UPSC Prelims 2006 Q36: Geography – Indian Rivers & Water Resources
From north towards south,
which one of the following is the correct sequence of the given rivers in India?
- (a) Shyok - Spiti - Zaskar - Satluj
- (b) Shyok - Zaskar - Spiti - Satluj
- (c) Zaskar - Shyok - Satluj - Spiti
- (d) Zaskar - Satluj - Shyok - Spiti
Answer: (b) Shyok - Zaskar - Spiti - Satluj
Explanation
North-to-south order of Indian rivers
| Order | River | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shyok | Tributary of the Indus in northern Ladakh |
| 2 | Zaskar | Zanskar range, Ladakh, farther south |
| 3 | Spiti | Spiti valley, Himachal Pradesh |
| 4 | Satluj | Enters Himachal from Tibet and flows south-west |
The correct north-to-south sequence is Shyok - Zaskar - Spiti - Satluj.
Answer: (b) Shyok - Zaskar - Spiti - Satluj.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. This places Spiti before Zaskar, but Zaskar lies north of Spiti.
- (b) CORRECT. Shyok, Zaskar, Spiti and Satluj run from the far north to the south in this order.
- (c) Incorrect. This puts Zaskar before Shyok, but Shyok is farthest north.
- (d) Incorrect. This puts Zaskar first and Satluj before Shyok and Spiti, which is wrong.
Key point
From north to south the rivers run Shyok, Zaskar, Spiti, Satluj.
Remember
North to south: Shyok, Zaskar, Spiti, Satluj.
Common mistakes
- Mixing the Zaskar range with the Spiti valley.
- Forgetting that Shyok is in the Karakoram region.
- Placing the Satluj too far north.
Exam tip
Think Ladakh (Shyok, Zaskar) first, then Himachal (Spiti, Satluj).
Sources
- NCERT Class XI Geography — India: Physical Environment — Drainage System
- Central Water Commission and National Remote Sensing Centre — India-WRIS: River Basin Atlas (Indus basin: Shyok, Zanskar, Spiti, Sutlej)