NCERT Solutions Class 9 Social Science Geography Chapter 3 Drainage

NCERT Solutions Class 9 Social Science Geography – Chapter 3 Drainage helps students understand the river systems of India and their importance. This chapter explains the major river systems like the Himalayan rivers and the Peninsular rivers, along with lakes and the role of rivers in agriculture, transport, and economy. 

With these NCERT Solutions, students can easily learn about the origin, flow, and features of different rivers, as well as the need for their conservation. With the help of these NCERT Solutions, students can prepare well for exams and develop a better understanding of India’s drainage system and its significance.

1.0Download NCERT Solutions Class 9 Social Science Geography Chapter 3 Drainage : Free PDF

Download NCERT Solutions Class 9 Social Science Geography Chapter 3 – Drainage in free PDF. Access clear, comprehensive answers to grasp key concepts and boost your exam preparation.

2.0Important Concepts of Class 9 Social Science Geography Chapter 3 Drainage

NCERT Solutions Class 9 Geography Chapter 3 introduces students to the major river systems of India, their origin, course, and significance in shaping the country’s landscape, agriculture, and economy. The chapter also covers important lakes and drainage patterns. The key concepts include:

• Types of River Systems – Himalayan rivers and Peninsular rivers, with distinct features such as perennial flow in Himalayan rivers and seasonal flow in Peninsular rivers.
• The Himalayan Rivers – The Indus, Ganga, and Brahmaputra river systems; their tributaries, fertile plains, and importance for irrigation and transport.
• The Peninsular Rivers – Rivers like Godavari, Mahanadi, Krishna, and Cauvery, which mostly depend on rainfall and have seasonal flow.
• Lakes of India – Freshwater lakes like Dal and Wular, and saltwater lakes like Chilika and Sambhar, and their ecological and economic importance.
• Drainage Patterns and Watersheds – Understanding how rivers drain into different seas: the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal, and the inland drainage basin of the Rann of Kutch.
• Role of Rivers in Human Life – Irrigation, agriculture, drinking water, transport, cultural significance, and challenges like floods and pollution.

3.0NCERT Class 9 Social Science Geography Chapter 3: Detailed Solutions

1. Choose the right answer from the four alternatives given below:
   (i) In which of the following States is the Wular Lake located?
   (1) Rajasthan
   (2) Uttar Pradesh
   (3) Punjab
   (4) Jammu and Kashmir
   Ans. (4) Jammu and Kashmir
   
   (ii) The river Narmada has its source at:
   (1) Satpura
   (2) Brahmagir
   (3) Amarkantak
   (4) Slopes of the Western Ghats
   Ans. (3) Amarkantak
   
   (iii) Which one of the following lakes is a salt water lake?
   (1) Sambhar
   (2) Dal
   (3) Wular
   (4) Gobind Sagar
   Ans. (1) Sambhar
   
   (iv) Which one of the following is the longest river of the Peninsular India?
   (1) Narmada
   (2) Krishna
   (3) Godavari
   (4) Mahanadi
   Ans. (3) Godavari
   
   (v) Which among the following rivers flows through a rift valley?
   (1) Damodar
   (2) Tungabhadra
   (3) Krishna
   (4) Tapi
   Ans. (4) Tapi
2. Answer the following questions briefly.
   (i) What is meant by a water divide? Give an example.
   Ans. Any elevated area such as a mountain or an upland that separates two drainage basins is called a water divide. An example of water divide is the Western Ghats.
   (ii) Which is the largest river basin in India?
   Ans. The Ganga river basin is the largest river basin in India.
   (iii) Where do the rivers Indus and Ganga have their origin?
   Ans. Indus rises in Tibet near Lake Mansarowar. Ganga has Bhagirathi as the head water which is fed by the Gangotri glacier.
   (iv) Name two headstreams of the Ganga. Where do they meet to form the Ganga?
   Ans. The two headstreams of the Ganga are the Alaknanda and the Bhagirathi and they both meet to form the Ganga at Devaprayag.
   (v) Why does Brahmaputra in the Tibetan part have less silt despite a longer course?
   Ans. Called river Tsang Po in Tibet, Brahmaputra has very little volume of water. So it obviously carries little silt. But once it enters India, Brahmaputra is fed by heavy rains, and it carries lot of water and silt.
   (vi) Which two peninsular rivers flow through troughs? What features do they form while entering the sea?
   Ans. The two rivers that flow through troughs are Narmada and Tapi. They form estuaries while entering the sea.
   (vii) Give five economic benefits of rivers and lakes.
   Ans. Role of rivers in the economy:
   (a) Rivers create alluvial soils.
   (b) River irrigation is the backbone of agriculture in areas that have insufficient rainfall.
   (c) Many industrial processes depend on river water as a coolant and for generation of hydroelectricity.
   (d) Rivers provide inland channels for transport.
   (e) Rivers provide fisheries, scope for developing adventure sports like rafting and entertainment joints. Lakes like the Sambhar Lake provide edible salt. They also help develop tourism and provide recreation.
3. Below are given names of a few lakes of India. Group those under two categoriesnatural and created by human beings.
   (a) Wular
   (b) Dal
   (c) Nainital
   (d) Bhimtal
   (e) Gobind Sagar
   (f) Loktak
   (g) Barapani
   (h) Chilika
   (i) Sambhar
   (j) Rana Pratap Sagar
   (k) Nizam Sagar
   (l) Pulicat
   (m) Nagarjuna Sagar
   (n) Hirakud
   Ans. Natural Lakes: Wular, Dal, Nainital, Bhimtal, Chilika, Pulicat, Sambhar, Barapani, Loktak Created by human beings: Gobind Sagar, Hirakud, Rana Pratap Sagar, Nagarjuna Sagar, Nizam Sagar
4. Discuss the significant differences between the Himalayan and the Peninsular rivers.
   Ans. The Indian rivers are divided into two major groups:
   (a) The Himalayan rivers and
   (b) The Peninsular rivers.
   
   Points of difference:
   (a) The Himalayan rivers mostly originate in the Himalayan ranges whereas the Peninsular rivers mostly originate in the Western Ghats.
   (b) The Himalayan rivers are perennial whereas the Peninsular rivers are seasonal
   (c) The Peninsular rivers have shorter and shallower courses in comparison to the Himalayan rivers.
5. Compare the east-flowing and the westflowing rivers of the Peninsular Plateau.
   OR
   Why are the rivers of Penisula seasonal? Give two differences between the westflowing and east-flowing rivers of Peninsular Plateau.
   Ans. The major rivers of the peninsular are the Mahanadi, the Godavari, the Krishna etc. are flowing eastward and merges into the Bay of Bengal. Only the river Narmada and Tapti are flowing towards west and merge into the Arabian Sea. The essential differences between the two rivers are as follows:
   East flowing Rivers
   (a) The east-flowing rivers have deltas at their mouth.
   (b) All rivers east flowing drain into the Bay of Bengal.
   (c) All there rivers passed through a varied topography, i.e. hills, plains, plateaus etc.
   (d) Most rivers are fed by many east-west-flowing long tributaties.
   
   West flowing Rivers
   (a) The west flowing rivers do not have deltas at their mouth. They form estuaries.
   (b) All west flowing rivers merges into the Arabian Sea.
   (c) These rivers are flowed through the rift valley.
   (d) A few small tributaries joining at right angles are only found.
6. Why are rivers important for the country's economy?
   Ans. Rivers are the lifelines of a nation. Rivers have been of fundamental importance in the settlement and progress of man throughout the human liistory. The rivers form broad, fertile alluvial plains that have been the cradle of human civilisation. Water from the river is a basic natural resource, essential for various human activities. They provide water for domestic use. Rivers provide
   water for irrigation that helps to develop agriculture in the surrounding area. The fertile soil of the riverine plain, abundant supply of water and the flat land provides opportunities for the development of agriculture. In an agricultural country like India, rivers play a major role in shaping the country's economy. Rivers supply water for industrial use. Rivers provide for a cheap mode of transportation, inland navigation. Hydro-electricity harnessed from river water supplies power to our industries, to our homes and to our agricultural fields. Integrated water management of rivers through River Valley Projects by building dams provide hydro-electricity, water for irrigation, inland navigation, fishing, recreation etc. Hence, rivers are of great importance in the flourishing of a country's economy.

MAP SKILLS

On an outline map of India show the following.
(i) On an outline map of India mark and label the following rivers : Ganga, Satluj, Damodar, Krishna, Narmada, Tapi, Mahanadi, and Brahmaputra.
(ii) On an outline map of India mark and label the following lakes : Chilika, Sambhar, Wular, Pulicat, Kolleru.

EXERCISE-01

Multiple choice questions

1. What is an area drained by a single river system called?
(1) Drainage basin
(2) Water divide
(3) Water Zone
(4) Doab

2. Most of the Himalayan rivers are:-
(1) Seasonal
(2) Perennial
(3) Both (1) and (2)
(4) None of these

3. The Vembanad Lake is located in
(1) Kerala
(2) Andhra Pradesh
(3) Tamil Nadu
(4) Odisha

4. What is an upland that separates two drainage basins known as?
(1) Drainage basin
(2) Drainage system
(3) Water divide
(4) River system

5. Meanders are formed in which one of the following courses of a river. SDR042
(1) Upper course
(2) At the mouth of river
(3) Lower course
(4) Middle course

6. Which one of the following peninsular rivers is called the 'Dakshin Ganga'?
(1) Mahanadi
(2) Krishna
(3) Godavari
(4) Tapi

7. The river Indus originates in:
(1) Nepal
(2) Bhutan
(3) Tibet
(4) Bangladesh

8. Alaknanda and Bhagirathi converge to be called as Ganga at:
(1) Haridwar
(2) Kedarnath
(3) Badrinath
(4) Devaprayag

9. Which one of the following is a peninsular tributary of the Ganga?
(1) Ghaggar
(2) Son
(3) Gomti
(4) Gandak

10. Which one of the following rivers has the largest drainage basin in India?
(1) The Indus
(2) The Ganga
(3) The Brahmaputra
(4) The Mahanadi

11. The Brahmaputra (Tsang Po) river rises in:
(1) Sikkim
(2) Tibet SDR048
(3) Bhutan
(4) Nepal

12. Which one of the following statements about the river Narmada is not true?
(1) It flows through a rift valley SDR049
(2) It flows through a gorge near Jabalpur
(3) It plunges over steep rocks at the Dhuadhar falls
(4) Its tributaries are Tungabhadra and Musi

13. Which of the following rivers rises in the highlands of Chhattisgarh?
(1) Mahanadi
(2) Godavari
(3) Chambal
(4) Damodar

14. The Wainganga and the Penganga are tributaries of which of the following rivers?
(1) The Mahanadi
(2) The Narmada
(3) The Godavari
(4) The Krishna

15. Which of the following is not a tributary of river Krishna?
(1) Tungabhadra
(2) Koyna
(3) Wardha
(4) Bhima

16. Which type of lakes contain water only during the rainy season?
(1) Oxbow lakes
(2) Lagoons
(3) Lakes in basins of inland drainage
(4) Glacial lakes

17. Which is the largest freshwater lake in India?
(1) Wular Lake
(2) Dal Lake
(3) Bhimtal
(4) Nainital

18. In which of the following states is Sambhar Lake situated?
(1) Rajasthan
(2) Uttar Pradesh
(3) Bihar
(4) Jammu and Kashmir

19. Why have the river banks attracted settlers from ancient times? SDR056
(1) Water is a basic natural resource
(2) Rivers provide water for irrigation
(3) Rivers provide facilities for inland navigation
(4) All the above

20. Which of the following is not one of the causes of river pollution?
(1) Dumping of garbage
(2) Aquatic organisms and algae
(3) Discharge of untreated sewage
(4) Discharge of industrial effluents

True or false

1. The area drained by a single river system is called drainage basin.
2. In their middle and lower course, the Himalayan rivers form meanders, oxbow lakes, and many other depositional features in their floodplains.
3. The Sutlej, the Beas, the Ravi, the Chenab, and the Jhelum join together to enter the Indus near Karachi in Pakistan. SDR060
4. Brahmaputra is slightly longer than the Indus, and most of its course lies outside India.
5. Godavari basin covers parts of Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Maharashtra.

Fill in the blanks

1. Most of the Himalayan rivers are _______ It means that they have water throughout the year.
2. A large number of Peninsular rivers are seasonal, as their flow is dependent on __________.
3. Yamuna flows parallel to the Ganga, as a right bank tributary, meets the Ganga at ___________.
4. The Narmada and Tapi are the only long rivers, which flow west and make _________.
5. Mahanadi rises in the highlands of __________ It flows through Odisha to reach the Bay of Bengal.
Match the columns
1.

ANSWER KEY

Multiple choice questions

True or false

• True
• True
• False
• True
• False

Fill in the blanks

• Perennial
• rainfall
• Allahabad
• estuaries
• Chhattisgarh

Match the column

• (A) (vi) ; (B) (iv) ; (C) (ii) ; (D) (iii) ; (E) (i) ; (F) (v)

EXERCISE-02

Short Answer Type Questions

1. What are perennial and non-perennial rivers? Give reasons why the Himalayan region consists of perennial rivers.SDR069
2. Why is the Godavari often referred to as the 'Dakshin Ganga'? Write a note on the river Godavari and its tributaries. SDR070
3. Write a note on the river Krishna and its tributaries.
4. Where are India's most of the freshwater lakes located and why?
5. Write a short note on river pollution.

Long Answer Type Questions

6. What are the differences between the Himalayan rivers and the Peninsular rivers?
7. Write a note on the Indus River System.
8. Write a note on the Brahmaputra River System.
9. Name any two major river systems of the Peninsular region. Describe any one in detail.
10. Why are rivers important for a country's economy?

4.0Key Features and Benefits of Class 9 Social Science Geography Chapter 3 Drainage

• Clear and Simple Explanations: Concepts explained using simple language to help students understand.
• Aligned with NCERT Textbook: Strict adherence to NCERT syllabus. Everything you need to know for your exam is in there.
• Stepwise Answers: Answers provided stepwise are a great way to effectively impart the concepts and ensure they are retained.
• Exam Oriented: Focus on important points and questions are most likely to be asked in the exam.
• Free and Easily Accessed: Free online resources make quality study material available for all students.