Our Country - India — Social Science STD 6 — Question

The Himalayan Rivers are further divided into two sub-groups:

1. The Indus River System: Rivers of this system originate in the western Himalayas and western Tibetan plateau. They flow from north-east to north and then towards south-west, and fall into the Arabian sea. Major rivers of the system are the Indus and its tributaries like the Satluj, the Jhelum, the Chenab, the Beas and the Ravi. The Indus is believed to have been originated before the building of the Himalayas. Hence it is called an antecedent drainage.

These rivers flow through Punjab and Haryana and then through Pakistan before falling into the Arabian Sea.

2. The Ganga-Brahmaputra River System: This river system originates in the Himalayas, the Tibet Plateau, flows into the great plains of the north from west to east and then falls into the Bay of Bengal.

Major rivers of this system are the Ganga and its tributaries, the Yamuna and its tributaries like Chambal and Betwa, the Brahmaputra and its tributaries. The Ganga’s tributaries are Yamuna, Gomti, Sharda, Ghaghara, Gandak, Kosi, Tista. All these rivers have formed the great plains of the north. They are most fertile areas of the world. Agriculture is the main occupation of the people. Ganga-Brahmaputra Delta is the largest delta of the world.