Previous Year Question

The Bandarpunch–Yamuna, Bara Shigri–Chenab and Siachen–Nubra pairs are correct. The Milam–Mandakini and Zemu–Manas pairs are incorrect.

1. Bandarpunch–Yamuna: Correct

• The Bandarpunch massif is situated in the Garhwal Himalayas of Uttarakhand.

• The Yamuna originates from the Yamunotri Glacier, situated on the south-western slope of the Bandarpunch massif.

• Therefore, Bandarpunch is correctly associated with the Yamuna in the question.

• The Yamuna is the longest tributary of the Ganga.

• It flows from Uttarakhand along the Himachal Pradesh boundary and through Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh.

• Its important tributaries include the Tons, Chambal, Sind, Betwa and Ken.

• The Yamuna joins the Ganga at Prayagraj.

• The Tons is the largest upper tributary of the Yamuna, and its catchment is also associated with the Bandarpunch mountain region.

2. Bara Shigri–Chenab: Correct

• Bara Shigri Glacier is situated in the Chandra Valley of the Lahaul region in Himachal Pradesh.

• Its meltwater feeds the Chandra River.

• The Chandra joins the Bhaga near Tandi to form the Chandrabhaga or Chenab.

• Therefore, the meltwater of Bara Shigri enters the Chandra directly and ultimately reaches the Chenab.

• It is among the largest valley glaciers of Himachal Pradesh.

• The term ‘Shigri’ is associated with a glacier, while ‘Bara’ indicates its large size.

• The Chenab is a major western river of the Indus system.

3. Milam–Mandakini: Incorrect

• Milam Glacier is situated in the Johar Valley of Pithoragarh district in the Kumaon Himalayas of Uttarakhand.

• The Gori Ganga originates from Milam Glacier, not the Mandakini.

• The Gori Ganga subsequently joins the Kali or Sharda River near Jauljibi.

• The Mandakini originates from the Chorabari Glacier near Kedarnath.

• The Mandakini joins the Alaknanda at Rudraprayag.

• Therefore, the Milam–Mandakini pair is incorrect.

4. Siachen–Nubra: Correct

• Siachen Glacier is situated in the eastern Karakoram Range in Ladakh.

• The Nubra River originates from its meltwater.

• The Nubra subsequently joins the Shyok River.

• The Shyok is ultimately a tributary of the Indus.

• Its drainage sequence is:

Siachen Glacier → Nubra → Shyok → Indus

• Siachen is approximately 76 kilometres long and is among the world’s longest glaciers outside the polar regions.

• The high Karakoram ranges and extremely cold conditions support the existence of this extensive glacier.

5. Zemu–Manas: Incorrect

• Zemu Glacier is situated east of the Kangchenjunga massif in Sikkim.

• Its meltwater reaches the Teesta river system through the Zemu Chu.

• Therefore, associating Zemu Glacier with the Manas River is incorrect.

• The Teesta flows through Sikkim and West Bengal and joins the Brahmaputra in Bangladesh.

• The Manas originates in the Bhutan Himalayas.

• It enters Assam from Bhutan and joins the Brahmaputra.

• Thus, the Zemu and Manas belong to different river systems.