Social Science · Class 9
Geography: Drainage
Learn Geography: Drainage with notes, examples, and practice questions.
4 sections15–25 min read6 MCQs · 2 examples
Chapter Overview
India's drainage system includes Himalayan and Peninsular rivers, lakes, and the role of rivers in agriculture, culture, and floods. Major basins: Ganga, Indus, Brahmaputra, Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri.
Himalayan Rivers
- Perennial — snow and rain fed
- Ganga: Gangotri to Bay of Bengal; tributaries Yamuna, Ghaghara
- Brahmaputra enters India in Arunachal; joins Ganga in Bangladesh
- Indus basin mainly in Pakistan; Indian part in Ladakh, Punjab
Peninsular Rivers
- Rain-fed; seasonal variation
- East-flowing: Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri into Bay of Bengal
- West-flowing: Narmada, Tapi into Arabian Sea
- Shorter courses in valleys and gorges
Lakes and Pollution
- Dal, Wular, Chilika, Sambhar — types vary
- Dams — Hirakud, Tehri, Sardar Sarovar
- River pollution from sewage and industry — Ganga Action Plan
Solved Examples
Step-by-step solutions — read each step before checking the final answer.
West-flowing
Why do Narmada and Tapi flow west?
- 1Rift valley geography
- 2Gradient toward Arabian Sea
Answer
Rift valleys create westward slope to Arabian Sea
Delta
Which river forms Sundarbans delta?
- 1Ganga and Brahmaputra carry silt
- 2Deposit at Bay of Bengal
Answer
Ganga-Brahmaputra delta
Key Points to Remember
- ✓ Rivers are lifelines of civilization
- ✓ Himalayan rivers cause floods and enrich plains
- ✓ Inter-linking rivers debated
- ✓ Clean rivers need waste treatment
Exam Tips
- • Compare Himalayan and Peninsular rivers
- • Locate Godavari and Narmada
- • Causes of river pollution
Practice MCQs — Geography: Drainage
Test your understanding with topic-wise multiple choice questions. Explanations appear after each answer.
Question 1 of 6Score: 0/0
Ganga originates near: