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Q30 (IAS/2017) Geography › Indian Physical Geography › Himalayan river systems Official Key

With reference to river Teesta, consider the following statements : 1. The source of river Teesta is the same as that of Brahmaputra but it flows through Sikkim. 2. River Rangeet originates in Sikkim and it is a tributary of river Teesta. 3. River Teesta flows into Bay of Bengal on the border of India and Bangladesh. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

Result

Your answer: — · Correct: B

Explanation

The correct answer is option B (statement 2 only).

**Statement 1 is incorrect:** The Teesta rises from Kanchenjunga[1], while the Brahmaputra originates from a different source in Tibet. They do not share the same source. However, the river Teesta does form the border between Sikkim and West Bengal[2], so it does flow through Sikkim.

**Statement 2 is correct:** The Rangit river originates from Sikkim[3], and it is the largest tributary of the Teesta River[2]. This statement is entirely accurate.

**Statement 3 is incorrect:** In Bangladesh, the Tista joins the Brahmaputra on its right bank, from where the river is known as the Jamuna[4]. The Teesta joins the Brahmaputra (Jamuna) at Fulcherry[5], which is inside Bangladesh, not at the India-Bangladesh border. The river eventually reaches the Bay of Bengal through the combined river system, but not directly at the border.

Sources

[1] Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 3: The Drainage System of India > The Tista > p. 16
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teesta_River
[3] Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 3: The Drainage System of India > Rangit River > p. 17
[4] INDIA PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 3: Drainage System > The Brahmaputra System > p. 23

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Don’t just practise – reverse-engineer the question. This panel shows where this PYQ came from (books / web), how the examiner broke it into hidden statements, and which nearby micro-concepts you were supposed to learn from it. Treat it like an autopsy of the question: what might have triggered it, which exact lines in the book matter, and what linked ideas you should carry forward to future questions.

Q. With reference to river Teesta, consider the following statements : 1. The source of river Teesta is the same as that of Brahmaputra but …

At a glance

Origin: Books + Current Affairs Fairness: Moderate fairness Books / CA: 6.7/10 · 3.3/10

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This question is a classic 'Map Synthesis' test. It moves beyond rote memorization of origins to 'Comparative Geography' (Statement 1) and 'Political Geography' (Statement 3). You cannot answer this by just reading a list of rivers; you must visualize the Teesta's trajectory relative to the Brahmaputra and the international border.

How this question is built

This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.

Statement 1: Do river Teesta and river Brahmaputra originate from the same source?
Statement 2: Does river Teesta flow through the Indian state of Sikkim?
Statement 3: Does river Rangeet originate in the Indian state of Sikkim?
Statement 4: Is river Rangeet a tributary of river Teesta?
Statement 5: Does river Teesta flow into the Bay of Bengal?
Statement 6: Does river Teesta enter the Bay of Bengal at the India–Bangladesh international border?

Statement 1

Do river Teesta and river Brahmaputra originate from the same source?

Origin: Web / Current Affairs Fairness: CA heavy Web-answerable

Web source

Presence: 5/5

"The Teesta River joins the Brahmaputra River (known as the Jamuna River in Bangladesh) at Fulcherry."

Why this source?

Explicitly says the Teesta flows into the Brahmaputra and joins it at a location in Bangladesh, implying they are distinct rivers that meet downstream.
If Teesta joins Brahmaputra, they have separate courses before confluence (i.e., different sources).

Web source

Presence: 4/5

"From here river Teesta forms the border between Sikkim and West Bengal up to Teesta Bazaar... the river is met by its largest tributary, the Rangeet River."

Why this source?

Describes Teesta's course through Sikkim/West Bengal and mentions its major tributary Rangeet, indicating Teesta has its own headwaters and tributary system.
Shows Teesta is a separate river system with origins/tributaries upstream of where it would meet larger rivers.

Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 3: The Drainage System of India > Evolution of the Himalayan Rivers > p. 6

Strength: 5/5

“The geologists and geomorphologists are not unanimous about the origin of the Himalayan rivers. The Himalayan rivers have a long geological history. The major rivers of the Himalayas like Indus, Brahmaputra, Satluj, Ganga (Alaknanda and Bhagirathi), Gandak, Kali, Kosi, Tista, Manas, etc., originate on the southern slopes of the Tibetan Highlands. Rivers like Indus, Satluj and Brahmaputra first flowed parallel to the main axis of the moutain in longitudinal troughs, then they take sudden bends towards the south, carving out deep gorges across the mountain ranges to reach the northern plains of India. Such deep gorges created by the Indus, Satluj, Alaknanda, Sarju (Kali), Gandak, Kosi, Tista, and Brahmaputra suggest that they are older than the Himalayan mountains, and are antecedent in character.”

Why relevant

Lists Tista (Teesta) among Himalayan rivers that 'originate on the southern slopes of the Tibetan Highlands', establishing its general source-region type.

How to extend

A student could use a map of the Tibetan Plateau/Himalayas to compare the Teesta's southern Tibetan-slope origin with the Brahmaputra's named source to see if they coincide geographically.

CONTEMPORARY INDIA-I ,Geography, Class IX . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 3: Drainage > The Brahmaputra River System > p. 20

Strength: 5/5

“The Brahmaputra rises in Tibet east of Mansarowar lake very close to the sources of the Indus and the Satluj. It is slightly longer than the Indus, and most of its course lies outside India. It flows eastwards parallel to the Himalayas. On reaching the Namcha Barwa (7757 m), it takes a 'U' turn and enters India in Arunachal Pradesh through a gorge. Here, it is called the Dihang and it is joined by the Dibang, the Lohit, and many other tributaries to form the Brahmaputra in Assam.”

Why relevant

States the Brahmaputra 'rises in Tibet east of Mansarowar lake very close to the sources of the Indus and the Satluj', indicating the Brahmaputra's specific source location and nearby river sources.

How to extend

One can locate Mansarovar/this eastern-Tibet zone on a map and check whether Teesta's headwaters are in the same immediate area or elsewhere along the Himalayan front.

Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 3: The Drainage System of India > 3. The Brahmaputra River > p. 17

Strength: 5/5

“Originating from the Angsi glaciers lying to the south-east of Kailash Mountain and Mansarovar Lake, at an elevation of 5150 m, the Brahmaputra is known as the Tsangpo in Tibet. It pierces the Greater Himalayas (7755 m) near Namcha Barwa. It passes the Dihang-Gorge in Arunachal Pradesh. At Sadiya, the river comes down to 135 m above sea level. In India, the river is known as Brahmaputra. The river flows to the west in Assam upto Dhubri (28 m), and further below, it takes a sharp southward bend to enter into Bangladesh. The catchment area of the Brahmaputra receives heavy rainfall.”

Why relevant

Gives a precise Brahmaputra origin: 'Angsi glaciers ... south-east of Kailash Mountain and Mansarovar Lake' with elevation and Tibetan (Tsangpo) name, specifying the Brahmaputra's glacial source.

How to extend

Compare the Angsi/Kailash/Mansarovar location on a topographic/glacier map with known headwaters of Teesta to judge whether they are the same glaciers or distinct sources.

INDIA PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 3: Drainage System > The Brahmaputra System > p. 22

Strength: 4/5

“The Brahmaputra, one of the largest rivers of the world, has its origin in the Chemayungdung glacier of the Kailash range near the Mansarovar lake. From here, it traverses eastward longitudinally for a distance of nearly 1,200 km in a dry and flat region of southern Tibet, where it is known as the Tsangpo, which means 'the purifier.' The Rango Tsangpo is the major right bank tributary of this river in Tibet. It emerges as a turbulent and dynamic river after carving out a deep gorge in the Central”

Why relevant

Also identifies the Brahmaputra origin as the 'Chemayungdung glacier of the Kailash range near the Mansarovar lake', reinforcing a consistent, named glacial source for Brahmaputra.

How to extend

Use this named glacier location as a reference point to test if Teesta's origin (per [2]) lies at the same glacier or a different part of the southern Tibetan slopes.

Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 4: Climate of India > 2. The Brahmaputra River Basin > p. 49

Strength: 4/5

“The maximum discharge of water among the Indian rivers is in the Brahmaputra River. The Assam Valley is considered to be one of the worst flood affected areas of India. In fact, in Assam, floods are almost an annual feature. The Jaldakha, Teesta, and Torsa rivers often overflow their banks to flood the regions of northern West Bengal, Manipur and Sikkim. The main cause of floods in the Brahmaputra basin are: (i) heavy and torrential rainfall—during the rainy season over 200 cm of rainfall is recorded over greater parts of its middle and lower reaches, (ii) silting of the river course due to heavy soil erosion, (iii) landslides, (iv) heavy pressure of population, and (v) shifting cultivation on the surrounding hilly areas.”

Why relevant

Mentions Teesta (Tista) among rivers that overflow regions of northern West Bengal, Manipur and Sikkim, implying its course and headwater region are linked to Sikkim/north Bengal rather than Mansarovar/Kailash area.

How to extend

A student could note this regional linkage (Sikkim/West Bengal) and, using a map, assess whether those headwaters lie much farther south/east of Brahmaputra's Mansarovar-origin, suggesting different sources.

Statement analysis