SSC · Railway
Which is the largest tributary of the Indus river?
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Answer: Option B — Chenab
Detailed Solution
The Chenab is the largest tributary of the Indus river by volume of water. It is formed by the meeting of two streams, the Chandra and the Bhaga, which rise near the Baralacha La pass in the Lahaul and Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh. They join at Tandi, near Keylong, and the combined river is called the Chandrabhaga, later the Chenab.
The Chenab flows through Himachal Pradesh and then through the Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir, passing through Kishtwar, Doda and Akhnoor, before entering Pakistan. In Pakistan, it is joined by the Jhelum at Trimmu, and later by the Ravi. The combined waters of the Chenab, Jhelum, Ravi, Beas and Sutlej form the Panjnad ("five rivers"), which joins the Indus near Mithankot.
The Indus river system:
The Indus rises near Lake Mansarovar in Tibet, where it is called Singi Khamban (Lion's Mouth). It flows through Ladakh and enters Pakistan, finally flowing into the Arabian Sea near Karachi. Its total length is about 2,880 kilometres.
Its five main eastern tributaries in the Punjab region are the Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas and Sutlej.
Its western tributaries include the Kabul, Shyok, Gilgit and Hunza.
Under the Indus Waters Treaty, signed in 1960 between India and Pakistan with the help of the World Bank, the waters of the eastern rivers (Ravi, Beas and Sutlej) were given to India, and those of the western rivers (Indus, Jhelum and Chenab) to Pakistan, though India can use the western rivers for limited purposes such as run-of-the-river hydropower. In April 2025, after the Pahalgam terror attack, India placed the treaty "in abeyance".
Important projects on the Chenab in India include the Baglihar, Salal and Dulhasti hydroelectric projects, and the Pakal Dul and Ratle projects. The Chenab Bridge, the world's highest railway arch bridge (about 359 metres above the river), was opened in 2025 on the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail link.
Why not the other options?
- ✗The Jhelum rises at Verinag in Kashmir and flows through Srinagar and Wular Lake.
- ✗The Sutlej is the longest of the five Punjab rivers; it rises near Rakas Tal in Tibet.
- ✗The Beas rises at the Beas Kund near the Rohtang Pass and joins the Sutlej at Harike.
Quick tip
Remember: Chenab = largest Indus tributary (Chandra + Bhaga at Tandi), Chenab Bridge (2025); Indus Waters Treaty (1960): eastern rivers to India, western to Pakistan (in abeyance since 2025).
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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.