Question

Which one of the following states does not form part of the Narmada Basin?
A. Gujarat
B. Maharashtra
C. Rajasthan
D. Madhya Pradesh

Answer 1

Hint: This state encompasses 10.4% of India's total geographical area. In terms of area, this is the largest state and the seventh largest by population. It is a state situated in the northern part of India.

Complete answer:
> The Narmada River is also called the Reva River. It is also regarded as the "Life Line of Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat" for its immense contribution to the state of Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat in many respects. Narmada rises from the Amarkantak Plateau in the Anuppur district of Madhya Pradesh. It forms the traditional border between North India and South India and flows west across a length of 1,312 km until it flows through the Gulf of Khambhat into the Arabian Sea, 30 km west of Bharuch City of Gujarat.
> The Narmada basin, which lies between Vindya and Satpura, stretches over an area of 98,796 square kilometres and lies between east longitudes 72 degrees 32 to 81 degrees 45' and north latitudes 21 degrees 20 to 23 degrees 45' at the northern extremity of the Deccan Plateau. The basin covers large areas in the states of Madhya Pradesh (82 per cent), Gujarat (12 per cent) and a relatively small region (4 percent) in Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh (2 percent). The course of the river is 1,312 km. In which 22 are from the range of Satpura and the remaining on the right bank are from the range of Vindhya.

Following are the given alternatives:
> 9894 square kilometer of the Narmada Basin comprises Gujarat. Thus, Option A is incorrect.
> The 1658 square kilometer of the Narmada basin comprises Maharashtra. Thus, Option B is incorrect.
> Rajasthan is not part of the Narmada delta. The total river basin area is about 97,410 square kilometres, among which 85,858 square kilometres passes through Madhya Pradesh, 1658 square kilometres in Maharashtra and 9894 square kilometres in Gujarat. Thus, Option C is correct.
> The total basin area of the Narmada river is 97,410 square kilometer among which 85,858 square kilometer comprises Madhya Pradesh. Thus, Option D is also incorrect.

Therefore, the right answer is Option C.

Note: 

> The Irrigation Commission (1972) described the Narmada basin in Madhya Pradesh as affected by drought and a large part of North Gujarat, Saurashtra and Kutch as semi-arid or arid shortage regions due to severe unreliability of rainfall, making them 'chronic' drought-prone and subject to serious drinking water problems.
> Dhupgarh (1,350 m), near Pachmarhi, is the highest point in the Narmada basin.
> The Narmada basin consists primarily of black soils.
> There is a variety of vegetation from lush green found in the top region to dry deciduous teak forest vegetation which is found in the lower region.