Identify the river of the Indian sub-continent on the basis of the following information:

Correct Option

The correct option is C. Sutlej

Explanation

The question requires the identification of a specific Himalayan river based on its drainage pattern, international course, origin, and morphological characteristics.

• Statement 1: Correct. The Sutlej is an antecedent river. It existed before the Himalayan uplift and maintained its course by cutting deep gorges (such as the Shipki La pass) as the mountains rose.
• Statement 2: Correct. The river flows through three countries: China (Tibet), India (Himachal Pradesh and Punjab), and Pakistan (where it joins the Chenab).
• Statement 3: Correct. It originates from the Rakas Lake (near Lake Mansarovar) in the Tibetan Plateau. It is a vital source for irrigation, feeding the Indira Gandhi Canal and the Bhakra-Nangal project, which are critical for the agriculture of Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan.
• Statement 4: Correct. Unlike the Brahmaputra or the Indus (in its lower reaches), the Sutlej is a tributary of the Indus system. It joins the Chenab to form the Panjnad before merging into the Indus. It does not form a delta or a network of distributaries of its own before its confluence.

Comparison with other options:

• Brahmaputra: While it is antecedent and flows through three countries, it forms a massive delta with extensive distributaries in Bangladesh.
• Indus: It flows through three countries and is antecedent, but it forms a large delta with multiple distributaries before emptying into the Arabian Sea.
• Teesta: It flows through only two countries (India and Bangladesh) and is a tributary of the Brahmaputra.

Key Takeaway: The Sutlej is distinguished as an antecedent trans-Himalayan tributary that serves as a primary irrigation lifeline for Northwest India without forming its own distributary system.