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Q6 (IAS/2024) Geography › Indian Physical Geography › Himalayan river systems Official Key

With reference to the Himalayan rivers joining the Ganga downstream of Prayagraj from West to East, which one of the following sequences is correct ?

Result
Your answer:  ·  Correct: B
Explanation

The correct answer is option B: Gomati - Ghaghara - Gandak - Kosi.

The important left bank tributaries of the Ganga are the Ramganga, the Gomati, the Ghaghara, the Gandak, the Kosi and the Mahananda.[1] These tributaries join the Ganga as it flows from west to east through the plains. Downstream of Prayagraj (where the Yamuna joins), these left-bank Himalayan tributaries meet the Ganga in a specific sequence. The Gomati joins first (near Varanasi/Ghazipur region), followed by the Ghaghara (near Chapra), then the Gandak (near Hajipur), and finally the Kosi (near Kursela) - all in Bihar. The major flooding events come from the Kosi, Ghagra and Gandak and their tributaries joining the Ganga along its course through Gangetic plains.[3] Understanding this west-to-east sequence of tributary confluences is crucial for comprehending the Ganga's hydrology and flood patterns in the Middle and Lower Ganga Plains.

Sources
  1. [1] INDIA PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 3: Drainage System > Do you Know? > p. 22
  2. [2] https://www.orfonline.org/research/an-eco-hydrological-perspective-to-monsoon-high-flows-in-the-ganga-padma-system-imperatives-for-flood-management
  3. [3] https://www.orfonline.org/research/an-eco-hydrological-perspective-to-monsoon-high-flows-in-the-ganga-padma-system-imperatives-for-flood-management
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Q. With reference to the Himalayan rivers joining the Ganga downstream of Prayagraj from West to East, which one of the following sequences …
At a glance
Origin: Mixed / unclear origin Fairness: Low / Borderline fairness Books / CA: 2.5/10 · 0/10

This is a classic 'Sitter' derived directly from the NCERT text and map. It rewards basic map work over rote memorization. If you missed this, you aren't spending enough time tracing rivers on blank maps. No current affairs knowledge was required.

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
Are the Himalayan rivers joining the Ganga downstream of Prayagraj in the west-to-east order Ghaghara, Gomati, Gandak, Kosi?
Origin: Weak / unclear Fairness: Borderline / guessy
Indirect textbook clues
INDIA PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 3: Drainage System > Do you Know? > p. 22
Strength: 4/5
“river system is the largest in India having a number of perennial and non-perennial rivers originating in the Himalayas in the north and the Peninsula in the south, respectively. The Son is its major right bank tributary. The important left bank tributaries are the Ramganga, the Gomati, the Ghaghara, the Gandak, the Kosi and the Mahananda. The river finally discharges itself into the Bay of Bengal near the Sagar Island. The Yamuna, the western most and the longest tributary of the Ganga, has its source in the Yamunotri glacier on the western slopes of Banderpunch range (6,316 m). It joins the Ganga at Prayag (Allahabad).”
Why relevant

Lists important left‑bank tributaries of the Ganga as Ramganga, Gomati, Ghaghara, Gandak, Kosi, Mahananda—identifying these rivers as left‑bank Himalayan tributaries downstream of the Yamuna (Prayag).

How to extend

A student could place these named tributaries on a map east of Prayag to check their relative west–east sequence.

Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 4: Climate of India > 1. The Ganga River Basin > p. 47
Strength: 4/5
“Stretching over an area of about 861,400 sq km, the Ganga and its tributaries drain the states of Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan. Its large left hand tributaries are Sharda, Kali, Gomti, Ghagra, Gandak, Kosi, and Mahananda; while the right hand tributaries include, the Yamuna, Chambal, Sind, Betwa, Ken, Son, and Damodar. Thus, from the mighty Himalayas and the northern Peninsular India, the Ganga and its tributaries carry enormous quantity of water. These rivers, due to heavy rains in the rainy season and melting of snow in the spring season, cause heavy floods in the middle and lower reaches of their catchments.”
Why relevant

Gives a named list of large left‑hand tributaries (Sharda, Kali, Gomti, Ghagra, Gandak, Kosi, Mahananda), which appears ordered geographically along the Ganga system.

How to extend

Treat the list as a west→east ordering cue and compare each river's mouth location on a map to test the proposed Ghaghara–Gomati–Gandak–Kosi sequence.

Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 3: The Drainage System of India > River Gandak > p. 16
Strength: 5/5
“Draining the central parts of Nepal, Gandak River rises in the Nepal Himalayas between Dhaulagiri, Annapurna and Mt. Everest. It enters the Great Plains of India in Champaran District of Bihar, and turning south-east, it joins the Ganga River at Sonpur opposite the city of Patna. This river also changes its course frequently.”
Why relevant

States Gandak enters the plains in Champaran (Bihar) and joins the Ganga at Sonpur opposite Patna, giving a concrete downstream (eastern) location for Gandak's confluence.

How to extend

Use Patna/Sonpur as a fixed point on a map to judge whether Ghaghara and Gomati confluences lie west of Gandak and whether Kosi lies east.

CONTEMPORARY INDIA-I ,Geography, Class IX . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 3: Drainage > The Ganga River System > p. 20
Strength: 3/5
“The Ganga is joined by many tributaries from the Himalayas, a few of them being major rivers, such as the Yamuna, the Ghaghara, the Gandak and the Kosi. The river Yamuna rises from the Yamunotri Glacier in the Himalayas. It flows parallel to the Ganga and as a right bank tributary meets the Ganga at Allahabad. The Ghaghara, the Gandak and the Kosi rise in the Nepal Himalaya. They are the rivers, which flood parts of the northern plains every year, causing widespread damage to life and property, whereas, they enrich the soil for agricultural use. The main tributaries, which come from the peninsular uplands, are the Chambal, the Betwa and the Son.”
Why relevant

Notes Ghaghara, Gandak and Kosi rise in Nepal Himalaya and are major Himalayan tributaries that flood northern plains—grouping Ghaghara with Gandak and Kosi as neighboring Nepal‑born tributaries.

How to extend

Map the Nepal origins and follow each river's course into the Indian plains to infer their lateral ordering along the Ganga.

Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 2: Physiography > 3. The Ganga Plains > p. 40
Strength: 3/5
“Being a low gradient plain, the rivers often change their courses in this region. Gandak and Kosi are the main left hand tributaries, while the Son is an important right hand tributary of the Ganga in the Middle Ganga Plain. (c) The Lower Ganga Plain (Area 80,970 sq km) The Lower Ganga”
Why relevant

States Gandak and Kosi are main left‑hand tributaries in the Middle Ganga Plain, indicating both join the Ganga in roughly the same lower‑middle reach (useful for relative placement).

How to extend

Compare the described Middle Ganga Plain confluence zone with known locations of Ghaghara and Gomati to test relative west–east positions.

Statement 2
Are the Himalayan rivers joining the Ganga downstream of Prayagraj in the west-to-east order Gomati, Ghaghara, Gandak, Kosi?
Origin: Direct from books Fairness: Straightforward Book-answerable
From standard books
Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 4: Climate of India > 1. The Ganga River Basin > p. 47
Presence: 5/5
“Stretching over an area of about 861,400 sq km, the Ganga and its tributaries drain the states of Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan. Its large left hand tributaries are Sharda, Kali, Gomti, Ghagra, Gandak, Kosi, and Mahananda; while the right hand tributaries include, the Yamuna, Chambal, Sind, Betwa, Ken, Son, and Damodar. Thus, from the mighty Himalayas and the northern Peninsular India, the Ganga and its tributaries carry enormous quantity of water. These rivers, due to heavy rains in the rainy season and melting of snow in the spring season, cause heavy floods in the middle and lower reaches of their catchments.”
Why this source?
  • Lists the Ganga's large left-hand tributaries in a sequence that places Gomti before Ghaghara, then Gandak and Kosi.
  • The ordering of left-bank tributaries implies a west-to-east alignment along the Ganga downstream.
INDIA PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 3: Drainage System > Do you Know? > p. 22
Presence: 5/5
“river system is the largest in India having a number of perennial and non-perennial rivers originating in the Himalayas in the north and the Peninsula in the south, respectively. The Son is its major right bank tributary. The important left bank tributaries are the Ramganga, the Gomati, the Ghaghara, the Gandak, the Kosi and the Mahananda. The river finally discharges itself into the Bay of Bengal near the Sagar Island. The Yamuna, the western most and the longest tributary of the Ganga, has its source in the Yamunotri glacier on the western slopes of Banderpunch range (6,316 m). It joins the Ganga at Prayag (Allahabad).”
Why this source?
  • Enumerates the important left-bank tributaries in the order: Gomati, Ghaghara, Gandak, Kosi.
  • Identifies these rivers as left-bank tributaries of the Ganga, consistent with their joining downstream of Prayagraj on the left (north) side.
Statement 3
Are the Himalayan rivers joining the Ganga downstream of Prayagraj in the west-to-east order Ghaghara, Gomati, Kosi, Gandak?
Origin: Weak / unclear Fairness: Borderline / guessy
Indirect textbook clues
INDIA PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 3: Drainage System > Do you Know? > p. 22
Strength: 4/5
“river system is the largest in India having a number of perennial and non-perennial rivers originating in the Himalayas in the north and the Peninsula in the south, respectively. The Son is its major right bank tributary. The important left bank tributaries are the Ramganga, the Gomati, the Ghaghara, the Gandak, the Kosi and the Mahananda. The river finally discharges itself into the Bay of Bengal near the Sagar Island. The Yamuna, the western most and the longest tributary of the Ganga, has its source in the Yamunotri glacier on the western slopes of Banderpunch range (6,316 m). It joins the Ganga at Prayag (Allahabad).”
Why relevant

Gives an ordered list of important left bank tributaries: Ramganga, Gomati, Ghaghara, Gandak, Kosi, Mahananda — a sequence that can hint at relative west–east positions.

How to extend

A student could place these named tributaries on a map of the Ganga basin to infer their west–east ordering downstream of Prayagraj.

Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 4: Climate of India > 1. The Ganga River Basin > p. 47
Strength: 4/5
“Stretching over an area of about 861,400 sq km, the Ganga and its tributaries drain the states of Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan. Its large left hand tributaries are Sharda, Kali, Gomti, Ghagra, Gandak, Kosi, and Mahananda; while the right hand tributaries include, the Yamuna, Chambal, Sind, Betwa, Ken, Son, and Damodar. Thus, from the mighty Himalayas and the northern Peninsular India, the Ganga and its tributaries carry enormous quantity of water. These rivers, due to heavy rains in the rainy season and melting of snow in the spring season, cause heavy floods in the middle and lower reaches of their catchments.”
Why relevant

Lists major left‑hand tributaries as Sharda, Kali, Gomti, Ghagra, Gandak, Kosi, Mahananda — another sequence that suggests relative lateral ordering along the Ganga.

How to extend

Compare this sequence with a physical map to check whether Ghagra, Gomti, Kosi, Gandak appear in the claimed west–east order downstream.

Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 3: The Drainage System of India > River Gandak > p. 16
Strength: 4/5
“Draining the central parts of Nepal, Gandak River rises in the Nepal Himalayas between Dhaulagiri, Annapurna and Mt. Everest. It enters the Great Plains of India in Champaran District of Bihar, and turning south-east, it joins the Ganga River at Sonpur opposite the city of Patna. This river also changes its course frequently.”
Why relevant

Specifies where the Gandak joins the Ganga (at Sonpur opposite Patna), giving a concrete downstream/eastward location for one named tributary.

How to extend

Using this known confluence (Sonpur/Patna) on a map, a student can locate Gandak relative to Prayagraj and other tributaries to test the proposed order.

CONTEMPORARY INDIA-I ,Geography, Class IX . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 3: Drainage > The Ganga River System > p. 20
Strength: 3/5
“The Ganga is joined by many tributaries from the Himalayas, a few of them being major rivers, such as the Yamuna, the Ghaghara, the Gandak and the Kosi. The river Yamuna rises from the Yamunotri Glacier in the Himalayas. It flows parallel to the Ganga and as a right bank tributary meets the Ganga at Allahabad. The Ghaghara, the Gandak and the Kosi rise in the Nepal Himalaya. They are the rivers, which flood parts of the northern plains every year, causing widespread damage to life and property, whereas, they enrich the soil for agricultural use. The main tributaries, which come from the peninsular uplands, are the Chambal, the Betwa and the Son.”
Why relevant

States that Ghaghara, Gandak and Kosi rise in the Nepal Himalaya and are major Himalayan tributaries of the Ganga—identifies the group under consideration.

How to extend

Knowing these rivers originate in Nepal, a student can trace their courses on a regional map to determine their relative positions as they enter the Indian plains downstream of Prayagraj.

Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 2: Physiography > 3. The Ganga Plains > p. 40
Strength: 3/5
“Being a low gradient plain, the rivers often change their courses in this region. Gandak and Kosi are the main left hand tributaries, while the Son is an important right hand tributary of the Ganga in the Middle Ganga Plain. (c) The Lower Ganga Plain (Area 80,970 sq km) The Lower Ganga”
Why relevant

Notes that Gandak and Kosi are main left‑hand tributaries in the Middle Ganga Plain, indicating both join the Ganga in Bihar (downstream of Prayagraj).

How to extend

Map the Middle Ganga Plain confluences (Gandak, Kosi) and compare distances/east–west alignment from Prayagraj to see if their order matches the claim.

Statement 4
Are the Himalayan rivers joining the Ganga downstream of Prayagraj in the west-to-east order Gomati, Ghaghara, Kosi, Gandak?
Origin: Weak / unclear Fairness: Borderline / guessy
Indirect textbook clues
INDIA PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 3: Drainage System > Do you Know? > p. 22
Strength: 4/5
“river system is the largest in India having a number of perennial and non-perennial rivers originating in the Himalayas in the north and the Peninsula in the south, respectively. The Son is its major right bank tributary. The important left bank tributaries are the Ramganga, the Gomati, the Ghaghara, the Gandak, the Kosi and the Mahananda. The river finally discharges itself into the Bay of Bengal near the Sagar Island. The Yamuna, the western most and the longest tributary of the Ganga, has its source in the Yamunotri glacier on the western slopes of Banderpunch range (6,316 m). It joins the Ganga at Prayag (Allahabad).”
Why relevant

This source lists important left‑bank tributaries as 'Ramganga, Gomati, Ghaghara, Gandak, Kosi and Mahananda', giving an ordered enumeration of left‑bank Himalayan tributaries.

How to extend

A student could map these named tributaries on a India/Nepal map to see if the listed sequence corresponds to west→east positions downstream of Prayagraj.

Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 4: Climate of India > 1. The Ganga River Basin > p. 47
Strength: 4/5
“Stretching over an area of about 861,400 sq km, the Ganga and its tributaries drain the states of Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan. Its large left hand tributaries are Sharda, Kali, Gomti, Ghagra, Gandak, Kosi, and Mahananda; while the right hand tributaries include, the Yamuna, Chambal, Sind, Betwa, Ken, Son, and Damodar. Thus, from the mighty Himalayas and the northern Peninsular India, the Ganga and its tributaries carry enormous quantity of water. These rivers, due to heavy rains in the rainy season and melting of snow in the spring season, cause heavy floods in the middle and lower reaches of their catchments.”
Why relevant

This text similarly lists major left‑hand tributaries in a sequence: 'Sharda, Kali, Gomti, Ghagra, Gandak, Kosi, and Mahananda', again providing an ordered list of left tributaries.

How to extend

Compare this sequence with geographic coordinates or a river map to judge relative longitudinal ordering downstream of Prayagraj.

Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 3: The Drainage System of India > River Gandak > p. 16
Strength: 5/5
“Draining the central parts of Nepal, Gandak River rises in the Nepal Himalayas between Dhaulagiri, Annapurna and Mt. Everest. It enters the Great Plains of India in Champaran District of Bihar, and turning south-east, it joins the Ganga River at Sonpur opposite the city of Patna. This river also changes its course frequently.”
Why relevant

Gives a concrete confluence location: the Gandak joins the Ganga at Sonpur opposite Patna, which is well east/downstream of Prayagraj.

How to extend

Use the known location of Prayagraj and Patna on a map to place the Gandak relative to other tributaries and check east/west order.

Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 2: Physiography > 3. The Ganga Plains > p. 40
Strength: 3/5
“Being a low gradient plain, the rivers often change their courses in this region. Gandak and Kosi are the main left hand tributaries, while the Son is an important right hand tributary of the Ganga in the Middle Ganga Plain. (c) The Lower Ganga Plain (Area 80,970 sq km) The Lower Ganga”
Why relevant

States that Gandak and Kosi are the main left‑hand tributaries in the Middle Ganga Plain, implying they join the Ganga in the middle/lower reach downstream of Prayagraj.

How to extend

Locate the Middle Ganga Plain region on a map to infer approximate downstream order of Kosi vs Gandak relative to Prayagraj.

CONTEMPORARY INDIA-I ,Geography, Class IX . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 3: Drainage > The Ganga River System > p. 20
Strength: 2/5
“The Ganga is joined by many tributaries from the Himalayas, a few of them being major rivers, such as the Yamuna, the Ghaghara, the Gandak and the Kosi. The river Yamuna rises from the Yamunotri Glacier in the Himalayas. It flows parallel to the Ganga and as a right bank tributary meets the Ganga at Allahabad. The Ghaghara, the Gandak and the Kosi rise in the Nepal Himalaya. They are the rivers, which flood parts of the northern plains every year, causing widespread damage to life and property, whereas, they enrich the soil for agricultural use. The main tributaries, which come from the peninsular uplands, are the Chambal, the Betwa and the Son.”
Why relevant

Confirms that Ghaghara, Gandak and Kosi rise in the Nepal Himalaya and are major tributaries that join the Ganga, indicating they are part of the Himalayan left‑bank group considered in ordering.

How to extend

Combine this with mapped positions of their mouths (from other snippets) to help determine their west–east sequence downstream of Prayagraj.

Pattern takeaway: UPSC has returned to core physical geography. The pattern is 'Arrangement & Sequence' (N-S, W-E). They are testing your mental map of India, not just your ability to recall isolated facts. Standard NCERT maps are the gold standard here.
How you should have studied
  1. [THE VERDICT]: Sitter. Directly solvable from **NCERT Class XI: India Physical Environment, Chapter 3 (Drainage)**, specifically the section on 'The Ganga System'.
  2. [THE CONCEPTUAL TRIGGER]: **River Basin Morphology**. The exam demands precise spatial awareness of the Ganga's left-bank vs. right-bank tributaries.
  3. [THE HORIZONTAL EXPANSION]: Memorize the **Yamuna Tributaries West-to-East** (Chambal, Sind, Betwa, Ken). Master the **Panch Prayag** sequence (Vishnuprayag to Devprayag). Learn the **North-South order of East Flowing Peninsular Rivers** (Subarnarekha, Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Pennar, Cauvery, Vaigai).
  4. [THE STRATEGIC METACOGNITION]: Do not just read the list of tributaries. **Draw the Ganga line** on a blank sheet and physically mark the confluences (Prayagraj, Varanasi, Patna, Bhagalpur). Visualizing the 'entry points' locks the sequence better than mnemonics.
Concept hooks from this question
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Left-bank Himalayan tributaries of the Ganga
💡 The insight

Identifying which Himalayan rivers are left-bank tributaries (Gomti, Ghaghara, Gandak, Kosi) is essential to determine their relative positions along the Ganga.

High-yield for map-based and descriptive questions: mastering which tributaries are left-bank vs right-bank helps locate confluences, understand flood-prone zones and river-system questions. It links drainage patterns with physiography and flood management topics and enables elimination in multiple-choice items about tributary identity and position.

📚 Reading List :
  • INDIA PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 3: Drainage System > Do you Know? > p. 22
  • Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 4: Climate of India > 1. The Ganga River Basin > p. 47
  • CONTEMPORARY INDIA-I ,Geography, Class IX . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 3: Drainage > The Ganga River System > p. 20
🔗 Anchor: "Are the Himalayan rivers joining the Ganga downstream of Prayagraj in the west-t..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Key confluence locations used to fix river order (Prayagraj, Sonpur/Patna)
💡 The insight

Knowing that Yamuna joins at Prayagraj and that the Gandak joins near Sonpur opposite Patna anchors the downstream sequence of tributaries.

Confluence-location knowledge is repeatedly tested in geography and GS papers; it helps answer questions on river courses, historical settlement patterns, and flood impact. It also connects to transport, irrigation and regional development questions where specific river-city relationships are required.

📚 Reading List :
  • CONTEMPORARY INDIA-I ,Geography, Class IX . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 3: Drainage > The Ganga River System > p. 20
  • Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 3: The Drainage System of India > River Gandak > p. 16
  • INDIA PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 3: Drainage System > Do you Know? > p. 22
🔗 Anchor: "Are the Himalayan rivers joining the Ganga downstream of Prayagraj in the west-t..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Origins in the Nepal Himalaya and their influence on course and flooding
💡 The insight

Ghaghara, Gandak and Kosi originate in the Nepal Himalaya, which affects their entry points into the Indian plains and relative east–west positions.

Understanding river origins helps explain longitudinal ordering, flood regimes and transboundary river issues — important for questions on Indo‑Nepal hydrology, flood management and river training works. This concept ties physical origin to downstream behaviour and administrative/state impacts.

📚 Reading List :
  • CONTEMPORARY INDIA-I ,Geography, Class IX . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 3: Drainage > The Ganga River System > p. 20
  • Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 3: The Drainage System of India > River Gandak > p. 16
  • Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 4: Climate of India > 1. The Ganga River Basin > p. 47
🔗 Anchor: "Are the Himalayan rivers joining the Ganga downstream of Prayagraj in the west-t..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 West→East ordering of Ganga's left-bank tributaries
💡 The insight

The left-bank tributaries of the Ganga (Gomti, Ghaghara, Gandak, Kosi) occur in a discernible west-to-east sequence downstream of Prayagraj.

High-yield for map-based and river-system questions: helps answer ordering, confluence-location and basin questions. Connects to physiography and flood patterns; useful for elimination in multiple-choice items about tributary sequences.

📚 Reading List :
  • Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 4: Climate of India > 1. The Ganga River Basin > p. 47
  • INDIA PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 3: Drainage System > Do you Know? > p. 22
🔗 Anchor: "Are the Himalayan rivers joining the Ganga downstream of Prayagraj in the west-t..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Nepal-origin Himalayan tributaries (Ghaghara, Gandak, Kosi)
💡 The insight

Ghaghara, Gandak and Kosi originate in the Nepal Himalaya and join the Ganga as major left-bank tributaries.

Important for questions on transboundary rivers, flood causation and sediment load in the northern plains. Links to topics on international river origins and flood management in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.

📚 Reading List :
  • CONTEMPORARY INDIA-I ,Geography, Class IX . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 3: Drainage > The Ganga River System > p. 20
  • Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 4: Climate of India > 1. The Ganga River Basin > p. 47
🔗 Anchor: "Are the Himalayan rivers joining the Ganga downstream of Prayagraj in the west-t..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Prayagraj (Allahabad) as a reference confluence point
💡 The insight

Prayagraj is the major confluence where the Yamuna meets the Ganga, providing a clear upstream reference for identifying downstream tributary order.

Knowing major confluence points anchors spatial ordering of subsequent tributaries and is frequently tested in physical and cultural geography questions about river basins and confluences.

📚 Reading List :
  • CONTEMPORARY INDIA-I ,Geography, Class IX . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 3: Drainage > The Ganga River System > p. 20
  • INDIA PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 3: Drainage System > Do you Know? > p. 22
  • INDIA PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 3: Drainage System > The Ganga System > p. 21
🔗 Anchor: "Are the Himalayan rivers joining the Ganga downstream of Prayagraj in the west-t..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S3
👉 Left‑bank vs right‑bank tributary classification
💡 The insight

Knowing which tributaries are left‑bank or right‑bank is essential to map their positions relative to the Ganga and to order them from west to east.

High-yield for drainage questions: mastering left/right bank distinctions helps answer many questions on river systems, confluences and regional impacts (flooding, irrigation). It connects to basin geography and physiography and enables elimination of wrong options in ordering or location-based questions.

📚 Reading List :
  • INDIA PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 3: Drainage System > Do you Know? > p. 22
  • Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 4: Climate of India > 1. The Ganga River Basin > p. 47
🔗 Anchor: "Are the Himalayan rivers joining the Ganga downstream of Prayagraj in the west-t..."
🌑 The Hidden Trap

The 'Next Logical Question' is the **Right Bank Tributaries of the Ganga** in West-to-East order: Yamuna, Son, Punpun, Kiul, Chandan. Also, watch out for the **Left Bank Tributaries of the Yamuna** (Tons, Hindon, Rishi Ganga), which are often ignored.

⚡ Elimination Cheat Code

Use the **'State-Logic' Hack**: Gomati originates in the plains of Uttar Pradesh (Pilibhit), while Kosi is the 'Sorrow of Bihar' flowing from Nepal to East Bihar. Since UP is west of Bihar, Gomati *must* be the westernmost and Kosi the easternmost in this list. Only Option [B] starts with Gomati and ends with Kosi. Solved in 5 seconds.

🔗 Mains Connection

Link this to **GS-3 Disaster Management**: The sequence explains the flood chronology in UP and Bihar. Gomati floods Lucknow/Jaunpur; Ghaghara floods Ayodhya/Ballia; Kosi ('Sorrow of Bihar') devastates the lower plains. Understanding the geography is prerequisite to writing answers on flood mitigation.

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SIMILAR QUESTIONS

CDS-I · 2023 · Q99 Relevance score: 4.62

What will be the correct sequence of cities on the bank of river Ganga if someone moves from west to east? (a) Prayagraj, Kanpur, Bhagalpur, Patna (b) Prayagraj, Kanpur, Patna, Bhagalpur (c) Kanpur, Prayagraj, Bhagalpur, Patna (d) Kanpur, Prayagraj, Patna, Bhagalpur

CDS-I · 2018 · Q45 Relevance score: 3.95

Consider the following tributaries of river Ganga : 1. Gandak 2. Kosi 3. Ghaghara 4. Gomti Which one of the following is the correct order of the above rivers from east to west?

CDS-I · 2020 · Q32 Relevance score: 0.33

Which one of the following rivers joins Ganga directly?

CDS-II · 2013 · Q53 Relevance score: 0.10

Which one among the following is the correct sequence of the rivers from north to south ?

CDS-I · 2006 · Q89 Relevance score: 0.04

Which one of the following rivers joins the Ganga river directly while the other three join the Yamuna river ?