valley.
• (d)
  A is false, but R is true — A is true, not false. NCERT describes Chotanagpur as the further eastward extension of the Central Highlands, beyond Bundelkhand and Baghelkhand.

The Central Highlands are the part of the Peninsular plateau north of the Narmada, covering much of the Malwa plateau, wider in the west than in the east.

Their rivers, the Chambal, Sind, Betwa and Ken, flow from southwest to northeast, showing the slope, and join the Yamuna on its right bank.

Eastward come Bundelkhand and Baghelkhand, then Chotanagpur, drained by the Damodar, which joins the Hugli.

Key facts

• The Chotanagpur plateau marks the further eastward extension of the Central Highlands, beyond Bundelkhand and Baghelkhand.
• Chotanagpur is drained by the Damodar, which flows through a rift valley and joins the Hugli.
• The Chambal, Sind, Betwa and Ken drain the Central Highlands and flow from southwest to northeast.
• The Central Highlands lie north of the Narmada and cover much of the Malwa plateau.

Common traps

• Accepting R because the Chambal and Betwa are Central Highlands rivers, without checking the plateau it names.
• Marking option (a) whenever A and R both sound geographically plausible.

No directly related past PYQ was found.