Identifying Tributaries: Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej

The question asks to identify the major river system to which Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej are tributaries. Understanding the river systems in the Indian subcontinent is key to answering this question.

These five rivers are well-known tributaries of a large river that originates in the Himalayas. Let's examine the options provided:

1. Cauvery
2. Narmada
3. Brahmaputra
4. Indus

Let's consider each option in relation to the listed rivers:

• Cauvery: The Cauvery (or Kaveri) is a major river in Southern India. Its tributaries include rivers like Hemavati, Lakshmana Tirtha, Shimsha, Arkavati, Bhavani, Pambar, and Noyyal. Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej are not tributaries of the Cauvery.
• Narmada: The Narmada is a major river in Central India flowing westwards. Its tributaries are relatively smaller and include rivers like Barna, Hiran, Tendoni, Choral, Kolar, Ganjal, Beda, Gondhal, Dev, and Orsang. Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej are not tributaries of the Narmada.
• Brahmaputra: The Brahmaputra is a major river flowing through Tibet, India, and Bangladesh. Its prominent tributaries include Dibang, Lohit, Subansiri, Kameng, Manas, Sankosh, Teesta (in India/Bangladesh), and others like Siang, Dikhow, Dhansiri (South), Kopili. Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej are not tributaries of the Brahmaputra.
• Indus: The Indus River System is one of the largest in the world, originating in the Tibetan Plateau and flowing through India and Pakistan. The main tributaries that join the Indus River are the Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej rivers. These five rivers together form the Punjab region (land of five rivers). The Chenab is the largest tributary of the Indus. The Sutlej is the longest of the five tributaries.

Based on geographical knowledge of river systems, Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej are indeed the primary tributaries of the Indus River.

Therefore, the correct answer is Indus.