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Political Science NCERT Solutions Class 9 Geography Chapter 3 – Drainage
Class 9 Geography
Last Updated: 15 April 2026
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Important Points
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Practice MCQ Questions (30 questions)
Q1. What is the term used to describe the river system of an area?
✓ Correct Answer: B
Q2. What separates two drainage basins?
✓ Correct Answer: D
Q3. What do the Peninsular rivers depend on for their flow?
✓ Correct Answer: B
Q4. Which river system includes the river Ganga?
✓ Correct Answer: B
Q5. Where does the river Indus rise?
✓ Correct Answer: A
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
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Tough Words (Glossary)
Drainage
Meaning: River system of an area
अर्थ: जल निकासी प्रणाली
"The drainage of India is divided into two groups."
Basin
Meaning: Land drained by one river
अर्थ: जलागम क्षेत्र
"The Ganga basin is very fertile."
Water Divide
Meaning: Elevated area separating two basins
अर्थ: जल विभाजक
"Ambala is on the water divide of two basins."
Perennial
Meaning: Has water all year round
अर्थ: सालभर पानी वाला
"The Ganga is a perennial river."
Gorge
Meaning: Deep narrow valley with steep sides
अर्थ: खड्ड
"The Indus forms a deep gorge in Ladakh."
Erosion
Meaning: Wearing away of land by water/wind
अर्थ: कटाव
"Rivers cause erosion of soil."
Silt
Meaning: Fine soil or sand carried by river
अर्थ: गाद
"The flood deposited silt on the fields."
Meander
Meaning: Bend in a river
अर्थ: नदी का मोड़
"The Yamuna makes many meanders."
Oxbow Lake
Meaning: U-shaped lake formed from old meander
अर्थ: घोड़े की नाल झील
"An oxbow lake is formed when a meander is cut off."
Delta
Meaning: Landform at river mouth formed by deposits
अर्थ: डेल्टा
"The Sundarban Delta is the largest delta."
Tributary
Meaning: River joining a larger river
अर्थ: सहायक नदी
"The Yamuna is a tributary of the Ganga."
Distributary
Meaning: Branch of river flowing away
अर्थ: शाखा नदी
"The Hooghly is a distributary of the Ganga."
Floodplain
Meaning: Flat fertile land near rivers
अर्थ: बाढ़ का मैदान
"The floodplain is suitable for farming."
Deposition
Meaning: Process of dropping carried material
अर्थ: निक्षेपण
"Deposition forms new land at river mouth."
Upland
Meaning: High ground area
अर्थ: ऊँचाई वाला भूभाग
"The upland separates two drainage basins."
Lofty
Meaning: Very tall or high
अर्थ: ऊँचा
"The lofty Himalayas have snow peaks."
Picturesque
Meaning: Visually attractive
अर्थ: मनोरम
"The gorge is picturesque."
Gentle Slope
Meaning: Slope that is not steep
अर्थ: धीमी ढाल
"The northern plain has a gentle slope."
Bifurcate
Meaning: Split into two branches
अर्थ: दो शाखाओं में बँटना
"The Ganga bifurcates into two branches."
Braided Channel
Meaning: River splits into many small channels
अर्थ: नदी की शाखाएँ
"The Brahmaputra has a braided channel."
Riverine
Meaning: Related to rivers
अर्थ: नदी से संबंधित
"Riverine islands are formed in Brahmaputra."
Estuary
Meaning: Wide mouth of river where it meets sea
अर्थ: मुहाना
"The Narmada forms an estuary."
Rift Valley
Meaning: Valley formed by sinking of land
अर्थ: दरार घाटी
"The Narmada flows through a rift valley."
Faulting
Meaning: Break in earth’s crust causing movement
अर्थ: भू-पपड़ी का टूटना
"Faulting created the Narmada valley."
Hydel Power
Meaning: Electricity from flowing water
अर्थ: जल विद्युत
"Bhakra dam produces hydel power."
Tectonic
Meaning: Related to movement of Earth’s crust
अर्थ: भूकंपीय
"Wular lake is due to tectonic activity."
Glacier
Meaning: Huge mass of ice
अर्थ: हिमनद
"The Gangotri glacier feeds the Ganga."
Effluent
Meaning: Liquid waste discharged
अर्थ: अपशिष्ट
"Industries release effluents in rivers."
Assimilate
Meaning: To absorb and make part of
अर्थ: अवशोषित करना
"Rivers assimilate pollutants naturally."
Pollution
Meaning: Contamination of environment
अर्थ: प्रदूषण
"River pollution is a big problem."
Navigation
Meaning: Travel using water routes
अर्थ: नौपरिवहन
"Navigation is possible on the Ganga."
Irrigation
Meaning: Supplying water to crops
अर्थ: सिंचाई
"Farmers depend on irrigation from rivers."
Aquatic
Meaning: Related to water life
अर्थ: जलीय
"Fish live in aquatic habitats."
Ecosystem
Meaning: Community of living things
अर्थ: पर्यावरण तंत्र
"A forest is an ecosystem."
Moderate
Meaning: To keep balanced
अर्थ: संतुलित करना
"Trees moderate the climate."
Sediment
Meaning: Material carried by water
अर्थ: गाद/अवसाद
"Rivers carry sediment to the sea."
Devastation
Meaning: Severe destruction
अर्थ: विनाश
"The flood caused devastation."
Origin
Meaning: Beginning point
अर्थ: उद्गम
"The Ganga has its origin in Himalayas."
Confluence
Meaning: Meeting point of two rivers
अर्थ: संगम
"Prayagraj is the confluence of Ganga and Yamuna."
Tributaries
Meaning: Rivers joining main river
अर्थ: सहायक नदियाँ
"Tributaries join the main river."
Deltaic
Meaning: Relating to delta regions
अर्थ: डेल्टा से संबंधित
"The deltaic plains are fertile."
Semi-arid
Meaning: Dry region with little rain
अर्थ: अर्ध शुष्क
"Rajasthan is a semi-arid region."
Seepage
Meaning: Water leaking into ground
अर्थ: रिसाव
"Seepage recharges groundwater."
Lagoon
Meaning: Shallow water body near coast
अर्थ: लगून
"Chilika lake is a lagoon."
Saline
Meaning: Containing salt
अर्थ: लवणीय
"The Sambhar lake is saline."
Freshwater
Meaning: Not salty; fit for drinking
अर्थ: मीठा पानी
"Dal lake is a freshwater lake."
Industrialisation
Meaning: Growth of industries
अर्थ: औद्योगीकरण
"Industrialisation leads to pollution."
Urbanisation
Meaning: Growth of cities
अर्थ: शहरीकरण
"Urbanisation increases water demand."
Conservation
Meaning: Protection of resources
अर्थ: संरक्षण
"Conservation of rivers is important."
Livelihood
Meaning: Means of earning income
अर्थ: जीविका
"Farming is the livelihood of many."