Which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. Himalayan rivers have their origin in the snow-covered areas, hence are dry in winter season. 2. Rivers of the Peninsular Plateau have reached maturity. 3. Himalayan rivers depict all the three stages of normal cycle of erosion. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Statement 1 is incorrect because Himalayan rivers are perennial, meaning they have water throughout the year [3]. While their flow is monsoonal and glacial, they do not go dry in winter; rather, they receive water from both rainfall and melting snow [3]. Statement 2 is correct as Peninsular rivers are characterized by fixed courses, absence of meanders, and have largely reached their maturity stage with shallower, graded courses [4]. Statement 3 is correct because Himalayan rivers depict all three stages of the normal cycle of erosion: they perform intensive erosional activity in their youthful upper courses (forming gorges and waterfalls), develop meanders and oxbow lakes in their mature middle courses, and form extensive deltas in their old-age lower courses [4]. Thus, only statements 2 and 3 are accurate.

Sources

1. [1] Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 3: The Drainage System of India > River Regimes > p. 22
2. [3] CONTEMPORARY INDIA-I ,Geography, Class IX . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 3: Drainage > DRAINAGE SYSTEMS IN INDIA > p. 17
3. [4] CONTEMPORARY INDIA-I ,Geography, Class IX . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 3: Drainage > DRAINAGE SYSTEMS IN INDIA > p. 18
4. [2] Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 3: The Drainage System of India > The Himalayan Drainage > p. 6