RAS question
The Ghaggar River in Rajasthan is considered to be the remnant of which ancient river?
Correct answer: (A) Saraswati.
In Rajasthan geography, the Ghaggar River is considered a remnant of the ancient Vedic Saraswati River.
Explanation
The Ghaggar is linked with the ancient Saraswati because the cited ISRO Space India source identifies the present-day Ghaggar as indicating the Palaeo Saraswati. Standard Rajasthan geography treats the river as entering Rajasthan from Haryana, passing through Hanumangarh and Sri Ganganagar, and then disappearing in the Thar Desert. The relevant identification is not with any major living river system, but with the ancient river whose lost course is associated with Ghaggar. Saraswati alone fits that palaeochannel association; Yamuna, Drishadwati and Sindhu have different river identities or relationships.
Why the other options are wrong
- (B) Yamuna is a distinct river system, while Ghaggar is associated with the remnant of the ancient Saraswati.
- (C) Drishadwati is treated as a tributary of Saraswati, so it does not replace Saraswati as the main ancient river linked with Ghaggar.
- (D) Sindhu, or the Indus, is a separate river associated with Pakistan and Ladakh, not the Rajasthan Ghaggar remnant.
Concept
RAS geography tests Rajasthan drainage and palaeochannel geography, especially the exam-frequent link between present river courses and ancient river systems. Ghaggar recurs in RAS because it connects physical geography with Rajasthan's desert and Vedic-history themes.