UPSC Prelims 2017 Q30: Geography – Indian Rivers & Water Resources
With reference to river Teesta, consider the following statements:
1. The source of river Teesta is the same as that of Brahmaputra but it flows through Sikkim.
2. River Rangeet originates in Sikkim and it is a tributary of river Teesta.
3. River Teesta flows into Bay of Bengal on the border of India and Bangladesh.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- (a) 1 and 3 only
- (b) 2 only
- (c) 2 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (b) 2 only
Explanation
River Teesta
| Statement | Verdict | Fact |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Its source is the same as the Brahmaputra's | Incorrect | Teesta rises from the Tso Lhamo lake / Zemu glacier in North Sikkim; the Brahmaputra rises at the Chemayungdung glacier near Mansarovar |
| 2. The Rangeet rises in Sikkim and joins the Teesta | Correct | The Rangeet flows from West Sikkim and joins the Teesta near the Sikkim-West Bengal border |
| 3. The Teesta flows into the Bay of Bengal on the India-Bangladesh border | Incorrect | It joins the Brahmaputra (Jamuna) inside Bangladesh |
Teesta's course:
| Stage | Area |
|---|---|
| Source | North Sikkim glaciers |
| Through | Sikkim and West Bengal (Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri) |
| Ends | Joins the Jamuna (Brahmaputra) in Bangladesh |
Answer: (b) 2 only.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Teesta and the Brahmaputra have different sources, and the Teesta does not reach the sea directly.
- (b) CORRECT. The Rangeet rises in Sikkim and is a tributary of the Teesta.
- (c) Incorrect. Statement 3 is false; the Teesta joins the Brahmaputra in Bangladesh.
- (d) Incorrect. Both 1 and 3 are false; only the Rangeet statement is right.
Key point
Teesta: rises in North Sikkim glaciers; Rangeet is its tributary; joins the Brahmaputra (Jamuna) in Bangladesh; subject of an India-Bangladesh water-sharing dispute.
Remember
Teesta → Brahmaputra in Bangladesh; Rangeet → Teesta.
Common mistakes
- Thinking the Teesta and Brahmaputra share a source because they meet later.
- Assuming the Teesta flows straight into the sea; it is a tributary of the Brahmaputra.
- Forgetting the India-Bangladesh Teesta water-sharing dispute.
Exam tip
Check where a river ends: many rivers join a bigger river rather than the sea.
Sources
- NCERT Class XI — India: Physical Environment, Ch 3 (Drainage System)
- Central Water Commission and National Remote Sensing Centre — India-WRIS: River Basin Atlas (Brahmaputra basin)