Which major Indian river flows westward into the Arabian Sea?
a) Godavari
b) Krishna
c) Narmada
d) Mahanadi
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Answer: c) Narmada
Explanation
- Narmada River: The Narmada is the largest west-flowing river in Peninsular India. It originates from the Amarkantak Plateau in Madhya Pradesh and flows through a rift valley created between the Vindhya Range (north) and Satpura Range (south) before draining into the Arabian Sea via the Gulf of Khambhat.
Overview of Other Options
- a) Godavari: An east-flowing river originating at Trimbakeshwar (Maharashtra) that drains into the Bay of Bengal.
- b) Krishna: An east-flowing river originating near Mahabaleshwar (Maharashtra) that drains into the Bay of Bengal.
- d) Mahanadi: An east-flowing river originating in Chhattisgarh that flows through Odisha to drain into the Bay of Bengal.
Key West-Flowing Rivers vs East-Flowing Rivers
| Drainage Direction | Major Peninsular Rivers | Characteristic Feature |
| West-Flowing (Drains into Arabian Sea) | Narmada, Tapti, Mahi, Sabarmati, Periyar | Flow through rift valleys; form estuaries rather than deltas. |
| East-Flowing (Drains into Bay of Bengal) | Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri, Mahanadi | Flow along gentle plateau slopes; form large fertile deltas. |
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