Which one of the following rivers is different from the others?

Question

Which one of the following rivers is different from the others?

1. A. Tungabhadra
2. B. Narmada (Correct answer)
3. C. Penganga
4. D. Mahanadi

Correct Answer

Option B — Narmada

Detailed Solution & Explanation

The correct answer is Narmada.

Key Points

• The Narmada is the odd one out because it flows westward, while the other three rivers flow eastward. The Narmada rises at Amarkantak and flows west through a rift valley to drain into the Arabian Sea.
• In contrast, the Tungabhadra, Penganga and Mahanadi are all part of east-flowing river systems that empty into the Bay of Bengal — the Tungabhadra is a tributary of the Krishna, the Penganga is a tributary of the Godavari system, and the Mahanadi flows east through Chhattisgarh and Odisha.

Exam Tip

• the classification here is by the direction of flow and the sea of drainage — the west-flowing Narmada differs from the three east-flowing rivers, so option (B) is correct.

Additional Information

• The Narmada and Tapi are peninsular India's only major west-flowing rivers, running through rift valleys between the Satpura and Vindhya ranges.
• Because they flow through rifts rather than across a gentle slope, they form estuaries rather than deltas — unlike the east-flowing Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri and Mahanadi.
• The Narmada is the lifeline of Madhya Pradesh and hosts the Sardar Sarovar project; it rises at Amarkantak.