Drainage Patterns: Its Types, Division and Drainage Pattern in India for UPSC Exam!

Drainage refers to a system through which water makes its way to flow away from one place to another. Drainage Basin provides the platform for drainage. Drainage Basin is a land area that is drained by water from either rain or melted snow. The basin includes the land surface as well as the river. The water further moves into a river, lake, or ocean.

Now, these streams, rivers, and lakes form various patterns in the drainage basins. These patterns formed are known as Drainage Patterns. The various types of patterns depend on the gradient of the land, its topography, and the types of rocks present in the area.

This topic is important for UPSC CSE Coaching Mains under Physical Geography in General Studies 1. 

Drainage includes Rivers, which remain the lifeline for human existence. This topic provides multiple insights for various interlinkages of subjects rather than being one of the most important topics for UPSC General Studies Paper 1 under the section of ‘Distribution of Key Natural Resources.

Download the PDF on Drainage Patterns notes for UPSC Exam only.

What is Drainage?

Drainage is the natural or artificial removal of excess water from the surface and subsurface of an area. It is a crucial process for maintaining the stability and integrity of land, buildings, and infrastructure. Proper drainage prevents waterlogging, which can lead to a variety of problems.

What is Drainage Pattern?

Drainage patterns are the arrangements of streams, rivers, and lakes in a particular drainage basin. They are formed by the erosional action of running water over time, and they reveal the underlying geology and topography of an area. Drainage patterns are classified according to their shape and texture. They provide insights into the landscape's features and the processes that have shaped it.

Study the Article about the National River Ganga here!

Different Types of Drainage Patterns

The drainage patterns are broadly classified into two types on the basis of the shape and formation of the river patterns. The classification is purely based on the correlation between the drainage pattern and its level of conformity with the land structure and geology.

Discordant Drainage Pattern 

This drainage pattern follows the initial river path, and it is independent of the changes in topography and geology. It is further divided into two types: Antecedent and Superimposed Drainage.

Antecedent Drainage

• Some part of the river slope and its surrounding area gets uplifted, and thus, the river maintains its original slope. It is also called Inconsequent Drainage.
• The river cuts through newly formed landforms and stays on the same path.
•  Eg: Brahmaputra, Indus, Sutlej river etc.

Superimposed Drainage

• The river stream, with optimum erosive power to erode softer rocks, erodes it and reaches harder rocks without a change in the original slope. It is also called Superimposed or Epigenetic Drainage.
• The river cuts through existing landforms and retains its course without getting affected by the latest exposed structures.
• Eg: Banas, Chambal, Damodar river etc.

Concordant Drainage Pattern

This drainage pattern is dependent on the topography of the area and the slope of the river. This is the most commonly found drainage system. It is further divided into two types: Consequent Drainage Rivers and Subsequent River Systems.

Consequent Drainage Rivers

The river follows the slope’s general direction. E.g., Krishna, Godavari, and Kaveri (All moving from the Western Ghats to the Bay of Bengal)

Subsequent River System

It comprises streams mostly developed after the original stream. E.g., Chambal, Ken, Betwa, Son, etc.

Check the Article West Flowing Rivers in India here!

Types of Drainage Patterns under the Consequent and Subsequent Drainage System

Dendritic drainage pattern

• Dendritic literally means ‘Like a tree,’ and this drainage pattern resembles the branch of a tree and is the most common among all patterns.
• It is found in regions consisting of homogenous material, which includes rocks like gneiss, granite, sedimentary and volcanic rocks.
• The terrain of this pattern has uniform lithology, which doesn’t have faulting and jointing.
• Mahanadi, Krishna, Kaveri, Godavari, and Indus are examples of this pattern.

Parallel drainage pattern

• The watercourse runs straight, with very few tributaries running in the same direction. This drainage pattern is formed due to a sharp slope with some relief.
• The rivers flow parallel to each other within a region of uniform slope.
• Rivers from the Western Ghats to the Arabian Sea, Rivers of the lesser Himalayas, and many rivers of Myanmar are examples of this pattern.

Trellis Drainage Pattern

• Its geometry resembles a common garden trellis, and this pattern contains short streams meeting the main stream at right angles.
• It is developed within folded or tilted sedimentary rocks where differential erosion takes place to varying degrees according to the rock's strength.
• This pattern type can be found in the Chotanagpur Plateau region.

Rectangular Drainage Pattern

• In this pattern, the rocks provide uniform resistance to erosion. This pattern consists of mainstream and tributaries. The mainstream bends at right angles, and it is joined by multiple tributaries at right angles; thus, it creates rectangular patterns.
• The regions with little topography and undergoing faulting form these rectangular networks. This pattern can be found in The Vindhya mountains of India.

Radial Drainage Pattern

• This pattern develops around a central point, such as an elevated landmass, and the drainage radiates outwards. The elevated landmass is usually a summit from which rivers move downwards and then drain in all directions.
• This pattern can be found at Amarkantak Hills, from where the Mahanadi, Narmada, and Son river originates.

Centripetal Drainage Pattern

• This pattern is similar to the radial pattern. The only difference is that in Centripetal drainage, the streams converge at a low-lying central depression.
• This pattern can be found in the Streams of Tibet and Ladakh.

Deranged Drainage Pattern

• This does not have any reasonable or fixed pattern. It develops from pre-existing drainage disruptions.
• This can be found in Karakoram glaciated valleys.

Angular Drainage Pattern

• This is formed when bedrock joints and faults intersect at more acute angles than rectangular drainage. The angle may be more than or less than 90.
• This pattern is found in the Himalayan foothill region.

Annular Drainage Pattern

• Here, the streams follow a roughly circular path along a weak rock belt. This is usually found as a circular drainage system around a summit. This is very uncommon in India.
• It can be found around Nilgiri Hills in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

Barbed Drainage Pattern

• This pattern forms when the tributary tries to flow upwards rather than flowing downward. This forms a contrary junction with respect to the usual junction.
• This pattern can be found in the Arun River in Nepal.

Check the Article Himalayan and Peninsular Rivers here!

Drainage System of India

Himalayan Drainage System

• Rivers of this system are fed by snowmelt and precipitation, making them perennial.
• In mountainous regions, these rivers form V-shaped valleys, rapids, and waterfalls.
• Upon entering the plains, they form depositional features like:
  • flat valleys, 
  • ox-bow lakes, 
  • flood plains, 
  • braided channels, and 
  • deltas near the river mouths.

Indus River System

• One of the largest river basins in the world.
• Also known as the Sindhu, it is the westernmost of the Himalayan rivers in India.
• Originates from a glacier near Bokhar Chu in the Tibetan region of the Kailash Mountain range.
• Known as ‘Singi Khamban’ (Lion’s mouth) in Tibet.
• Flows through India only through the Leh district in Ladakh, a Union Territory.
• Important tributaries include Sutlej, Ravi, Jhelum, Chenab (largest tributary), and Beas.

Ganga River System

• Rises from the Gangotri glacier near Gaumukh (3,900 m) in Uttarakhand, where it is known as Bhagirathi.
• At Devprayag, the Bhagirathi meets the Alaknanda, and the river is henceforth known as the Ganga.
• Enters the Northern plains at Haridwar.
• Flows through Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal.
• Son is the major right bank tributary. 
• Important left bank tributaries include Ramganga, Gomati, Ghaghara, Gandak, Kosi, and Mahananda.
• Yamuna is the westernmost and longest tributary, originating from the Yamunotri glacier.
• Flows into the Bay of Bengal near Sagar Island.

Brahmaputra River System

• One of the world's largest rivers, originating from the Chemayungdung glacier (Kailash range) near Mansarovar Lake.
• Known as the Tsangpo (‘the purifier’) in southern Tibet.
• Emerges from the Himalayan foothills as the Siang or Dihang river.
• Enters India west of Sadiya town in Arunachal Pradesh.
• The main left bank tributaries include Dibang or Sikang, Lohit, Burhi Dihing, and Dhansari.
• Important right bank tributaries include Subansiri, Kameng, Manas, and Sankosh.
• Merges with the Padma River in Bangladesh, which eventually flows into the Bay of Bengal.

Peninsular Drainage System

• Peninsular rivers have a fixed course, lack meanders, and exhibit nonperennial water flow.
• This drainage system is older than the Himalayan one.
• The Western Ghats, running along the western coast, act as a water divide for major Peninsular rivers.
• Except for Narmada and Tapi, most major Peninsular rivers flow from west to east.
• Other important river systems of the Peninsular drainage include Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, and Kaveri.

Narmada

• The largest westward-flowing river of the peninsular region. It flows through a rift valley between the Vindhya (north) and Satpura Range (south).
• Rises from the Maikala range near Amarkantak in Madhya Pradesh.
• Major tributaries include Hiran, Orsang, Barna, and Kolar.
• Its basin covers parts of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat.
• The Sardar Sarovar Project has been constructed on this river.

Tapi

• Another important westward flowing river. It originates from the Betul district of Madhya Pradesh in the Satpura ranges.
• Flows in a rift valley parallel to the Narmada but is much shorter in length.
• Its basin covers parts of Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Maharashtra.

Mahanadi

• Rises in the Raipur district of Chhattisgarh and runs through Odisha to discharge its water into the Bay of Bengal.
• 53% of its drainage basin lies in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, while 47% lies in Odisha.
• Major tributaries: Seonath, Hasdeo, Mand, Ib, Jonking, and Tel rivers.
• Its basin is bounded by the Central India hills on the north, by the Eastern Ghats on the south and east, and by the Maikala range on the west.

Godavari

• The largest Peninsular river system, also known as the “Dakshin Ganga.”
• Rises in the Nasik district of Maharashtra and discharges its water into the Bay of Bengal.
• Its tributaries run through Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh.
• Penganga, Indravati, Pranhita, and Manjra are its principal tributaries.

Krishna 

• The second largest east-flowing river in the Peninsular region of India.
• Originates near Mahabaleshwar in the Sahyadri mountain range.
• Major tributaries: Koyna, Tungbhadra, and Bhima rivers.
• Flows through Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh.
• Empties into the Bay of Bengal.

Kaveri 

• A sacred river in southern India.
• Originates in the Brahmagiri hills of the Kodagu district in Karnataka.
• Significant tributaries: Arkavathi, Hemavathi, Bhavani, Kabini, and Amravati rivers.
• Flows in a southeasterly direction.
• Traverses Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.
• Drains into the Bay of Bengal through Pondicherry.

Learn more about the Ken Betwa River linking project!

Division of Drainage System

The Drainage System can be divided into categories based on various factors like final water discharge and watershed size of the system. These two factors provide another metric to study different drainage systems in India.

Based on the discharge of water

The drainage system can be divided on the basis of its final discharge, i.e. whether it flows into the Bay of Bengal or the Arabian Sea. It includes two types of discharge, i.e. Rivers discharging in the Arabian Sea and Rivers discharging in the Bay of Bengal. I. Arabian Sea Discharge II. Bay of Bengal Discharge

• The Aravallis, Delhi Ridge, and Sahyadris separate both drainage systems.
• More than 3/4th of the rivers come under the Bay of Bengal Discharge, and less than 1/4th are part of the Arabian Sea discharge.
• The major rivers of the Bay of Bengal discharge are Ganga, Brahmaputra, Krishna, Godavari, Mahanadi, etc.
• The major rivers of the Arabian Sea discharge are the Indus, Narmada, Tapi, etc.

Based on the size of the watershed

It includes three types of drainage systems based on the size of the catchment area of the river.

Major River Basin

• The size of the catchment area is more than 20,000 sq. km.
• Eg: Indus, Ganga, Brahmaputra, Narmada, Krishna, Godavari, etc.

Medium River Basin

• The size of the catchment area is between 2,000- 20,000 sq. km.
• Eg: Periyar, Meghna, Kalindi, etc.

Minor River Basin

• The size of the catchment area is less than 2,000 sq. km.
•  It includes small rivers that flow in low-rainfall areas.

Learn more about the Teesta River Dispute!

Conclusion

The Drainage pattern in India is quite well-defined and diverse. The tributaries and the major rivers form a well-connected drainage system, but we still find huge margins in terms of water availability in the country. The knowledge of the system should be used well in order to balance the water deficit areas with the water surplus areas. The National River Linking Project is one such project which uses the knowledge of Drainage systems for better distribution of resources.

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