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UPSC Prelims 1983 · Indian Geography · Rivers, Lakes and Dams
Which of the following rivers flows westward?
- (a) Krishna
- (b) Cauvery
- (c) Mahanadi
- (d) Narmada
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: (d) Narmada
The Narmada flows west through a rift valley into the Arabian Sea.
The idea
A river flows down its own valley gradient, rather than obeying a continent-wide direction. Most large peninsular rivers follow the plateau’s broad eastward slope. A fault-controlled trough can provide a separate westward route to the Arabian Sea.
Faults create an elongated trough → A river occupies the valley → Its channel descends westward → Water crosses the peninsula towards Gujarat → River enters the Arabian Sea
Why the others are wrong
(a) The Krishna flows east.
(b) The Kaveri flows east.
(c) The Mahanadi flows east.
Also know
Tapi is the other familiar west-flowing rift-valley river. Mahi and Sabarmati also flow west but should not automatically be labelled rift-valley rivers. Sharavati and Netravati are shorter Western Ghats rivers reaching the Arabian Sea.
🔒 West-flowing: Narmada, Tapi, Mahi, Sabarmati, Periyar.
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