The Himalayan Rivers

The Narmada is a Peninsular river. It rises near Amarkantak and flows westwards into the Arabian Sea. The Ganga, Sutlej and Brahmaputra belong to the Himalayan system. Exam tip: remember Narmada as a major west-flowing Peninsular river.

The Yamuna meets the Ganga at Prayagraj. Exam tip: remember Prayagraj as a major confluence site.

Ghaghara is a major tributary of the Ganga system. Exam tip: remember Ghaghara as a northern tributary.

At Devprayag, the Bhagirathi joins the Alaknanda, and the river is thereafter known as the Ganga. Prayagraj is the confluence of the Ganga and Yamuna. Exam tip: remember Devprayag as the point where the Ganga receives its name.

Kosi is known for course shifting and floods. Exam tip: remember it as the sorrow of Bihar.

In Arunachal Pradesh the Brahmaputra is called Dihang. Exam tip: remember Tibet Tsangpo and Arunachal Dihang.

In Assam the Brahmaputra forms a wide channel with high water and sediments. Exam tip: connect it with floods in Assam.

The Ganga and Brahmaputra deposit enormous quantities of alluvium in the coastal region of the Bay of Bengal, forming the vast Ganga-Brahmaputra delta. The Sundarbans form an important part of this delta. A rift valley is formed by faulting and subsidence of the crust, so it is not the correct landform here. Exam tip: remember this delta with the Sundarbans and the Royal Bengal Tiger.

Sundarbans is part of the Ganga Brahmaputra delta. Exam tip: connect Sundarbans with mangroves and delta.

Steep slope helps the river cut downward. Exam tip: connect deep valleys with vertical erosion.

In plains a lower slope makes rivers form winding courses. Exam tip: connect meanders with slow flow.

Gentle slope reduces river speed and forms bends. Exam tip: remember plains and meanders together.

The Northern Plain is formed by alluvial deposits of Himalayan rivers. Exam tip: connect Indus Ganga Brahmaputra with plain formation.

Rivers deposit sediments and form alluvial soil. Exam tip: connect alluvial soil with river plains.

Himalayan rivers provide water and alluvial soil. Exam tip: connect river plains with agriculture.

During floods, a river spreads beyond its banks and deposits fine alluvium such as silt and soil. Repeated deposition builds flat, fertile flood plains along the river. River erosion cuts land, so it is not the main process that forms flood plains. Exam tip: associate flood plains with alluvial deposition.

Khadar is new alluvium renewed by floods. Exam tip: remember Khadar as new and fertile alluvium.

Alluvial soil is deposited by rivers. Over time, older deposits remain on higher terraces and are called Bhangar, while newer deposits in lower floodplains are called Khadar. Therefore, Bhangar is classified as old alluvium, making option C correct. Bhangar is generally less frequently renewed by floods than Khadar, and it may contain calcareous nodules called kankar. These features help distinguish it from the newer, more regularly replenished alluvium.

The other choices do not fit the origin of Bhangar. Marine soil forms under marine influence, and lava soil develops from volcanic rock. “New alluvium” describes Khadar rather than Bhangar. Thus the useful pair to remember is Bhangar—old alluvium and Khadar—new alluvium. The question asks only for the broad soil category, so the direct answer is old alluvium, option C.

Himalayan rivers rise from or are influenced by the Himalayan region. Exam tip: remember their source area.

The Indus system is linked with the north western part of India. Exam tip: remember Punjab and Ladakh regions.