RAS question
The Son River, a major south bank tributary of the Ganges, originates from:
Correct answer: (C) Amarkantak Plateau, Madhya Pradesh.
The Son River originates from the Amarkantak Plateau area of Madhya Pradesh, near Amarkantak.
Explanation
The Son River is tested here through its source, not just its course. Its origin is near Amarkantak in Madhya Pradesh, and the same area also gives rise to the Narmada, though the two rivers flow in opposite directions. District Anuppur, Government of Madhya Pradesh places Amarkantak on the Macalka hills and states that River Son also originates from those hills. That is why the precise answer is Amarkantak Plateau, Madhya Pradesh. The remaining details help fix the river in the Ganga system: the Son is a 784 km river, the largest south-bank tributary of the Ganges, and it joins the Ganges near Patna after flowing through Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) Mahabaleshwar is associated in the question data with the Krishna's origin, whereas the Son's origin is near Amarkantak in Madhya Pradesh.
- (B) The Satpura Range is linked here with the Tapti's origin, while the Son is tied to the Amarkantak Plateau area.
- (D) Vindhya Range is too broad for this source-based question; the asked origin is specifically the Amarkantak Plateau area near Amarkantak.
Concept
This tests Indian drainage geography, especially the source regions of major Ganga tributaries. RAS repeats such items because river origins, courses and tributary systems are high-yield map facts.