Identify the river of the Indian sub-continent on the basis of the following information:
- It has an antecedent drainage system.
- It flows through three countries.
- It originates in the Tibetan Plateau and is an important river for irrigation.
- It does not form distributaries. Select the answer from the following:
Correct answer: C
Explanation
The correct answer is Sutlej. It is an antecedent river of the Himalayan drainage system, originating in the Tibetan Plateau near the Rakshastal-Manasarovar region. It flows through China (Tibet), India, and Pakistan, making the “three countries” clue fit. It is also a major irrigation river, especially because of the Bhakra-Nangal system and canals in Punjab. The key eliminator is the last clue: it does not form distributaries. Brahmaputra forms multiple channels and distributaries, Indus forms a delta with distributaries near the Arabian Sea, and Teesta does not originate in Tibet proper or flow through three countries. So the answer is c. Sutlej.