CAPF AC 2022 Q64: Geography – Indian Rivers & Water Resources
Which one of the following is a tributary of the Brahmaputra River?
- (a) Ghaggar
- (b) Mahi
- (c) Kosi
- (d) Manas
Answer: (d) Manas
Explanation
Tributaries of the Brahmaputra
How to think: the Brahmaputra flows through Arunachal Pradesh and Assam.
Its tributaries must come from the eastern Himalaya, Bhutan or the north-east.
Place each river on the map.
| River | Where | Joins |
|---|---|---|
| Manas | Rises in Bhutan, enters Assam | Brahmaputra (north bank) |
| Kosi | Nepal and Bihar | Ganga |
| Mahi | Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat | Gulf of Khambhat |
| Ghaggar | Haryana and Rajasthan | Ends in the desert (inland drainage) |
Tributaries of the Brahmaputra:
| Bank | Rivers |
|---|---|
| North (right) bank | Subansiri, Kameng (Jia Bharali), Manas, Sankosh, Teesta |
| South (left) bank | Dibang, Lohit, Burhi Dihing, Dhansiri, Kopili |
Answer: (d) Manas.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. The Ghaggar is a seasonal river of Haryana and Rajasthan.
- (b) Incorrect. The Mahi flows west into the Gulf of Khambhat.
- (c) Incorrect. The Kosi is a tributary of the Ganga in Bihar.
- (d) CORRECT. The Manas flows from Bhutan into the Brahmaputra in Assam.
Key point
Brahmaputra: Tsangpo in Tibet, Siang or Dihang in Arunachal, Brahmaputra in Assam, Jamuna in Bangladesh. Tributaries: Subansiri, Kameng, Manas, Teesta (north); Dibang, Lohit, Dhansiri, Kopili (south). Manas National Park lies on the Manas.
Remember
Manas: Bhutan → Assam → Brahmaputra.
Common mistakes
- Marking the Kosi, a Himalayan river that joins the Ganga.
- Not linking the river with Manas National Park in Assam.
- Forgetting that the Mahi is a west-flowing river that crosses the Tropic of Cancer twice.
Exam tip
Educated guess: Manas National Park and tiger reserve are in Assam, on the Bhutan border. A river of Assam flows into the Brahmaputra.
Sources
- NCERT Class XI Geography — India: Physical Environment, Chapter 3: Drainage System (the Brahmaputra system)
- NCERT Class IX Geography — Contemporary India I, Chapter 3: Drainage