Identifying the Odd River Out: Godavari, Tapti, Krishna, Mahanadi

The question asks us to find the word that is different from the other three in a given set of four words: Godavari, Tapti, Krishna, and Mahanadi. This type of question requires us to identify a common characteristic shared by three items and one characteristic that makes the fourth item unique.

Let's examine the given words:

• Godavari
• Tapti
• Krishna
• Mahanadi

All four words are names of major rivers in India. To find the odd one out, we need to consider geographical or hydrological properties of these rivers.

Comparing the Rivers Based on Flow Direction

A key difference among Indian rivers is their direction of flow. Most major rivers in the Deccan Plateau and the eastern part of India flow eastwards and drain into the Bay of Bengal. However, some important rivers flow westwards and drain into the Arabian Sea.

Based on the table, we can see the following:

• Godavari flows East and drains into the Bay of Bengal.
• Krishna flows East and drains into the Bay of Bengal.
• Mahanadi flows East and drains into the Bay of Bengal.
• Tapti flows West and drains into the Arabian Sea.

Therefore, Godavari, Krishna, and Mahanadi are all East-flowing rivers, while Tapti is a West-flowing river. This difference in the direction of flow and the destination makes Tapti the odd one out among the given options.

Conclusion

The rivers Godavari, Krishna, and Mahanadi flow towards the east and empty into the Bay of Bengal. The river Tapti flows towards the west and empties into the Arabian Sea. This distinct characteristic of the Tapti river differentiates it from the other three.

Revision Table: River Characteristics

Additional Information on Indian Rivers

Indian rivers are broadly classified based on their origin and flow direction:

• Himalayan Rivers: Originate from the Himalayas, are perennial (flow throughout the year), like the Ganga, Indus, Brahmaputra.
• Peninsular Rivers: Originate from the Indian Peninsula, are mostly seasonal (flow depends on monsoon rains). They are further classified by flow direction.
  • East Flowing Rivers: Larger and drain into the Bay of Bengal (e.g., Godavari, Krishna, Mahanadi, Cauvery). They often form deltas at their mouths.
  • West Flowing Rivers: Shorter and drain into the Arabian Sea (e.g., Narmada, Tapti, Sabarmati, Mahi). They often flow through rifts and form estuaries.

The Godavari, Krishna, Mahanadi, and Tapti are all Peninsular Rivers. The key distinction used here is the direction of flow and the sea they drain into, which is a common geographical classification.