Class 9 Geography Chapter 3 Extra Questions and Answers

Drainage Class 9 Geography Chapter 3 Extra Questions and Answers covers various types i.e. Very short,  Short and Long questions, related to the topic so as to help the students with their preparation by helping them do an in-depth study of the topic.

The chapter deals with the drainage system of India. The chapter discusses in detail the Himalayan and Peninsular river systems. The differences between the perennial and non-perennial rivers are also highlighted. All the major and a few minor river systems of India are described. The presence and importance of lakes are also discussed. The next section discusses how the river systems of a country act as a support to the national economy. The chapter ends with a discussion on how development has resulted in the pollution of these rivers and how can rivers be conserved.

Class 9 Geography Chapter 3 Extra Questions are Answered in detail by our team of experts which includes teachers and professionals. These solutions have been compiled in an easy to understand manner, keeping in mind, the perspective of strong, and weak students. We are providing NCERT Solutions for Class 9 all subjects which can be accessed by clicking here.

Class 9 Geography Chapter 3 Extra Questions and Answers – Very Short Type Questions: [1-2 marks]

Ques.1: What is a drainage basin?

Ans.1: The area drained by a river is known as a drainage basin.

Ques.2: Name the world’s largest river basin.

Ans.2: Amazon river basin is the largest basin in the world.

Ques.3: Name the major Himalayan rivers.

Ans.3: The major Himalayan rivers are the Indus, Ganga, and the Brahmaputra.

Ques.4: What is a river system?

Ans.4: A river with its tributaries is known as a river system.

Ques.5: What was the Indus Water Treaty of 1960?

Ans.5: The Indus Water Treaty was signed in 1960. According to this treaty, India can use only 20% of the water from the Indus river system. This water is used for irrigation. In Rajasthan, Punjab, and Haryana.  

Ques.6: Name the major tributaries of Ganga.

Ans.6: The major tributaries of Ganga are the Yamuna, Ghaghara, Gandak, Kosi, Chambal, Betwa and Son.

Ques.7: From where do the Yamuna, Ghaghara, Gandak and Kosi rivers originate?

Ans.7: The river Yamuna originates from the Yamunotri Glacier in the Himalayas. The Ghaghara, Gandak and Kosi rivers originate from the Nepal Himalayas.

Ques.8: Which tributaries of Ganga originate from the Peninsular Plateau?

Ans.8: The tributaries of Ganga originating from the Peninsular Plateau are the Chambal, Betwa and Son.

Ques.9: Which is the world’s largest delta?

Ans.9: The Sundarbans Delta is the world’s largest delta. It is the home to the species of  Royal Bengal Tigers.

Ques.10: By what names is the Brahmaputra river known in Tibet and Bangladesh?

Ans.10: The Brahmaputra river is known as Tsang Po in Tibet and Jamuna in Bangladesh.

Ques.11: Which is the largest tributary of Ganga?

Ans.11: The Yamuna is the largest tributary of Ganga.

Ques.12: Which river is known as Dakshin Ganga and why?

Ans.12: The Godavari river is known as the Dakshin Ganga as it is a long river and covers a large area.

Ques.13: Name a few freshwater lakes.

Ans.13: Some freshwater lakes of India are Wular lake, Dal lake, Bhimtal lake, Naini lake, Loktak lake and Barapani lake.

Ques.14: Which is the largest freshwater lake in India?

Ans.14: Wular lake in Jammu and Kashmir is the largest freshwater lake of India.

Ques.15: Name some smaller rivers flowing towards the east.

Ans.15: Some smaller rivers flowing towards the east include the Damodar, the Brahmani, the Baitarni and the Subarnrekha.

Ques.16: What do you know about the Namami Gange Programme?

Ans.16: The Namami Gange Programme was launched by the Union Government of India in 2014. It is an Integrated Conservation Mission approved as a ‘flagship programme’. Its objectives include:

a) To abate the pollution in the river
b) To conserve and rejuvenate the river.

Ques.17: What is the full form of NRCP? Describe in detail.

Ans.17: NCRP stands for National River Conservation Plan. This plan was initiated along with the Ganga Action Plan of 1985. The main objective of NRCP is to make the rivers clean, improve their water quality, and reduce their pollution.

Ques.18: Why are non- perennial river not suitable for navigation?

Ans.18: As the non-perennial rivers are rain-fed, they do not flow all-round the year. As a result, they cannot be depended on for navigation.

Class 9 Geography Chapter 3 Extra Questions and Answers – Short Answer Type Questions: 2-4 Marks

Ques.1:  Write a short note on the Indus river system.

Ans.1: The Indus river originates near Mansarovar Lake, in Tibet. It flows from east to west and enters India in Ladakh. Its tributaries The Zaskar, Nubra, Shyok and The Hunza join the Indus in Kashmir region. The tributaries of the Satluj, the Beas, the Ravi, the Chenab and the Jhelum join Indus in Pakistan, near Mithankot. It eventually joins the Arabian sea. It is one of the longest rivers in the world, with a length of 2,900 km. it has a gentle slope.

Ques.2: Write a short note on the following:

a) Narmada basin
b) Tapi basin
c) Godavari basin
d) Mahanadi basin
e) Krishna basin
f) Kaveri basin

Ans.2: Short Notes:

a) The Narmada originates in the Amarkantak hills of Madhya Pradesh. It flows through a rift valley, flowing west. Its tributaries are short and join the Narmada at right angles. It flows through the states of Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. It forms many picturesque and tourist locations like Marble rocks and Dhuadhar falls.

b) The Tapi river originates in Satpura ranges in Madhya Pradesh.it flows parallel to the Narmada river. It drains the states of Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra.

c) The Godavari is the largest Peninsular river, along with the largest drainage basin among the Peninsular rivers. It originates in the Nasik district of Maharashtra. It is 1,500 km in length. Its basin covers the states of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. Its tributaries include the Purna, the Wardha, the Pranhita, the Manjra, the Wainganga and the Penganga. As it covers a large area, it is also known as the Dakshin Ganga.

d) The Mahanadi originates in Chhattisgarh. It flows through the state of Odisha. Its drainage basin spreads through the states of Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Odisha. its length is 860 km.

e) The Krishna rises in Mahabaleshwar. It flows for a distance of 1,400 km. its tributaries are The Tungabhadra, the Koyana, the Ghatprabha, the Musi and the Bhim. The states of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh share its drainage basin.

f) The Kaveri originates in the Brahmagri range in the Western Ghats. The length of the river is 760 km. its tributaries include Amravati, Bhavani, Hemavati and Kabini. The states of Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu are drained by the river.

Ques.3: How has water pollution emerged as a problem for the rivers?

Ans.3: The river water is being polluted as the industrial waste is discharged into rivers and other water bodies without any treatment. The water quality is thus depleted. The self-cleaning capacity of the rivers is also hampered. The demands for water by households, industries, agriculture, etc. led to excessive exploitation of the river water. Due to the increasing levels of urbanisation and industrialisation, the pollution levels of rivers are rising drastically. As a result of which water pollution has emerged as a problem for the rivers.

Ques.4: Write a detailed account of the lakes.

Ans.4: Lakes are a type of water body. Some lakes are permanent, some are rain-fed and only contain water during the monsoons, some are fed by glaciers, and some are formed by the action of wind, water, and human activities. Rivers in their middle course often meander. These meanders generally cut-off as the flow of the river changes and later develop into ox-bow lakes. In the coastal areas, spits, bars, and lagoons are formed. For example, Chilika lake, Pulicat lake, etc. Some lakes are seasonal, for example, Sambhar lake in Rajasthan. Some freshwater lakes include Wular lake, Dal lake, Bhimtal, Nainital, Loktak and Barapani. Wular Lake in Jammu and Kashmir is the largest freshwater lake in India. These lakes are generally fed by the Himalayan glaciers.

Class 9 Geography Chapter 3 Extra Questions and Answers – Long Answer Type Questions: 4-6 Marks

Ques.1: Describe in detail the Ganga river system.

Ans.1: The river Ganga is formed by the headwaters Bhagirathi and Alaknanda. The total length of the river is over 2,500 km. These join at Devprayag in Uttarakhand to form Ganga. Its major tributaries include the Yamuna, the Ghaghara, the Gandak and the Kosi. The river Yamuna originates from the Yamunotri Glacier in the Himalayas. The Ghaghara, Gandak and Kosi rivers originate in the Nepal Himalayas. These tributaries flood during the monsoons, thereby damaging life and property and enriching the soil as well. Other tributaries of Ganga that originate from the Peninsular Plateau include the Chambal, the Betwa and the Son. These rivers have shorter courses and rise from the semi-arid areas. The Ganga flows till Farakka in West Bengal, which forms the northernmost point of Ganga delta. The river divides here into two, the Bhagirathi-Hooghly distributary flows south and the mainstream flows into Bangladesh where it joins the Brahmaputra. The Ganga river forms the Sundarbans Delta. It is the world’s largest delta.

Ques.2: Describe in detail the Brahmaputra river system.

Ans.2: The Brahmaputra river originates near the Mansarovar lake in Tibet. It flows parallel to the Himalayas in the eastern direction. It enters India in Arunachal Pradesh through a gorge. Its tributaries Dibang, Lohit and others join the Brahmaputra here. The Brahmaputra has less silt despite a longer course in Tibet as the river in Tibet carries less volume of water, thereby carrying silt in low amount. Moreover, as the region is cold and dry, it is not fed by rain. However, in India, it flows through rain-fed regions, thereby carrying more volume of water and more silt. The Brahmaputra flows in a braided channel and forms riverine islands. The river shifts its channel frequently, and as the river floods every year, it deposits large amounts of sediments on its bed, making the riverbed rise.

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