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Question 73 of 131 · Rivers, Lakes & Dams of India
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The Brahmaputra river originates from the:

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Answer: Option D — Chemayungdung glacier in Tibet

Detailed Solution

The Brahmaputra rises from the Chemayungdung glacier in the Kailash range of south-western Tibet, about 100 km south-east of Lake Mansarovar, at a height of about 5,150 metres.

Source and early course:

  • The glacier lies near the source region of the Indus and the Sutlej, around Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar.
  • From here, the river, called the Yarlung Tsangpo, flows eastward across southern Tibet for about 1,200 km.

Course of the Brahmaputra:

  • It takes a sharp U-turn around Namcha Barwa and enters Arunachal Pradesh as the Siang or Dihang.
  • In Assam, after receiving the Dibang and the Lohit, it is called the Brahmaputra.
  • It flows west through the Assam valley for about 700 km, with a very wide, braided channel.
  • It turns south near Dhubri and enters Bangladesh, where it is called the Jamuna.
  • Its total length is about 2,900 km.

Features of the Brahmaputra:

  • It is one of the largest rivers in the world by volume of water and sediment.
  • It is a highly braided river, with many channels and sandbars, and forms river islands such as Majuli.
  • It causes severe floods and bank erosion in Assam almost every year.
  • Its north-bank tributaries from the Himalayas include the Subansiri, Jia Bhareli, Manas and Sankosh; south-bank tributaries include the Burhi Dihing, Dhansiri and Kopili.

Cultural importance:

The Brahmaputra is one of the few rivers in India with a male name; it means "son of Brahma".

Rivers sharing a source region:

The Indus, the Sutlej and the Brahmaputra all rise in the region around Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar in Tibet.

Why not the other options?

  • ✗Gangotri glacier is the source of the Bhagirathi (Ganga).
  • ✗Zemu glacier is linked with the Teesta in Sikkim.
  • ✗Milam glacier is the source of the Gori Ganga.

Quick tip

Remember: Brahmaputra rises from the Chemayungdung glacier (Tibet), near Mansarovar; Tsangpo -> Siang/Dihang -> Brahmaputra -> Jamuna.

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Rivers, Lakes & Dams of India — Preparation

This question tests your understanding of Rivers, Lakes & Dams of India, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.

This topic covers India's drainage system: the Himalayan rivers (the Indus, Ganga and Brahmaputra systems), the peninsular rivers (Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri, Narmada, Tapi and Mahanadi), their tributaries and origins, waterfalls, lakes, and the major dams and multipurpose river projects. Exams ask about the origin of a river, its tributaries, the cities on its banks, and the river on which a dam is built. For example, the Bhakra Nangal Dam is on the Sutlej, the Hirakud Dam on the Mahanadi, and the Sardar Sarovar Dam on the Narmada. Remember that the Narmada and Tapi flow west into the Arabian Sea, while most peninsular rivers flow east. Practise the rivers, lakes and dams of India questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.

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