RAS question
The Banas River is a tributary of which river?
Correct answer: (B) Chambal.
The Banas River is a major tributary of the Chambal River in Rajasthan.
Explanation
The Banas is identified in the Rajasthan ground-water atlas as a tributary to the Chambal River. The river rises from the Khamnor Hills in Rajsamand district and flows entirely within Rajasthan before meeting the Chambal near Sawai Madhopur. The larger drainage chain is also clear: the Chambal itself flows into the Yamuna, so Banas is linked to the Yamuna system only through Chambal, not as a direct tributary. The Chambal directly receives the Banas.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) Mahi is a separate river system; the Mahi basin lies to the south of the Banas basin, not as the river that receives Banas.
- (C) Yamuna is too broad and indirect here: Chambal flows into Yamuna, while Banas is a tributary to Chambal.
- (D) Luni is a separate western drainage system; the Luni basin forms a boundary of the Banas basin, not its parent river.
Concept
Rajasthan drainage systems include important tributary relationships within the Chambal basin. River origin, course and confluence facts are high-yield for RAS Rajasthan physical geography.