Previous Year Question

The Damodar River flows through a Rift Valley along the eastern margin of the Chotanagpur Plateau. A rift valley generally develops when a block of the Earth's crust subsides along faults. Since the course of the Damodar is controlled by such a structural depression, it is famous for fault-valley drainage.

The drainage basin of the Damodar extends mainly across Jharkhand and West Bengal. It flows eastward from the Chotanagpur Plateau and ultimately joins the Hooghly River. Its major tributary is the Barakar.

The Damodar Valley is also an important Gondwana coal-bearing region of India. Major coalfields such as Jharia, Bokaro, Karanpura and Raniganj are associated with the wider Damodar Valley region. Thus, Damodar → Rift Valley + Gondwana Coalfields is a useful examination linkage.

Option elimination is also straightforward—Chambal is famous for its ravines; the Gandak is a Himalayan tributary of the Ganga coming through Nepal; while the Ramaganga rises in the Garhwal hills and joins the Ganga.