Question map
Consider the following rivers : 1. Vamsadhara 2. Indravati 3. Pranahita 4. Pennar Which of the above are tributaries of Godavari?
Explanation
Vamsadhara and Pennar are not tributaries of Godavari[2]. Vamsadhara is an important east flowing river between Mahanadi and Godavari, in Southern Odisha and North Eastern Andhra Pradesh[1], making it an independent river system. Similarly, Pennar is a separate east-flowing peninsular river.
In contrast, Godavari receives a large number of tributaries, particularly on its left bank, such as Purna, Maner, Penganga, Pranhita (the combined Wardha and Wainganga), Indravati, Tal, and Sabri[3]. This clearly establishes that both Indravati and Pranahita (Pranhita) are tributaries of the Godavari.
Therefore, among the given rivers, only Indravati (2) and Pranahita (3) are tributaries of Godavari, making option D the correct answer. This is a straightforward question testing knowledge of the Godavari river system, which is the largest peninsular river of India.
Sources- [1] https://abhipedia.abhimanu.com/Article/4/NzIwNjYEEQQVV/-Geography-4
- [2] https://abhipedia.abhimanu.com/Article/4/NzIwNjYEEQQVV/-Geography-4
- [3] Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 3: The Drainage System of India > The Godavari > p. 21
PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN
Full viewThis is a textbook 'Sitter' directly from NCERT Class XI (India: Physical Environment). The question tests the fundamental distinction between a 'tributary' (Indravati, Pranahita) and an 'independent river basin' (Pennar, Vamsadhara). If you rely solely on text without visualizing the North-South coastal sequence on a map, you will falter.
This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.
- Explicitly states that Vamsadhara is not a tributary of the Godavari.
- Describes Vamsadhara as an independent east-flowing river located between the Mahanadi and Godavari basins, implying it does not join the Godavari.
Gives a detailed list of major Godavari tributaries (Indravati, Sabari, Penganga, Pranhita, Purna, Wainganga, Manjra, etc.).
A student can check whether Vamsadhara appears among these named tributaries; if not, that is a clue it may not be a Godavari tributary and warrants checking its independent course on a map.
Table lists Godavari’s main tributaries explicitly, providing a concise roster to compare against.
Compare this roster with a list/map of rivers in the relevant region to see if Vamsadhara is included or omitted.
Describes Godavari basin extent (Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh) and names several tributaries, giving geographic scope for where tributaries belong.
Locate Vamsadhara on a political or drainage map of Odisha/Andhra to see if its basin lies inside the Godavari basin or drains separately to the Bay of Bengal.
States the general pattern that many peninsular rivers (including Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri) descend from the Western Ghats and flow east into the Bay of Bengal.
Use this pattern plus the Vamsadhara’s source and flow direction (from a map) to judge whether it follows an independent eastward course to the sea or joins a larger system like the Godavari.
Notes major tributaries (Pranhita, Manjra) and describes Godavari’s lower reaches and delta behaviour, pointing to where tributaries typically join.
A student could check whether Vamsadhara’s confluence (if any) is located in these lower-reach/delta areas or whether it reaches the coast separately.
- Explicitly lists Indravati among the Godavari's tributaries (left bank).
- Describes Indravati as one of the streams rising on the Eastern Ghats that flow into the Godavari system.
- Tabular entry for the Godavari names 'Indravati' as one of its main tributaries.
- Provides authoritative summary (river, source, length, main tributaries) confirming Indravati's status.
- Mentions Indravati among the Godavari's tributaries in the discussion of the river's catchment and tributary network.
- Places Indravati in the context of Godavari's basin geography, linking it to basin distribution.
- Explicitly lists 'Pranhita' among the tributaries joining the Godavari.
- Provides context by naming other known Godavari tributaries, confirming Pranhita's role in the system.
- States that 'Pranhita' (Pranhita) is one of the principal tributaries of the Godavari.
- This identifies Pranhita not just as a tributary but as a major/ principal one.
- Lists Pranhita among Godavari's left-bank tributaries and explains Pranhita as the combined Wardha and Wainganga.
- Explains the origin/constitution of Pranhita, reinforcing its connection to the Godavari system.
- Explicitly states that Pennar is not a tributary of the Godavari.
- Contrasts Pennar with the listed principal tributaries of the Godavari, showing it is separate.
- Lists Pennar separately as its own river basin (delta), alongside Godavari and Krishna, implying it is not a tributary of Godavari.
- Context treats Pennar as an independent basin identified for flood-prone areas.
Describes the Pennar as an independent river: gives its source (Kolar District), its main tributaries (Chitravati, Papaghni), and states it enters the Bay of Bengal as an estuary.
A student could check a map to see whether Pennar's mouth and course join the Godavari channel or reach the sea separately (separate mouth supports 'not a tributary').
Lists major river basins and names 'Pennar' separately from 'Godavari', implying distinct drainage basins.
Using a basin map, confirm whether Pennar's basin is contiguous with or separate from the Godavari basin to judge tributary status.
Provides a table of Godavari's main tributaries (Penganga, Wardha, Pranhita, Purna, Wainganga, Manjra, etc.) and does not include Pennar among them.
Compare this tributary list with a comprehensive list or map of rivers to see if Pennar ever appears as a Godavari tributary (absence suggests it is not).
Describes Godavari's basin, its major tributaries and the states it drains, giving context on which rivers belong to the Godavari system.
A student could use the basin/state coverage given here plus a map to check whether Pennar lies within the Godavari drainage area or outside it.
- [THE VERDICT]: Sitter. Solvable entirely using NCERT Class XI, Chapter 3 (Drainage System).
- [THE CONCEPTUAL TRIGGER]: Peninsular Drainage System > The Godavari Basin vs. Independent East Flowing Rivers.
- [THE HORIZONTAL EXPANSION]: Memorize the North-to-South sequence of independent East-flowing rivers: Subarnarekha → Brahmani → Baitarani → Mahanadi → Rushikulya → Vamsadhara → Nagavali → Godavari → Krishna → Pennar → Palar → Ponnaiyar → Kaveri → Vaigai → Gundar.
- [THE STRATEGIC METACOGNITION]: Do not just memorize lists of tributaries. Always visualize the 'gaps' between major deltas. Vamsadhara flows in the gap between Mahanadi and Godavari; Pennar flows in the gap between Krishna and Kaveri. If it flows in the gap, it cannot be a tributary.
The references list principal tributaries of the Godavari (e.g., Purna, Pranhita, Penganga, Wainganga), which is the direct method to test whether another river (like Vamsadhara) belongs to that system.
High-yield for UPSC geography: questions often ask which rivers belong to which drainage systems. Learning lists of major tributaries helps eliminate wrong options and link rivers to basins. Prepare by memorising major river-system tributary networks and practising map-based identification.
- CONTEMPORARY INDIA-I ,Geography, Class IX . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 3: Drainage > The Godavari Basin > p. 21
- Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 3: The Drainage System of India > The Godavari > p. 21
- Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 3: The Drainage System of India > Table 3.4 > p. 20
Godavari basin coverage across states (Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh) helps judge whether a river from other regions could feed it.
Understanding basin geography aids in reasoning about tributary relationships and regional water issues in mains/optionals. It connects physical geography with polity (inter-state water disputes). Study basin maps, state-wise catchment distribution, and practice questions linking basins to states.
- CONTEMPORARY INDIA-I ,Geography, Class IX . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 3: Drainage > The Godavari Basin > p. 21
- INDIA PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 3: Drainage System > River Systems of the Peninsular Drainage > p. 24
- INDIA PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 3: Drainage System > River Systems of the Peninsular Drainage > p. 23
References explicitly note left-bank and right-bank tributaries of the Godavari (many left-bank, Manjira as right-bank), a concept useful for detailed river-system questions.
Useful for detailed map and mains questions that probe tributary orientation and hydrology. Mastering bank terminology and examples (left/right major tributaries) aids precise answers. Learn by studying cross-sectional river-system diagrams and annotating major tributaries.
- Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 3: The Drainage System of India > The Godavari > p. 21
- Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 3: The Drainage System of India > Table 3.4 > p. 20
The references explicitly list the Indravati alongside other principal tributaries of the Godavari, directly addressing the statement.
Questions often ask about major river systems and their tributaries; knowing key tributaries helps answer physical geography and inter-state river basin questions. This concept links to basin management, inter-state water disputes, and drainage maps. Master by memorizing main tributary lists and locating them on maps; practice with tables and basin sketches.
- Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 3: The Drainage System of India > The Godavari > p. 21
- Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 3: The Drainage System of India > Table 3.4 > p. 20
- INDIA PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 3: Drainage System > River Systems of the Peninsular Drainage > p. 23
Evidence distinguishes left-bank tributaries (including Indravati) from the relatively fewer right-bank tributaries of the Godavari.
UPSC often tests drainage patterns (bank-wise tributary distribution) and their geomorphic causes. Understanding left/right bank dominance aids in map-based questions and explanation of flood regimes and basin asymmetry. Learn by studying river profiles, major tributary lists, and practicing directional reasoning on maps.
- Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 3: The Drainage System of India > The Godavari > p. 21
- INDIA PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 3: Drainage System > River Systems of the Peninsular Drainage > p. 24
References place the Godavari as a major peninsular river with a large basin incorporating multiple states and tributaries like the Indravati.
High-yield for questions on Indian drainage, basin area/state-wise distribution, and comparative river significance. Connects to topics on river basins, inter-state water resources, and regional geography. Prepare using NCERT/systematic summaries, basin maps, and tabulated facts (length, catchment, key tributaries).
- Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 3: The Drainage System of India > The Godavari > p. 21
- CONTEMPORARY INDIA-I ,Geography, Class IX . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 3: Drainage > The Godavari Basin > p. 21
- INDIA PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 3: Drainage System > River Systems of the Peninsular Drainage > p. 24
Multiple references explicitly list Pranhita among the Godavari's tributaries and identify it as a principal tributary.
High-yield for UPSC geography: questions often ask major rivers and their tributaries. Mastering this helps answer river-system distribution, state-wise drainage, and basin-related questions. Learn by memorising major river-tributary pairs and practising map-based recall.
- CONTEMPORARY INDIA-I ,Geography, Class IX . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 3: Drainage > The Godavari Basin > p. 21
- INDIA PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 3: Drainage System > River Systems of the Peninsular Drainage > p. 24
The 'Right Bank' Exception: While Pranahita and Indravati are major Left Bank tributaries, the **Manjira** is the only significant Right Bank tributary of the Godavari. A future statement will likely swap these orientations.
The 'Basin Authority' Logic: Pennar has its own separate river basin planning authority and is listed separately in every 'Major River Basins of India' table (e.g., CWC reports). A river cannot be a 'Major Basin' and a 'Tributary' simultaneously. Eliminate Pennar (4) → Options B and C gone. Between A and D, recall Vamsadhara is a coastal river in Srikakulam (AP), distinct from the inland Godavari flow.
Polity & Federalism (Article 262): Vamsadhara was likely picked because of the active Vamsadhara Water Disputes Tribunal (Odisha vs. Andhra Pradesh) at the time. Always link river names in news (Tribunals) to their map location.