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Question

Which one of the following rivers joins Ganga directly?

This question was previously asked in
CDS I 2020 Elementary Mathematics Previous Year Paper (02-Feb-2020)
The correct answer is

Son

Understanding Ganga Tributaries and Direct Confluences

The question asks us to identify which of the given rivers joins the mighty Ganga river directly, without first merging into another major tributary like the Yamuna.

Let's look at each option and its relationship with the Ganga river system:

  1. Chambal: The Chambal river is a significant tributary of the Yamuna river. The Chambal joins the Yamuna in Uttar Pradesh. Since the Yamuna itself is a major tributary of the Ganga, the Chambal joins Ganga indirectly through the Yamuna.
  2. Son: The Son river is one of the major southern tributaries of the Ganga river. It originates in the Amarkantak Plateau and flows northwards before joining the Ganga river directly near Patna in Bihar.
  3. Betwa: The Betwa river is also a major tributary of the Yamuna river. The Betwa river joins the Yamuna in Uttar Pradesh. Like the Chambal, the Betwa joins Ganga indirectly through the Yamuna.
  4. Ken: The Ken river is another important tributary of the Yamuna river. The Ken river joins the Yamuna in Uttar Pradesh. Similar to Chambal and Betwa, the Ken joins Ganga indirectly via the Yamuna.

Based on this analysis, the Son river is the only one among the given options that joins the Ganga river directly.

Comparison of Ganga Tributaries

River Joins Which River Directly? Indirectly Joins Ganga Via?
Chambal Yamuna Yamuna
Son Ganga N/A (Directly joins Ganga)
Betwa Yamuna Yamuna
Ken Yamuna Yamuna

Therefore, the river that joins the Ganga river directly is the Son river.

Revision Table: Key Ganga Tributaries

Tributary Origin Direction Confluence Point (Direct/Indirect)
Yamuna Yamunotri Glacier Parallel to Ganga Allahabad (Prayagraj) - Direct (Major)
Ghaghara Himalayas (Nepal) South-East Chhapra, Bihar - Direct
Gandak Nepal Himalayas South Hajipur, Bihar - Direct
Kosi Nepal Himalayas South Kursela, Bihar - Direct
Son Amarkantak Plateau North Patna, Bihar - Direct
Chambal Vindhya Range North-East (Joins Yamuna) Indirect (via Yamuna)
Betwa Vindhya Range North-East (Joins Yamuna) Indirect (via Yamuna)
Ken Amarkantak Range North (Joins Yamuna) Indirect (via Yamuna)

Additional Information: The Ganga River System

The Ganga river system is the largest river system in India. It includes the main Ganga river and its numerous tributaries. Tributaries can be broadly classified based on whether they originate from the Himalayas (like Yamuna, Ghaghara, Gandak, Kosi) or from the Peninsular Plateau (like Chambal, Betwa, Ken, Son).

While Himalayan tributaries contribute a large volume of water and sediment, the Peninsular tributaries are also significant, especially the Son, which is a major direct southern tributary. The Yamuna is the longest and a very important tributary, joining the Ganga at the Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj (Allahabad).

Understanding which tributaries join the main river directly and which join indirectly (via other tributaries) is important for studying the river basin's hydrology and geography.

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