UPSC Previous Year Question | Prelims GS | 2026

Identify the river of the Indian sub-continent on the basis of the following information: 1. It has an antecedent drainage system. 2. It flows through three countries. 3. It originates in the Tibetan Plateau and is an important river for irrigation. 4. It does not form distributaries. Select the answer from the following:

  1. Brahmaputra
  2. Indus
  3. Sutlej
  4. Teesta

Answer

Correct Answer

Sutlej

Explanation

The Sutlej originates near the Rakshastal-Mansarovar region of the Tibetan Plateau and is an important tributary of the Indus system. It follows an antecedent course through the Himalayas and flows through Tibet, India and Pakistan. Unlike rivers such as the Ganga and Brahmaputra, it does not form a major deltaic distributary system before joining the Indus.

Topics: geography, himalayan drainage, indian rivers, river systems