NCERT Geography Class 9 Chapter 3 | Drainage Systems In India Notes & PDF

Topic covered: Drainage Systems In India and MCQs Questions: Drainage (All single detail notes are exam-oriented).

We have discussed in-depth and exam-oriented pointers that can be asked in the board exam of class 9th about the “Drainage Systems In India” from the NCERT Geography notes for class 9th chapter 3 “Drainage“.

Download the NCERT Geography for Class 9th Chapter 3 Drainage Notes PDF

The chapter Drainage in Class 9 Geography explains India’s river systems and their role in shaping our land and life. It covers the Himalayan rivers like the Ganga, Brahmaputra, and Indus, as well as the Peninsular rivers such as the Godavari, Krishna, and Mahanadi. These notes highlight key features like river basins, lakes, and the importance of rivers for agriculture, transport, and economy. The PDF is structured for quick learning with clear summaries, maps, and exam-oriented points. Download it to revise NCERT Geography Class 9 Chapter 3 Drainage easily and strengthen your preparation before tests and exams.

Drainage Systems In India

1. Classification of Drainage Systems:

• Drainage systems of India are controlled by broad relief features.
• Rivers of India are divided into two major groups:
  a. Himalayan Rivers
  b. Peninsular Rivers

2. Himalayan Rivers:

• Perennial rivers – Have water throughout the year (fed by rain + snowmelt).
• Major rivers: Indus and Brahmaputra (originate north of the mountain ranges).
• Cut through mountains and form deep gorges.

  

• Have long courses from source to sea.
• Upper course – Intensive erosion, carry huge load of silt and sand.
• Middle and lower courses – Form meanders, oxbow lakes, and other depositional features in floodplains.
• Develop large deltas near their mouth.

3. Peninsular Rivers:

• Mostly seasonal rivers – Depend on rainfall.
• Reduced flow in dry season (even large rivers shrink).
• Have shorter and shallower courses than Himalayan rivers.
• Many rivers originate in Central Highlands and flow westwards. (Expected question: Identify – Narmada & Tapi).
• Most Peninsular rivers originate in the Western Ghats and flow towards the Bay of Bengal.

The Himalayan Rivers

1. Major Himalayan Rivers:

• The three major Himalayan rivers are:
  a. Indus
  b. Ganga
  c. Brahmaputra

2. Characteristics:

• Himalayan rivers are long in length.
• They are joined by many large and important tributaries.

3. Concept:

• A river along with its tributaries is called a river system.

The Indus River System

1. Origin:

• The Indus River rises in Tibet, near Lake Mansarowar.

2. Course in India:

• After flowing west, it enters India in Ladakh.
• Forms a picturesque gorge in Ladakh region.

3. Major Tributaries in Kashmir Region:

• Zaskar
• Nubra
• Shyok
• Hunza

4. Further Course:

• Flows through Baltistan and Gilgit.
• Emerges from mountains at Attock.

5. Confluence with Other Rivers:

• The Satluj, Beas, Ravi, Chenab, and Jhelum join together.
• These rivers enter the Indus near Mithankot in Pakistan.

6. Final Journey:

• Beyond Mithankot, the Indus flows southwards.
• Finally reaches the Arabian Sea, east of Karachi.

7. Physical Features:

• The Indus plain has a very gentle slope.

8. Length:

• Total length = 2900 km.
• One of the longest rivers of the world.

9. Indus Basin:

• A little over one-third of the Indus basin lies in India.
• Indian states covered: Ladakh, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab.
• The rest of the basin lies in Pakistan.

The Ganga River System

1. Origin and Headwaters:

• The headwaters of the Ganga are called Bhagirathi.
• Bhagirathi is fed by the Gangotri Glacier.
• The Alaknanda joins Bhagirathi at Devaprayag (Uttarakhand).
• At Haridwar, the Ganga emerges from the mountains onto the plains.

2. Major Himalayan Tributaries:

• Yamuna River:
  a. Rises from Yamunotri Glacier in the Himalayas.
  b. Flows parallel to Ganga.
  c. Meets Ganga at Allahabad (Prayagraj) as a right bank tributary.
• Ghaghara, Gandak, Kosi:
  a. Rise in the Nepal Himalaya.
  b. Cause floods in northern plains every year, leading to loss of life & property.
  c. At the same time, they enrich soil making it fertile for agriculture.

3. Major Peninsular Tributaries:

• Chambal, Betwa, Son.
• Rise from semi-arid areas in peninsular uplands.
• Have shorter courses.
• Carry less water compared to Himalayan tributaries.

4. Course of the Ganga:

• Enlarged by tributaries, the Ganga flows eastwards till Farakka (West Bengal).
• Farakka is the northernmost point of the Ganga delta.

5. Distributaries & Joining of Brahmaputra:

• At Farakka, the river bifurcates:
  a. Bhagirathi-Hooghly: flows southwards through deltaic plains into Bay of Bengal.
  b. Mainstream: enters Bangladesh, joined by the Brahmaputra, and further downstream called the Meghna.
• The combined river flows into the Bay of Bengal.

6. Delta:

• The delta formed by Ganga & Brahmaputra is the Sundarban Delta.
• Largest delta in the world.

7. Length:

• Total length of Ganga = over 2500 km.

8. Drainage Pattern & Slope:

• Ganga forms a dentritic (tree-like) drainage pattern.
• Ambala lies on the water divide between Indus & Ganga river systems.
• From Ambala to Sundarban = ~1800 km plains stretch.
• Total fall in slope = 300 m only – i.e., 1 metre per 6 km.
• Because of this gentle slope, the Ganga develops large meanders.

The Brahmaputra River System

1. Origin and Course:

• The Brahmaputra rises in Tibet, east of Mansarowar Lake, close to the sources of the Indus and Satluj.
• It is slightly longer than the Indus.
• Most of its course lies outside India.
• Initially flows eastwards parallel to the Himalayas.
• On reaching Namcha Barwa (7757 m), it takes a ‘U’ turn and enters India.
• Enters India through Arunachal Pradesh via a gorge.

2. Names and Tributaries:

• In Arunachal Pradesh, it is called the Dihang.
• Joined by the Dibang, Lohit, and many other tributaries.
• After this confluence, it is known as the Brahmaputra in Assam.

3. Water Volume and Silt:

• In Tibet:
  a. Cold and dry area – smaller water volume.
  b. Carries less silt.
• In India (Assam region):
  a. Heavy rainfall – large volume of water.
  b. Carries considerable amount of silt.

4. Special Features:

• Has a braided channel throughout its course in Assam.
• Forms many riverine islands (world’s largest = Majuli Island).
• Every rainy season: river overflows banks – floods in Assam & Bangladesh.

5. Comparison with Other North Indian Rivers:

• Unlike other rivers:
  a. Huge deposits of silt on its bed – riverbed rises.
  b. Channel shifts frequently.

Do You Know?

1. Indus Water Treaty (1960):

• Signed in 1960 between India and Pakistan.
• India can use only 20% of the total Indus river system waters.
• Water used mainly for irrigation in:
  a. Punjab
  b. Haryana
  c. Southern & Western Rajasthan

2. Namami Gange Programme:

• An Integrated Conservation Mission launched in June 2014.
• Approved as a flagship programme by the Union Government.
• Twin objectives:
  a. Abatement of pollution.
  b. Conservation and rejuvenation of the Ganga River.
• Website: nmcg.nic.in (for further info).

3. Sundarban Delta:

• Name derived from the Sundari tree (grows in marshlands).
• World’s largest and fastest-growing delta.
• Famous as the habitat of the Royal Bengal Tiger.

4. Brahmaputra: Local Names:

• In Tibet – called Tsang Po.
• In Bangladesh – called Jamuna.

The Peninsular Rivers

1. Main Water Divide:

• The Western Ghats form the main water divide in Peninsular India.
• They run north to south, close to the western coast.

2. East-Flowing Rivers:

• Major east-flowing rivers:
  a. Mahanadi
  b. Godavari
  c. Krishna
  d. Kaveri
• These rivers drain into the Bay of Bengal.
• They form deltas at their mouths.

3. West-Flowing Rivers:

• Numerous small streams flow west of the Western Ghats.
• Narmada and Tapi are the only long rivers flowing westwards.
• These rivers form estuaries (not deltas).

4. Drainage Basins:

• The drainage basins of Peninsular rivers are comparatively smaller than Himalayan river basins.

The Narmada Basin

1. Origin & Course:

• The Narmada River rises in the Amarkantak hills (Madhya Pradesh).
• It flows westwards in a rift valley formed due to faulting.

2. Notable Features:

• Creates many picturesque locations on its way to the sea.
• Marble Rocks (near Jabalpur): Narmada flows through a deep gorge.
• Dhuadhar Falls: River plunges over steep rocks, forming a waterfall.

3. Tributaries:

• All tributaries of Narmada are very short.
• Most tributaries join the main stream at right angles.

4. Basin Coverage:

• Narmada Basin covers parts of Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat.

The Tapi Basin

1. Origin & Course:

• Tapi River rises in the Satpura ranges, Betul district (Madhya Pradesh).
• Flows in a rift valley, parallel to the Narmada.
• Tapi is much shorter in length compared to Narmada.

2. Basin Coverage:

• The Tapi Basin covers parts of:
  a. Madhya Pradesh
  b. Gujarat
  c. Maharashtra

3. Coastal Rivers & Plains:

• The coastal plains between Western Ghats and Arabian Sea are very narrow.
• Hence, coastal rivers are generally short in length.

4. Important West-Flowing Rivers:

• Apart from Narmada & Tapi, other west-flowing rivers include:
  a. Sabarmati
  b. Mahi
  c. Bharathpuzha
  d. Periyar
  (Students should know the states where these rivers drain the water.)

The Godavari Basin

1. General Features:

• Godavari – Largest Peninsular River.
• Origin – Slopes of Western Ghats, Nasik district (Maharashtra).
• Length – About 1500 km.
• Drainage – Flows eastwards and drains into the Bay of Bengal.
• Also called “Dakshin Ganga” (Ganga of the South) due to its length and large basin area.

2. Drainage Basin:

• Largest drainage basin among Peninsular rivers.
• Basin covers parts of:
  a. Maharashtra – about 50% of the basin area lies here.
  b. Madhya Pradesh
  c. Odisha
  d. Andhra Pradesh

3. Major Tributaries:

• Important tributaries of Godavari:
  a. Purna
  b. Wardha
  c. Pranhita
  d. Manjra
  e. Wainganga
  f. Penganga
• (Manjra, Wainganga & Penganga are very large tributaries.)

The Mahanadi Basin

1. Origin & Course:

• Origin – Rises in the highlands of Chhattisgarh.
• Course – Flows through Odisha.
• Mouth – Finally drains into the Bay of Bengal.

2. Length:

• Total length – About 860 km.

3. Drainage Basin:

• Mahanadi Basin is shared by:
  a. Maharashtra
  b. Chhattisgarh
  c. Jharkhand
  d. Odisha

The Krishna Basin

1. Origin & Course:

• Origin – Rises from a spring near Mahabaleshwar (Maharashtra).
• Course – Flows eastwards.
• Mouth – Empties into the Bay of Bengal.

2. Length:

• Total length – About 1400 km.

3. Tributaries:

• Major tributaries of Krishna:
  a. Tungabhadra
  b. Koyana
  c. Ghatprabha
  d. Musi
  e. Bhima

4. Drainage Basin:

• The Krishna Basin is shared by three states:
  a. Maharashtra
  b. Karnataka
  c. Andhra Pradesh

The Kaveri Basin

1. Origin & Course:

• The Kaveri River rises in the Brahmagri range of the Western Ghats.
• It flows eastwards and finally drains into the Bay of Bengal, south of Cuddalore in Tamil Nadu.

2. Length:

• The total length of the Kaveri River is about 760 km.

3. Tributaries:

• Major tributaries of Kaveri are:
  a. Amravati
  b. Bhavani
  c. Hemavati
  d. Kabini

4. Drainage Basin:

• The Kaveri Basin drains parts of:
  a. Karnataka
  b. Kerala
  c. Tamil Nadu

5. Other East-Flowing Smaller Rivers:

• Besides the major rivers, some smaller rivers also flow eastwards:
  a. Damodar
  b. Brahmani
  c. Baitarni
  d. Subarnarekha
  (Students should locate them on the atlas as per NCERT instruction.)

Do You Know?

1. River Conservation Mission:

• Government of Madhya Pradesh has started the Narmada River Conservation Mission under the scheme “Namami Devi Narmade”.

2. Waterfall & Hydroelectric Power:

• The Kaveri River makes the second biggest waterfall in India, called Shivasamudram Falls.
• Hydroelectric power generated here is supplied to:
  a. Mysuru
  b. Bengaluru
  c. Kolar Gold Field

3. Global Water Facts:

• 71% of Earth’s surface is covered with water.
• 97% of this is saltwater.
• Only 3% is freshwater, out of which ¾ is trapped in ice.

Next & Previous Topics of NCERT/CBSE Geography Class 9 Chapter 3: Drainage

MCQs on NCERT Geography Class 9 Chapter 3 Topic – Drainage Systems In India

Here are the top exam-oriented MCQ-type questions on “Drainage Systems In India” that you should prepare for your CBSE or state board exams:

Question 1. The drainage system of India is mainly controlled by:

a) Climate
b) Soil type
c) Broad relief features
d) Vegetation cover

Answer: c) Broad relief features

Question 2. The rivers of India are divided into two groups:

a) Perennial and Seasonal
b) Himalayan and Peninsular
c) East flowing and West flowing
d) Northern and Southern

Answer: b) Himalayan and Peninsular

Question 3. Which river has the largest basin in India?

a) Indus
b) Ganga
c) Brahmaputra
d) Godavari

Answer: b) Ganga

Question 4. The world’s largest drainage basin belongs to which river?

a) Nile
b) Amazon
c) Mississippi
d) Yangtze

Answer: b) Amazon

Question 5. Himalayan rivers are mostly:

a) Seasonal
b) Perennial
c) Ephemeral
d) Dry in summer

Answer: b) Perennial

Question 6. Peninsular rivers are mostly:

a) Snow-fed
b) Rain-fed
c) Glacier-fed
d) Perennial

Answer: b) Rain-fed

Question 7. Which of the following features is typical of Himalayan rivers but not of Peninsular rivers?

a) Deltas
b) Meanders and oxbow lakes
c) Estuaries
d) Rapids

Answer: b) Meanders and oxbow lakes

Question 8. The Narmada and Tapi are unique Peninsular rivers because:

a) They are perennial
b) They flow through gorges
c) They flow westwards and form estuaries
d) They join the Ganga

Answer: c) They flow westwards and form estuaries

Question 9. The Indus rises near:

a) Mount Kailash
b) Lake Mansarowar
c) Namcha Barwa
d) Gangotri Glacier

Answer: b) Lake Mansarowar

Question 10. Which tributary of the Indus originates in Tibet?

a) Beas
b) Chenab
c) Sutlej
d) Ravi

Answer: c) Sutlej

Question 11. The Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas and Sutlej are tributaries of:

a) Ganga
b) Brahmaputra
c) Yamuna
d) Indus

Answer: d) Indus

Question 12. The length of the Indus river is about:

a) 2,500 km
b) 2,900 km
c) 3,200 km
d) 3,600 km

Answer: b) 2,900 km

Question 13. The headwaters of the Ganga are called:

a) Alaknanda
b) Bhagirathi
c) Mandakini
d) Yamuna

Answer: b) Bhagirathi

Question 14. The Alaknanda and Bhagirathi join at:

a) Haridwar
b) Devaprayag
c) Rishikesh
d) Badrinath

Answer: b) Devaprayag

Question 15. The Yamuna meets the Ganga at:

a) Haridwar
b) Allahabad (Prayagraj)
c) Kanpur
d) Patna

Answer: b) Allahabad (Prayagraj)

Question 16. Which Himalayan tributaries of Ganga frequently cause floods in Bihar?

a) Chambal, Betwa, Son
b) Ghaghara, Gandak, Kosi
c) Yamuna, Chambal, Gandak
d) Son, Betwa, Ghaghara

Answer: b) Ghaghara, Gandak, Kosi

Question 17. The length of the Ganga river is over:

a) 1,800 km
b) 2,000 km
c) 2,500 km
d) 3,000 km

Answer: c) 2,500 km

Question 18. The Sundarban Delta is formed by which rivers?

a) Ganga and Yamuna
b) Ganga and Brahmaputra
c) Ganga and Indus
d) Godavari and Krishna

Answer: b) Ganga and Brahmaputra

Question 19. In Tibet, the Brahmaputra is known as:

a) Jamuna
b) Tsang Po
c) Meghna
d) Lohit

Answer: b) Tsang Po

Question 20. The Brahmaputra enters India through which state?

a) Sikkim
b) Assam
c) Arunachal Pradesh
d) Nagaland

Answer: c) Arunachal Pradesh

Question 21. The world’s largest riverine island, Majuli, is formed in which river?

a) Ganga
b) Indus
c) Brahmaputra
d) Godavari

Answer: c) Brahmaputra

Question 22. In Bangladesh, the Brahmaputra is called:

a) Meghna
b) Jamuna
c) Padma
d) Hooghly

Answer: b) Jamuna

Question 23. The main water divide in Peninsular India is formed by:

a) Satpuras
b) Vindhyas
c) Western Ghats
d) Aravallis

Answer: c) Western Ghats

Question 24. Which is the largest Peninsular river basin?

a) Krishna
b) Godavari
c) Mahanadi
d) Kaveri

Answer: b) Godavari

Question 25. The Godavari is also known as:

a) South Ganga (Dakshin Ganga)
b) Krishna’s twin
c) The Deccan river
d) Rain river

Answer: a) South Ganga (Dakshin Ganga)

Question 26. The Mahanadi flows through which state before entering the Bay of Bengal?

a) Jharkhand
b) Chhattisgarh and Odisha
c) Maharashtra
d) Andhra Pradesh

Answer: b) Chhattisgarh and Odisha

Question 27. The Kaveri makes the famous:

a) Jog Falls
b) Shivasamudram Falls
c) Dhuandhar Falls
d) Chitrakoot Falls

Answer: b) Shivasamudram Falls

Question 28. The Narmada and Tapi rivers flow through:

a) Rift valleys
b) Fault lines in the Himalayas
c) Uplands of Rajasthan
d) Coastal plains

Answer: a) Rift valleys

Question 29. The Krishna river rises near:

a) Amarkantak
b) Mahabaleshwar
c) Nasik
d) Chhattisgarh

Answer: b) Mahabaleshwar

Question 30. Which is the second largest east-flowing Peninsular river after Godavari?

a) Mahanadi
b) Kaveri
c) Krishna
d) Damodar

Answer: c) Krishna

Question 31. According to the Indus Water Treaty (1960), India can use only how much of the Indus river water?

a) 10%
b) 20%
c) 30%
d) 50%

Answer: b) 20%

Question 32. The Namami Gange Programme was launched in which year?

a) 2008
b) 2010
c) 2014
d) 2016

Answer: c) 2014

Question 33. The Sundarban Delta is the habitat of which famous animal?

a) One-horned rhinoceros
b) Asiatic lion
c) Royal Bengal Tiger
d) Leopard

Answer: c) Royal Bengal Tiger

Question 34. What is the second biggest waterfall in India formed by the Kaveri river?

a) Jog Falls
b) Shivasamudram Falls
c) Athirapally Falls
d) Dhuandhar Falls

Answer: b) Shivasamudram Falls