CAPF AC 2021 Q102: Geography – Indian Rivers & Water Resources
- (a) Barak
- (b) Rupen
- (c) Banas
- (d) Machchhu
Answer: (a) Barak
Explanation
Rivers of the desert region
How to think: the desert rivers of India flow through Rajasthan and Gujarat.
The Barak flows through Manipur, Assam and into Bangladesh, one of the wettest parts of India.
| River | Region | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Barak | Manipur, Mizoram, Assam | North-east; becomes the Surma and Meghna in Bangladesh |
| Rupen | North Gujarat | Flows into the Little Rann of Kachchh |
| Banas | Rajasthan, Gujarat | West Banas flows into the Rann of Kachchh |
| Machchhu | Saurashtra, Gujarat | Flows into the Little Rann; Morbi dam disaster of 1979 |
Other desert rivers: the Luni is the largest; also the Saraswati (Gujarat), Ghaggar and Sabarmati's neighbours.
Most of them are seasonal and many end in the Rann instead of the sea.
Answer: (a) Barak.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) CORRECT. The Barak is a river of the wet north-east, not of the desert.
- (b) Incorrect. The Rupen flows through dry north Gujarat into the Little Rann.
- (c) Incorrect. The Banas flows through Rajasthan and Gujarat towards the Rann.
- (d) Incorrect. The Machchhu is a river of Saurashtra that ends in the Little Rann.
Key point
Desert and semi-arid rivers of western India: Luni (largest), Rupen, Saraswati, West Banas, Machchhu; many drain into the Rann of Kachchh (inland drainage). Barak: Manipur hills → Assam (Silchar) → Bangladesh as Surma-Meghna.
Remember
Barak = Assam and Manipur, not the desert.
Common mistakes
- Not knowing the small Gujarat rivers Rupen and Machchhu.
- Mixing up the Barak of the north-east with the Banas of Rajasthan.
- Thinking a desert has no rivers at all; it has short seasonal ones.
Exam tip
Educated guess: you may not know Rupen or Machchhu, but you do know the Barak valley of Assam. A river you can place in the rainy north-east cannot be a desert river.
Sources
- NCERT Class XI Geography — India: Physical Environment, Chapter 3: Drainage System
- Central Water Commission and India-WRIS — River basins: west flowing rivers of Kutch and Saurashtra including Luni