Arrange the following rivers from north to south according to their d…

The correct answer is Option (4) → (C), (B), (A), (D)

A river builds its delta at its mouth, where it meets the sea. The River Basins map (Fig. 4.1 India – River Basins) shows the basins of these four rivers one below the other along the east coast, from north to south. Each of these rivers flows east, and it meets the Bay of Bengal at the eastern end of its own basin, where its delta lies. So the order of the four basins down the coast is also the order of their deltas.

(C) Mahanadi — first, the northernmost. The Mahanadi Basin is the highest of the four on the map, just south of the Brahmani and Baitarni Basin. The Mahanadi meets the Bay of Bengal, and has its delta, at the eastern end of this basin.

(B) Godavari — second. The Godavari Basin lies just below the Mahanadi Basin. The Godavari meets the Bay of Bengal, and has its delta, at its eastern end, south of the Mahanadi.

(A) Krishna — third. The Krishna Basin lies below the Godavari Basin. The Krishna meets the Bay of Bengal, and has its delta, just south of the Godavari.

(D) Kaveri — last, the southernmost. The Kaveri Basin is the lowest of the four, below the Pennar Basin, near the southern tip of India. The Kaveri meets the Bay of Bengal, and has its delta, farthest south.

Note 1: The given answer is as per the official NTA Answer Key. The book does not list the deltas in order, but its River Basins map shows the four basins one below the other along the east coast. Each river builds its delta where it reaches the sea, at the eastern end of its basin. So the order can be read from the map.

Note 2: The same question was also asked in CUET (UG) 2023 on 07-06-2023 (Slot 2).