Authentic Classroom Explanation by IAS Monk

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📍 The Question

With reference to the Indus river system, of the following four rivers, three of them pour into one of them which joins the Indus directly. Among the following, which one is such river that joins the Indus directly?

(a) Chenab
(b) Jhelum
(c) Ravi
(d) Sutlej

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✅ Correct Answer: (a) Chenab

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🎯 Theme of the Question

Indian Geography | River Systems | Indus Basin | Tributary Hierarchy

This is a conceptual river-network question, testing understanding of how tributaries combine before joining the main river.

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🧠 Classroom Explanation

Let us trace the Indus river system step by step, focusing on confluences, not just names.

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🌊 Indus River: The Main Trunk

Indus River originates near Lake Manasarovar in Tibet and flows through Ladakh → Pakistan → Arabian Sea.

Major Indian tributaries:

• Jhelum
• Chenab
• Ravi
• Beas
• Sutlej

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🔗 How the Tributaries Combine

Now observe the hierarchy of confluences:

• Jhelum → joins Chenab
• Ravi → joins Chenab
• Beas → joins Sutlej
• Sutlej → later joins Chenab
• Chenab + Sutlej → form Panjnad
• Panjnad → finally joins the Indus

👉 Thus, Jhelum, Ravi, and Sutlej ultimately pour into Chenab, either directly or indirectly.

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✔️ Key Insight

Among the given options:

• Chenab is the river into which three rivers pour,
  and which itself joins the Indus directly (via Panjnad).

Hence, Chenab is the correct answer.

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❌ Why other options are incorrect

• Jhelum ❌ → Joins Chenab, not Indus directly
• Ravi ❌ → Joins Chenab
• Sutlej ❌ → Joins Chenab (after receiving Beas)

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📊 Final Assessment

River	Role in the system
Jhelum	Tributary of Chenab
Ravi	Tributary of Chenab
Beas	Tributary of Sutlej
Chenab	Joins Indus directly ✅

👉 Answer: (a) Chenab

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🧩 Memory Hook

“Jhelum–Ravi–Sutlej lean on Chenab; Chenab meets Indus.”

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🧠 Prelims Strategy Insight

UPSC often frames river questions as:

• “X pours into Y which pours into Z”
• Focus on confluence logic, not isolated rivers

Always sketch a mental river tree, not a list.

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🧭 IAS Monk Whisper

Rivers don’t rush blindly —
they gather strength before meeting the sea.