Consider the following rivers: Which of the above rise from the Eastern Ghats?

Answer: (b) 2 and 4

The Nagavali and the Vamsadhara both rise in the Eastern Ghats.

Statement by statement

1. ✗ NO — Chota Nagpur plateau Formed by the South Koel and Sankh, which rise on the Chota Nagpur plateau near Ranchi.

2. ✓ YES — Eastern Ghats Rises in the Eastern Ghats of Kalahandi (Odisha) and meets the Bay of Bengal near Srikakulam.

3. ✗ NO — Chota Nagpur plateau Rises near Ranchi on the Chota Nagpur plateau; Hundru Falls is on it.

4. ✓ YES — Eastern Ghats Rises in the Eastern Ghats of Odisha and flows into Andhra Pradesh.

The idea

A river is classified by where its headwaters begin, not by every hill belt it later crosses. The Chota Nagpur plateau and the Eastern Ghats are separate source regions. Sharing a coast or direction of flow does not give rivers a common origin.

Why the others are wrong

(a) The Brahmani comes off the Chota Nagpur plateau.

(c) The Subarnarekha rises near Ranchi.

(d) Picks the two plateau rivers — the Brahmani and Subarnarekha rise near Ranchi, not in the Ghats.

The trap

All four are east-flowing Odisha–Andhra rivers, so they feel alike. Split them by source: plateau (Brahmani, Subarnarekha) or Ghats (Nagavali, Vamsadhara).

Elimination technique

Subarnarekha’s Ranchi-plateau source rules out (c) and (d). Brahmani’s plateau headwaters then rule out (a), leaving the two Eastern Ghats rivers.

Also know

Damodar is another Chota Nagpur river and drains a coal-bearing valley. South Koel and Sankh unite to form the Brahmani. Mahanadi rises near Sihawa in Chhattisgarh, while Godavari rises near Trimbak in Maharashtra. All can reach the eastern coast without rising in the Eastern Ghats.