Why are the Narmada and Tapi rivers considered special among peninsular rivers?

Correct answer: They flow westward

The direct answer is A: the Narmada and Tapi flow westward. Most major Peninsular rivers, such as the Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri, generally flow eastward and enter the Bay of Bengal. Narmada and Tapi are important exceptions. They flow through westward-sloping or rift-related valleys and finally enter the Arabian Sea. Step by step, identify the rivers, recall their direction, and then identify the sea: Narmada and Tapi flow west, and the Arabian Sea lies to the west of India. Option A is correct because it states the special feature asked in the question. Option B is wrong because these rivers do not originate in the Himalayas; they rise in the Peninsular region. Option C is wrong in both parts: they do not flow north, and the statement about not forming a delta is not the defining reason given here. Their mouths are commonly associated with estuarine conditions rather than the large deltas typical of many east-flowing rivers. Option D is wrong because they are perennial rivers and do not reach the sea only during the monsoon. The exam memory cue is “Narmada and Tapi break the usual eastward pattern: west to the Arabian Sea.”