The rivers of the Himalayan River system are fed by both melting and precipitation, making them eternal. The Indus, Ganga, and Brahmaputra rivers are the three major Himalayan rivers. These rivers are long and have several tributaries. A river system is made up of a river and its tributaries. When rivers enter the plains, they form depositional features such as flat valleys, oxbow lakes, flood plains, braided channels, and deltas around the river mouth. This article will explain to you about River Systems of Himalayan Drainage which will be helpful in Geography preparation for the UPSC Civil service exam.

Evolution of Himalayan Drainage

• During the Miocene period a few million years ago, an enormous river called Shiwalik or Indo-Brahma spanned the whole longitudinal range of the Himalaya from Assam to Punjab and on to Sind, eventually emptying into the Gulf of Sind in lower Punjab.
• The Shiwalik's noteworthy stability, as well as its lacustrine origin and alluvial deposits of sands, silt, clay, boulders, and conglomerates, support this viewpoint.
• After that, the Himalayan rivers were divided into three primary systems.
• This dismemberment may have occurred as a result of Pleistocene instability in the western Himalayas, especially the elevation of the Potwar Plateau (Delhi Ridge), which served as a hydrological barrier between the Indus and Ganga drainage systems.
• Similarly, the mid-Pleistocene down-thrusting of the Malda gap region between the Rajmahal hills and the Meghalaya plateau redirected the Ganga and Brahmaputra systems to flow towards the Bay of Bengal.

Indus River system

• It is one of the world's major river basins. The Indus River, commonly known as the Sindhu, is India's westernmost Himalayan river.
• It springs from a glacier at Bokhar Chu in the Kailash Mountain range in Tibet.
• It is known in Tibet as 'Singi Khamban,' meaning Lion's Mouth. It flows north west between the Ladakh and Zanskar mountain ranges before passing through Ladakh and Baltistan.
• It slashes through the Ladakh range, providing a breathtaking gorge near Gilgit in Jammu & Kashmir.
• In the Dardistan area of Pakistan, it enters around Chillar. Learn about the Dardistan region.
• The Shyok, Gilgit, Zaskar, Hunza, Nubra, Shigar, Gasting, and Dras are only a few of the Himalayan tributaries that flow into the Indus.
• It ultimately emerges from the highlands around Attock, where it is joined on its right bank by the Kabul River.
• The river runs south, receiving 'Panjnad' just above Mithankot.
• The five rivers of Punjab, the Satluj, Beas, Ravi, Chenab, and Jhelum, are together known as the Panjnad.
• It eventually empties into the Arabian Sea to the east of Karachi. In India, the Indus exclusively runs through Jammu and Kashmir's Leh district.

Important Tributaries of Indus

• The Indus receives a variety of Himalayan tributaries, including the Shyok, Gilgit, Zaskar, Hunza, Nubra, Shigar, Gasting, and Dras.
• It eventually emerges from the highlands at Attock, where it meets the Kabul River on its right bank.
• The Khurram, Tochi, Gomal, Viboa, and Sangar are additional major tributaries that join the right bank of the Indus.
• They all have their origins in the Sulaiman ranges.
• Zanskar river, Suru river, Kishanganga (Neelam) river, Jhelum river, Chenab river, Ravi river, Beas river, Satluj river, Panjnad river are all left bank tributaries.

Indus Water Treaty (IWT)

• On September 19, 1960, India and Pakistan signed a pact governing the sharing of water from the Indus and its tributaries.
• The IWT was signed by Jawaharlal Nehru, the then-Indian Prime Minister, and Ayub Khan, the then-Pakistani President.
• The World Bank (then known as the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development) mediated the agreement, which lasted nine years.
• It was essentially a move to boost trust between the two countries.
• The treaty splits the Indus river system into two parts: the eastern rivers (Satluj, Beas, and Ravi) and the western rivers (Chenab, Jhelum, and Indus).
• This treaty grants India the right to utilise the waters of the eastern rivers, while Pakistan has the right to use the western rivers.
• The pact grants India 20% of the water from the Indus river system, while Pakistan receives the remaining 80%.

The Ganga System

• The Ganga is India's most significant river, both in terms of its basin and its cultural significance.
• It rises near Gaumukh in Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi district, in the Gangotri glacier. The Bhagirathi is the name given to it in this region.
• The Bhagirathi meets the Alaknanda at Devprayag, where it becomes the Ganga.
• At Haridwar, the Ganga enters the plains. It runs south, then south-east, then east from here until separating into two distributaries, the Bhagirathi and the Hugli.
• The Ganga river system is India's biggest, with a variety of perennial and non-perennial rivers flowing from the Himalayas in the north and the Peninsula in the south. Its main right bank tributary is the Son.
• The Ramganga, the Gomati, the Ghaghara, the Gandak, the Kosi, and the Mahananda are prominent left bank tributaries.
• Finally, at Sagar Island, the river empties into the Bay of Bengal.

Important Tributaries of Ganga - Right Bank

Important Tributaries of Ganga - Left Bank

The Brahmaputra System

• The Brahmaputra, one of the world's greatest rivers, rises from the Kailash range's Chemayungdung glacier near Mansarovar Lake.
• It is known as the Tsangpo in southern Tibet, which means "purifier." The Rango Tsangpo is the river's main right-bank tributary in Tibet.
• After carving out a deep valley in the Central Himalayas at Namcha Barwa, it emerges as a tumultuous and powerful torrent.
• Siang or Dihang is the name of the river that emerges from the slopes. It enters India west of the Arunachal Pradesh town of Sadiya.
• It receives its main left bank tributaries, the Dibang or Sikang and Lohit, as it flows southwest, and is thereafter known as the Brahmaputra.
• In Bangladesh, it joins the Padma River, which empties into the Bay of Bengal.

Important Tributaries of Brahmaputra

• The Burhi Dihing and Dhansari (South) are key left bank tributaries, while the Subansiri, Kameng, Manas, and Sankosh are important right bank tributaries.
• An antecedent river is the Subansiri, which originates in Tibet.
• Near Dhubri, the Brahmaputra enters Bangladesh and flows southward.
• The Tista joins it on its right bank in Bangladesh, where the river is known as the Yamuna.
• It eventually joins the Padma River, which empties into the Bay of Bengal. Floods, channel shifting, and bank erosion are all common occurrences on the Brahmaputra.
• This is because most of its tributaries are huge and carry a lot of sediments due to the considerable rainfall in its catchment region.

Significance of Himalayan Drainage

• The major Himalayan rivers run through steep gorges that often represent some geologic structural restriction, such as a fault line, and rise north of the mountain ranges.
• The rivers of the Indus system, on average, run northwesterly, whereas those of the Indus-Ganges-Brahmaputra systems, on average, flow easterly across the Himalayan area.
• This river system is vital to the entire region of North India. They offer both surface and groundwater, and hence serve as a source of irrigation.
• Agriculture is entirely reliant on these rivers. Aside from agriculture, big businesses such as leather tanning rely on these rivers.
• They, on the other hand, supply inland waterways. They support a wide range of species and contribute to the country's flora and wildlife. As a result, natural resources such as forests rely on these rivers.
• As a result, we can claim that about half of the world's population is dependent on these rivers, proving their economic value.
• The Himalayan rivers offer enormous hydropower generating potential. Beginning in the 1950s, India aggressively pursued this potential.
• Bhakra-Nangal on the Sutlej River in the Outer Himalayas is home to a massive multifunctional project.

Conclusion

The Indian drainage system is made up of several small and major rivers. It is the result of the evolution of the three primary physiographic units, as well as the type and properties of precipitation. The Ganga, Indus, and Brahmaputra river basins are part of the Himalayan drainage system. The melting of glaciers as a result of global warming is causing alarm. We are also contaminating it by locating industries along the river's banks. We may say that by hurting the rivers, we are dying ourselves and other species, which will be seen in future years.

FAQs

MCQs

1. Which of the following rivers is part of the Indus River System?

A) Yamuna
B) Sutlej
C) Brahmaputra
D) Godavari

2. What is the primary source of water for Himalayan rivers?

A) Groundwater
B) Glacier melt
C) Rainwater
D) Lake overflow

3. Which river is known for flowing through Tibet, India, and Bangladesh?

A) Ganga
B) Yamuna
C) Brahmaputra
D) Indus

4. Which of the following rivers is most prone to seasonal flooding?

A) Ganga
B) Brahmaputra
C) Indus
D) Yamuna

5. Which of these rivers does NOT originate in the Himalayas?

A) Sutlej
B) Ganga
C) Brahmaputra
D) Godavari

GS Mains Questions and Answers

Q1: Explain the significance of the Himalayan river systems for the northern plains of India.

Answer: The Himalayan river systems, including the Indus, Ganga, and Brahmaputra, are vital for the northern plains of India as they provide water for agriculture, drinking, and industrial use. These rivers have also contributed to the formation of fertile alluvial plains, supporting intensive farming. Additionally, they play a crucial role in the hydropower sector and serve as important waterways for transport. The rivers also hold cultural and religious significance, with the Ganga being considered sacred by Hindus.

Q2: Analyze the challenges posed by floods in the Himalayan river systems and suggest measures to mitigate their impact.

Answer: The Himalayan rivers, particularly the Brahmaputra and Ganga, are prone to seasonal flooding due to monsoon rains, snowmelt, and the steep gradient of the terrain. These floods cause loss of life, damage to crops, and displacement of communities. To mitigate these impacts, measures such as the construction of embankments, flood forecasting systems, river interlinking projects, and the promotion of afforestation in catchment areas can be implemented. Moreover, better urban planning and the creation of flood-resilient infrastructure are essential to manage the recurring flood threat.

Q3: Discuss the role of glaciers in sustaining the flow of Himalayan rivers and the potential impact of climate change on these rivers.

Answer: Glaciers act as a critical source of water for Himalayan rivers, providing a perennial supply through snowmelt, especially during summer when rainfall is limited. Rivers like the Ganga, Yamuna, and Indus rely heavily on glacier melt for their continuous flow. However, climate change poses a significant threat, as rising temperatures could lead to glacier retreat, reducing the volume of water available for these rivers. This could impact water security, agriculture, and hydropower generation in the region. Therefore, addressing climate change through mitigation and adaptation strategies is crucial for preserving the Himalayan river systems.

Previous Year Questions on River Systems of Himalayan Drainage

1. UPSC CSE Prelims 2019:

Question: Which of the following rivers is known to flow through Tibet, India, and Bangladesh?

A) Ganga
B) Indus
C) Brahmaputra
D) Sutlej

Answer: C

Explanation: The Brahmaputra River flows from Tibet, through India, and into Bangladesh, making it a transnational river system in the Himalayan drainage basin.

2. UPSC CSE Mains 2020 (GS Paper 1):

Question: "Analyze the role of the Himalayan rivers in shaping the geography and economy of northern India." Discuss with relevant examples.

Answer: The Himalayan rivers, such as the Indus, Ganga, and Brahmaputra, have played a crucial role in shaping the northern plains of India by depositing alluvial soil, creating fertile lands suitable for agriculture. These rivers also provide water for irrigation, drinking, and hydropower generation, supporting millions of people. Furthermore, they hold cultural and religious significance, contributing to tourism and pilgrimage activities. However, these rivers are also prone to flooding, which poses a significant challenge to the economy and infrastructure of northern India. Effective flood management and sustainable water use practices are essential for maximizing the benefits of these rivers.