Directions: Read the passage and answer the questions that follow. The drainage systems of India are mainly controlled by the broad relief features of the subcontinent. Accordingly, the Indian rivers are divided into two major groups: the Himalayan rivers; and the Peninsular rivers. Apart from originating from the two major physiographic regions of India, the Himalayan and the Peninsular rivers are different from each other in many ways. Most of the Himalayan rivers are perennial. It means that they have water throughout the year. These rivers receive water from rain as well as from melted snow from the lofty mountains. The major Himalayan rivers are the Indus, the Ganga and the Brahmaputra. These rivers are long and are joined by many large and important tributaries. A river along with its tributaries may be called a river system. The two major Himalayan rivers, the Indus and the Brahmaputra originate from the north of the mountain ranges. They cut through the mountains making gorges in the upper course. The perennial Himalayan rivers have long courses from their source to the sea. They perform an intensive erosional activity in their upper courses and carry huge loads of silt and sand with their swift current. In the middle and the lower courses, these rivers form meanders, oxbow lakes, levees and many other depositional features in their floodplains as their speed slackens. They also have well-developed deltas. A large number of the Peninsular rivers like the Godavari, Kaveri and Krishna are seasonal, as their flow is dependent on rainfall. During the dry season when it doesn’t rain, even the large rivers have reduced flow of water in their channels. The Peninsular rivers have shorter and shallower courses as compared to their Himalayan counterparts. However, some of them originate in the central highlands and flow towards the west. Most of the rivers of peninsular India originate in the Western Ghats and flow towards the Bay of Bengal.
The drainage systems of India are controlled by
relief features
Understanding India's Drainage Systems and Relief Features
The question asks what primarily controls the drainage systems of India, according to the provided passage.
Let's examine the first sentence of the passage:
“The drainage systems of India are mainly controlled by the broad relief features of the subcontinent.”
This sentence directly states that the drainage systems of India are controlled by the broad relief features. Relief features refer to the physical features of the land, such as mountains, plateaus, plains, and valleys. These features influence the direction and nature of river flow.
Based on this explicit statement in the passage, the drainage systems of India are controlled by the relief features.
Analyzing the Options
- relief features: The passage explicitly states that drainage systems are mainly controlled by broad relief features. This aligns perfectly with the passage.
- erosional activity: Erosional activity is a process performed by rivers, especially in their upper courses. While erosional activity shapes the river channels and valleys, it is a consequence of the river's flow path, which is determined by relief features, not the primary control of the entire drainage system.
- depositional features: Depositional features like meanders, oxbow lakes, and deltas are formed by rivers in their middle and lower courses. These are also consequences of the river's activity and flow, influenced by the terrain (relief), rather than controlling the overall drainage pattern.
- tributaries of rivers: Tributaries are smaller streams that join a larger river, forming a river system. While tributaries are part of the drainage system, they do not control the overall pattern or direction of the major rivers or the system as a whole. The flow path of tributaries is also influenced by the relief features of the area they drain.
Therefore, according to the passage, the main controlling factor for the drainage systems of India is the broad relief features.
Revision Table: Key Differences (Himalayan vs. Peninsular Rivers)
| Feature | Himalayan Rivers | Peninsular Rivers |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | Himalayan mountains | Peninsular plateau/hills (e.g., Western Ghats, Central Highlands) |
| Nature of flow | Perennial (water throughout the year) | Seasonal (dependent on rainfall) |
| Source of water | Rain and melted snow | Primarily rainfall |
| Length & Depth | Longer, deeper courses | Shorter, shallower courses |
| Erosional activity | Intensive in upper courses, carry huge silt loads | Less intensive compared to Himalayas |
| Depositional features | Form meanders, oxbow lakes, levees, well-developed deltas | Form depositional features, but deltas less pronounced for some west-flowing rivers |
| Examples | Indus, Ganga, Brahmaputra | Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri, Narmada, Tapi |
Additional Information: Influence of Relief on Drainage
The relief features of India play a crucial role in shaping its drainage patterns. Here's how:
- Mountain Ranges: Mountains act as water divides, separating one drainage basin from another. For example, the Himalayas are the source of major perennial rivers and also define the northern limit of the peninsular drainage. The Western Ghats form a major water divide for Peninsular rivers, with most flowing eastwards towards the Bay of Bengal and a few flowing westwards towards the Arabian Sea.
- Plateaus and Plains: Plateaus often determine the general slope and direction of river flow within the peninsular region. Plains, especially the vast North Indian Plains formed by the Ganga, Indus, and Brahmaputra systems, are areas where rivers deposit large amounts of sediment, forming fertile floodplains and features like meanders and oxbow lakes.
- Slope: The gradient or slope of the land, dictated by relief, affects the speed of river flow. Steep slopes in mountainous regions lead to swift currents and high erosional activity, while gentler slopes in plains result in slower flow and increased deposition.
- Geological Structure: The underlying rock structure and geological history, part of the broader relief context, also influence where rivers cut their channels and the types of valleys they form (e.g., gorges in hard rock areas).
In essence, the landscape's shape and elevation differences are the primary drivers determining where water flows, how fast it flows, and the overall layout of the river network that constitutes the drainage system.
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