Indian Geography Part 4: Drainage System — Himalayan vs Peninsular Rivers, Exam-Ready Notes

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Two river families with opposite habits; every dam-and-dispute question keys off the difference.

Himalayan systems

  • Snow and rain fed, perennial, mature meanders, large deltas: Ganga-Brahmaputra is the largest.
  • Indus system: Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, Sutlej; Brahmaputra carries the peak discharge.

Peninsular systems

  • Rain fed, seasonal, straight courses on hard rock.
  • East flowing Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri build deltas; west flowing Narmada and Tapi run rift valleys to estuaries.

Treaties worth one mark

  • Indus Waters Treaty 1960; Ganga treaty with Bangladesh 1996.
  • Cauvery: SC 2018 formula; Krishna and Godavari tribunals under re-adjudication.

Revise in 30 seconds

  • Himalayan: perennial, meandering, delta.
  • Peninsular: seasonal; deltas east, estuaries west via rifts.
  • Narmada and Tapi flow through rift valleys.
  • Indus Treaty 1960; Ganga treaty 1996.

Quick revision

  • Snow and rain fed, perennial, mature meanders, large deltas: Ganga-Brahmaputra is the largest.
  • Indus system: Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, Sutlej; Brahmaputra carries the peak discharge.
  • Rain fed, seasonal, straight courses on hard rock.
  • East flowing Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri build deltas; west flowing Narmada and Tapi run rift valleys to estuaries.
  • Indus Waters Treaty 1960; Ganga treaty with Bangladesh 1996.
  • Cauvery: SC 2018 formula; Krishna and Godavari tribunals under re-adjudication.
Series — Indian Geography · Part 4 of 8