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The seasonal river flowing between the Yamuna and the Sutlej, which many scholars regard as the present-day successor of the ancient Saraswati river, is the:
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Answer: Option B — Ghaggar
Detailed Solution
The Ghaggar-Hakra river, a seasonal (monsoon-fed) river flowing between the Yamuna and the Sutlej, is identified by many scholars as the present-day remnant of the ancient Saraswati river described in the Rigveda.
Course of the Ghaggar:
- It rises in the Shivalik hills of Himachal Pradesh, near Dagshai in the Sirmaur district.
- It flows through Haryana and Punjab into Rajasthan, where it is lost in the desert near Hanumangarh.
- In Pakistan, the dry bed continues as the Hakra (Nara), towards the Rann of Kutch.
- It flows mainly during the monsoon and is dry for much of the year.
- Its tributaries include the Markanda, Sarsuti, Tangri and Chautang.
The Saraswati in tradition:
- The Rigveda describes the Saraswati as a mighty river flowing between the Yamuna and the Sutlej, from the mountains to the sea.
- Later texts describe it as disappearing into the desert at a place called Vinashana.
Evidence for the Ghaggar-Saraswati link:
- Satellite images and geological studies show a wide, dried-up river bed (palaeochannel) along the Ghaggar-Hakra course.
- A large number of Harappan sites, such as Kalibangan (Rajasthan), Banawali and Rakhigarhi (Haryana), lie along this dry river course, suggesting that it once carried much more water.
- Rakhigarhi is one of the largest Harappan sites.
Why it dried up:
Scientists suggest that changes in climate (weakening monsoons) and the shifting of the Sutlej and Yamuna, which may once have fed it, caused it to dry up, perhaps around 4,000 years ago.
Revival efforts:
The Haryana government set up the Haryana Saraswati Heritage Development Board to revive the river and promote research.
Floods:
In years of heavy rain, the Ghaggar can cause floods in parts of Punjab and Haryana.
Why not the other options?
- ✗The Sahibi is a seasonal river flowing from Rajasthan to Haryana and Delhi.
- ✗The Markanda and Chautang are tributaries of the Ghaggar system, not the main river.
Quick tip
Remember: Ghaggar-Hakra = seasonal river between the Yamuna and Sutlej, linked with the Vedic Saraswati; Kalibangan and Rakhigarhi lie on its course.
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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.