UPSC Prelims 2021 Q53: Geography – Indian Rivers & Water Resources
- (a) Chenab
- (b) Jhelum
- (c) Ravi
- (d) Sutlej
Answer: (d) Sutlej
Explanation
Indus River System: Which Punjab River Joins Indus Directly?
| River | Course | Direct Indus Tributary? |
|---|---|---|
| Chenab | Merges with Jhelum, Ravi, Beas, then joins Sutlej | NO |
| Jhelum | Joins Chenab | NO |
| Ravi | Joins Chenab | NO |
| Sutlej | All four (Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas) ultimately join Sutlej. Sutlej then joins the Indus at Mithankot (Pakistan) as the Panjnad | YES |
Sequence: Beas joins Sutlej at Harike (Punjab). Chenab receives Jhelum first, then Ravi. Finally Chenab+Ravi+Jhelum joins Sutlej+Beas at Panjnad. Panjnad then joins the Indus at Mithankot.
Answer: (d) Sutlej joins the Indus directly.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Chenab does not join Indus directly - it joins Sutlej (via Panjnad) first.
- (b) Incorrect. Jhelum joins Chenab, not Indus directly.
- (c) Incorrect. Ravi joins Chenab, not Indus directly.
- (d) CORRECT. Sutlej is the river that joins the Indus directly at Mithankot (Pakistan). All other Punjab rivers (Beas, Ravi, Chenab, Jhelum) join Sutlej first, forming the Panjnad, which then joins the Indus.
Key point
Sutlej = direct tributary of Indus (joins at Mithankot as Panjnad). All other Punjab rivers (Jhelum + Chenab + Ravi + Beas) merge into Sutlej first. Order: Beas + Sutlej join at Harike; Jhelum joins Chenab; Ravi joins Chenab; Chenab joins Sutlej; Sutlej joins Indus.
Remember
Sutlej is the river of the Indus system that joins the Indus DIRECTLY (at Mithankot, Pakistan, as the Panjnad). Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi and Beas all cascade INTO Sutlej before their combined flow joins the Indus. Correct answer: (d).
Common mistakes
- Assuming all five Punjab rivers join Indus separately. Only Sutlej joins directly; the other four cascade into Sutlej.
- Confusing the terms: Panjnad ('five waters') refers to the combined flow just before Indus junction.
- Not knowing the Indus Water Treaty (1960) allocated three western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab) to Pakistan and three eastern rivers (Ravi, Beas, Sutlej) to India.
Exam tip
Punjab rivers cascade: Jhelum > Chenab > Ravi + Chenab (via Trimmu) > Beas > Sutlej (at Harike) > Panjnad > Indus (at Mithankot). Mnemonic: 'Sutlej is the only direct child of Indus among the Panjab five.'
Sources
- NCERT Class IX Geography - Chapter 3: Drainage
- NCERT Class XI India: Physical Environment - Drainage System