RAS question
The Betwa River is a tributary of:
Correct answer: (C) Yamuna.
The Betwa River is a tributary of the Yamuna River.
Explanation
The Betwa is part of the Yamuna river system, not a separate peninsular drainage line. India-WRIS lists Betwa among the important tributaries of the Yamuna, along with Tons, Chambal, Hindon and Ken. The river originates in Madhya Pradesh, in Bhopal district, and after flowing for 590 km joins the Yamuna near Hamirpur in Uttar Pradesh. The correct answer is option C. It also originates in the Vindhya region of Madhya Pradesh and is linked to the Ken-Betwa River Linking Project, which is why the river is often asked in RAS geography under river systems and interlinking initiatives.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) Godavari is incorrect because Betwa belongs to the Yamuna river system, not the Godavari basin.
- (B) Narmada is wrong because Betwa joins the Yamuna near Hamirpur, whereas a tributary of Narmada would drain into the Narmada system.
- (D) Ganga is too broad here because Betwa directly joins the Yamuna, even though Yamuna itself is a major tributary of the Ganga.
Concept
Indian river systems require matching tributaries to their parent rivers. Rivers such as Betwa recur in RAS because they connect physical geography with current schemes like the Ken-Betwa River Linking Project.