Among the following rivers, which has the largest basin area?

Concept

A river basin, also called a catchment or drainage basin, is the total land area from which runoff drains into that river system. Basin-size comparisons must use the same source and unit; river length, discharge, and familiarity are separate properties.

Application

The Central Water Commission’s table of catchment areas gives the following directly comparable figures:

Comparing these values, 55,213 sq km is the greatest, so the river sought is Pennar.

Cross-check and contrast

• Brahmani is 16,180 sq km below Pennar in this comparison.

• Sabarmati is 33,539 sq km below Pennar in this comparison.

• The three published figures are different, so “More than one of the above” does not describe a tie for the maximum.

• The maximum belongs to a named river, so “None of the above” does not apply.

Therefore, among the offered rivers, Pennar has the largest basin area.