Which of the following tributaries of the Ganga System flows northwards ?

The Ganga river system consists of tributaries originating from both the Himalayas and the Peninsular Plateau. The Kosi, Ghaghara, and Gandak are major left-bank tributaries that originate in the Nepal Himalayas and flow southwards to join the Ganga [2]. In contrast, the Sone (or Son) is a major right-bank tributary that originates from the Amarkantak Plateau in the peninsular uplands [4]. Due to the northward slope of the Peninsula towards the Great Plains, rivers like the Chambal, Betwa, and Sone flow in a northward direction to meet the Yamuna or the Ganga [3]. Specifically, the Sone flows north-east through a strike valley and enters the Ganga Plain before joining the Ganga near Patna [4]. Thus, among the given options, only the Sone flows northwards from the peninsular region into the Ganga system [5].

Sources

1. [1] INDIA PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 3: Drainage System > Do you Know? > p. 22
2. [2] CONTEMPORARY INDIA-I ,Geography, Class IX . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 3: Drainage > The Ganga River System > p. 20
3. [4] Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 3: The Drainage System of India > The Son River > p. 16
4. [3] Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 3: The Drainage System of India > 1.2 Subsequent Rivers > p. 1
5. [5] Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 4: Climate of India > 1. The Ganga River Basin > p. 47