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Q53 (NDA-I/2011) Geography › Indian Physical Geography › Peninsular river systems Answer Verified

The Narmada river in the Peninsular plateau flows westward with a remarkably straight channel. It is because the:

Result
Your answer: —  Â·  Correct: D
Explanation

The Narmada river is a unique peninsular river that flows westward through a remarkably straight channel. This linear course is primarily due to its geological setting; it flows through a structural trough or rift valley formed by faulting [3]. Unlike most peninsular rivers that flow eastward following the general tilt of the Deccan Plateau, the Narmada occupies a graben—a depressed block of the Earth's crust bordered by parallel faults—located between the Vindhyan and Satpura ranges [4]. This rift valley is inclined westward, which forces the river to flow toward the Arabian Sea rather than the Bay of Bengal. The tectonic control of this fault-guided valley prevents the river from developing typical meanders, resulting in its characteristic straight channel pattern [2]. While it does form a boundary between the Central Highlands and the Deccan Plateau, the structural rift valley is the direct cause of its straight westward flow.

Sources

  1. [1] Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 3: The Drainage System of India > Narmada River > p. 20
  2. [3] CONTEMPORARY INDIA-I ,Geography, Class IX . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 3: Drainage > The Narmada Basin > p. 21
  3. [4] INDIA PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 3: Drainage System > River Systems of the Peninsular Drainage > p. 24
  4. [2] INDIA PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 3: Drainage System > THE PENINSULAR DRAINAGE SYSTEM > p. 23
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SIMILAR QUESTIONS

IAS · 2013 · Q40 Relevance score: 2.68

The Narmada river flows to the west, while most other large peninsular rivers flow to the east. Why? 1. It occupies a linear rift valley. 2. It flows between the Vindhyas and the Satpuras. 3. The land slopes to the west from Central India. Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

CDS-II · 2017 · Q83 Relevance score: 0.72

Which of the following statements in respect to the Indian Peninsular Plateau are correct? 1. The Deccan Plateau gradually rises from North to South. 2. The Malwa Plateau dominates the Vindhyan scarps, forming the Eastern flank of the plateau. 3. The Western Satpuras separate the Narmada and Tapi rivers. 4. The Chota Nagpur Plateau is composed of Archaean granite and gneiss rocks. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

CAPF · 2014 · Q106 Relevance score: 0.63

Which of the following statements with regard to the Indian Peninsular Plateau is/are correct ? 1. The Southern plateau block is formed mainly of granite and gneiss 2. The Deccan lava plateau is an elevated tableland consisting of horizontally } arranged lava sheets 3. The Malwa plateau dominates the Vindhyan scraps, forming the Eastern flank of the plateau 4. The trough of the Narmada and Tapti is interposed between the Vindhyan and the Satpura ranges Select the correct answer using the code given below :

NDA-II · 2008 · Q42 Relevance score: -0.68

Assertion (A) : Narmada and Tapti rivers do not form deltas. Reason (R) : These rivers form estuaries.

NDA-II · 2025 · Q125 Relevance score: -0.76

Which one of the following is the northernmost river basin of the Deccan Plateau ?