The major water divides between the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal drainage…

Concept

A drainage divide is an elevated ridge or upland that separates surface runoff into adjoining river basins. In India, the divide between west-flowing Arabian Sea drainage and east-flowing Bay of Bengal drainage follows linked highlands across the north-western, western and central parts of the country.

Application

Delhi Ridge and the Aravalli Range form the north-western part of this divide, the Sahyadri (Western Ghats) is the principal peninsular divide, and the Amarkantak Hills continue the highland divide in central India.

Contrast

• Delhi Ridge, Malwa Plateau and Bundelkhand omits the Aravalli Range and Sahyadri from the standard major-divide sequence.

• Delhi Ridge, Malwa Plateau and Chota Nagpur Plateau extends into the eastern plateau region and does not state the standard sequence.

• More than one of the above would require at least two complete listed sets to describe the major divide.

• None of the above is excluded because one listed set names the recognised highland sequence.

Cross-check

The named highlands trace a north-west-to-central watershed: runoff on one side ultimately reaches the Arabian Sea, while runoff on the other side ultimately reaches the Bay of Bengal.

Result

Therefore, the required set is Delhi Ridge, Aravalli Range, Sahyadri and Amarkantak Hills.